The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
SOLONS INTERESTED
IN HEALTH WORK
Many Are Visiting the States
Laboratory
NEEDS OF THE INSTITUTE
DIR. Sanders Is Seeking $4,000 Year
for His Department., and This
Is Regarded as Very
Conservative
NEEDS OF THE INSTITUTE
BY BERGMAN G. BETTY

Montgomery, February S.-(Special)-
Responding to hearty invitation which
has been issued by the state health Off
Gals to both houses of the Alabama
legislature, number of the solons are
spending their spare time in inspect
ing the branches of that department.
Chief entertainment is being furnished
them in the Pasteur department, where
there are being treated at the present
time more than 20 patients who were Bit
ten by rabid dogs.
Dr. w. H. Sanders, state health officer,
is endeavoring to have the appropriation
for his department increased to $4,000,
against something like one-half of that
amount which Is now given by the state.
Out of the appropriation the health Off
Ger pays all expenses of the department,
including salaries for heads of depart
ments as we'll as their expenses and clerk
salaries. The new wants of DIR. Sanders
are considered moderate in every way,
especially when there is taken into con-
sideration the excellent work which is be-
ing achieved by his department.
Since establishment of the department
the health statistics have been gradually
brought up to state as nearly perfect
as is possible in the short time. DR..
Sanders has thrown about his department
every network that will tend to improve
sanitary conditions in the commonwealth.
Pasteur Department
Especially with respect to the State
Pasteur institute the health department
Is forging rapidly to the front of the
southern states. Under the efficient man
agement of DR.. e. M. Mason, formerly
state bacterioogist, combined with the
efforts of DR.. Sanders, the institute grew
from an infant to a big department, and
since its incpiency has been gradually
adding new laurels to its wreath. Sew
eral months ago DIR. Mason retired from
the office to take up the practice of med
icine in Birmingham, following upon
which Dr. P. B. Moss was put in charge
of the institute.
Since DR.. Moss occupancy of the head
chair in the Pasteur department the fame
of the institute has been rapidly growing,
due materially to the fact that the peo-
pie of the state are just awakening to
the importance of the work. At the pres
ent time, however, the department is at
flood-tide, and the work of treating pa
tents has been steady. Patients from
nearly every county in Alabama have
received treatment to ward off rabies,
while patients from neighboring states
have been sent here for attention.
Exhaustive Analyses
Exhaustive analyses of the heads of an
imals which are sent to the institute
for examination are always made by
DR.. Moss or DR.. McWald, his assistant
Should the first examination prove mega
Is begun In
the meantime, however, the patients are
| generally advised to begin the treatment
| at once, in order that every precaution
| might be taken. Every day several heads
| of animals are infinitely tested for the
| presence of rabies, and every day new pa
| tients are coming to the capitol for at
| tention.
| One of the greatest needs of the health
department is for more room for the in
stitute, a waiting parlor being deemed
essential for the best accommodation of
the patients. A separate compartment
for negroes is also deemed necessary.
The institute now does all of its work
in a small laboratory, to which small
office is Joined. In this inner sanctuary
all of the chemicals of the institute are
kept, while it is there also that the pa
tents are given the treatment.
Health Committees
Public health committees of the senate
and of the house of representatives have
made thorough inspection of the health
department, their investigation being con-
fined not only to the Pasteur institute and
statistical department, but extending over
the hookworm division of the health de-
partment Dr. w. w. Dinsmore, in
charge of this work, is employed by the
Rockefeller hookworm commission, and
has half dozen assistants under his
charge.
These committees are quoted as being
in thorough sympathy with additional ap-
preparation for the health officials.
Outside of the health committees Of
the two houses number of the state
solons are daily inspecting the offices OF
the department, examining books and
records as we'll as peeping through mi
croscopes.