Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-04


try as a nation. and Of our cites and
states. will be assumed By the general gov
ornment on the one hand and by state and
municipal authorities on the other. and a
rigid application Of the teachings OF mod
ern sanitary science viii be FIRMLY en-
forced for the protection OF our popula-
ton. both urban and rural
I feel. therefore that the time - ripe
for representative medical men all over our
country to be directing their attention TO
the problems involved. the solut on Of
which will soon be demanded Of the 20. en-
tific sanitarian. who must with propriety
be looked for in the ranks Of the medical
profession.
This, then. is my excuse for offering to
this association OF representative members
Of our profession in this populous commun-
ity the following crude suggestions along
the lines indicated.
II may be assumed as an axiom that no
sanitary authority can be Of benefit to a
community unless possessed Of the power
to enforce its own provisions linen
forced sanitary laws upon the statute
books are productive OF bad instead Of
good results, in that. in consequences OF
their non-observance, there is engendered
IN the minds OF the masses a contempt for
the authority issuing them, and among the
educated classes a feeling Of false security
caused by the belief that the laws in ex-
istence are fully protective.
sanitary system. however perfect Il
may be In It's inception, can be OF no value
90 q disease stricken community when the
individual members OF such town or city
are left to exercise their own unframed
and ignorant discreuOns as to whether they
-.
tenn or not. To DO effective, sanitary con-
troll must be upheld in every detail by the
firm. unyielding hand of the law.
IT is just in this regard that military
sanitation is able to accomplish so much
more than civilian measures OF disease con-
troll In the former military discipline and
respect for authority and orders. work to
a definite successful accomplishment. while
in the latter political cons. derations, COM
merciai policies and interests. ignorance OF
and contempt for the laws of personal and
public hygiene on the part Of the masses,
and general feeling of hostility on the
part OF the population towards sanitary
provisions for the public weai-an have a
most decided nullifying effect upon the
most earnest efforts OF the health authori-
ties.
The scope Of this discussion, however
does not embrace military sanitation, but
includes only the measures OF disease pre-
vention applicable to civilian communities.
II may be said, however, in passing that
the more closely the sanitary systems OF
such communities be made to approach to
the military standard the greater viii be
their practical efficiency.
Suggestions concerning methods OF dis
ease prevention on the part OF individual
communities.
% The general organization and func-
tons Of the health department
Each town or city should have its board
OF health. its size. composition and func-
tons varying with the size Of the oommU-
nifty and other present conditions. The
chairman Of the board OF health should
be the health commissioner of the city
ana he and the other members OF the board
should also be members OF the city coun-
Gill; The board Of health should be sub
ieet to the call OF the health commits.
vioner and should act upon ali matters o.
public sanitation before their submission t
the city council. The health commits
sioner should be the official head OF thu
health department under the mayor and hi
department should embrace the following
sub-departmenta, viz: chemical, bacteria
logical, veterinary and sanitary inspection
departments All orders to his department
should emanate from or pass through hin
and all reports from his subordinates 4
higher authority must follow the sam
channel The heads OF sub-departments il
the health department must be responsible
to the health commissioner for the prope
exercise of their respective functions an
must hold their subordinates 70 a slmila
responsibility to them.
The functions of the health department
should be crystallized In explicit regula
tons and its sub-departments should b
welded together into one efficient com
posite, thoroughly organized whole. Fur
theFmore Il should be co-ordinated wit
the other departments of the city admin
istration 20 such a degree that II woul
work in harmony with them and responsi
bihty for commissions or omissions b
easily placed. What Is everybOdy's busl
ness is nobodys business and In all OF
ganized administrations extent OF functio
and limit OF responsibility must be &C
curateiy defined.
The duties OF the chemical bacteriologi
cal and veterinary sub-departments nee
no discussion in a meeting OF medical mel
q their functions can be well understoo
from the mere mention. / think that
eub-department Of sanitary inspeeto
would prove q most valuable addition {
any municipal sanitary scheme. as
would act as the eyes OF the health az
thOrlties. At the head OF this sub-depart
ment and under the direct supervision {
the health Commissioners there should
chief sanitary inspector. and under hil
the necessary number Of sanitary inspect
ors one for each ward or district or othe
portion OF the corporate limits OF the cit
as may be deemed necessary, togeths
with the required employees.
Il should be the duty OF the sanitary II
speCtors 70 make daily inspections OF
premises in their respective districts ineluc
ing public buildings. hotels, private res
denceH markets. dairies. alleyways, yacaE
lots. and streets, and report sanitary defect
and nuisances 20 the CHIEF sanitary II
spectoE, who viii refer matters Of momer
70 the health commissioner for his action.
The removal Of garbage. suppression
nuisanees, cleanliness Of the streets. an
OF the city generally should be under n