The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1911-04-07
Ranort by Local Bourd OF Health.


Train to Welsh, La. April, l, l9ll,'
The State Board of Health Train
has come and gone, and to the local
Board of Health it brought some SUI
nrises. From what we have heard we
eypected to find Dr.. Bowling an auto
crat of the most pronounced tyPei who
abused and threatened people without
stint but we found him very pleas
ant gentleman. and while ne was
searching in his Investigations ana
showed no disposition to excuse III
sanitary conditions, wherever found,
he made his criticisms in such pleas
ant and gentlemanly way that few' u
any, took offense. Another surprise
WAS that there exists SO many insanl-
tary places in our town, and IN most
cases there seems to be absolutely NO
excuse for the condition as we found
them. Another surprise was the mild
ness Of the public criticism made by
Dr.. Bowling at the Auditorium. We
were afraid it would be more severe,
and we will say here that in our opin-
ion the conditions were not eXaSgerat-
ed in one instance.
Now the question is--WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO ABOUT II.
The State law provides that each
town shall appoint Il Local Board OF
Health and that they have absolute
cOntrO. of all matters pertaining to
the public health, subject only to the
authority of the State Board. The
law also provides that when local
boards fail or refuse to act. the State
Board has the authority to come i'll
and do the work and charge the eX-
penSe to the tOwu, which would be far
more expensive than for us to run our
own affairs.
The local board has therefore de-
termined that we will insist on every
thing being done that can be done TO
make our town as sanitary rs posi-
bic. and to see that the regulations
governing dairies, slaughter pens,
markets, hotels, restaurants and III
fact every other place where anything
to eat or drink is handled, are strict
ly complied with. and AT ONCE.
| No one can plead ignorance, for DR..
Bowling pointed out, in avery posi-.
tive, though pleasant manner, what
was necessary to be done at each
place visited. After May first there
will be an inspection made and every
place that has not compiled with the
regulations will be closed. After May
lst anyone selling or Offering for sale
milk, or butter in the town OF Welsh
must have certificate signed by the
| local health officer and sanitary in
spector that they have complied with
! the law as to the handling of the
same. The same shall apply to the
handling Of fresh meat.
All above ground closets must i'm.
mediately be replaced by sanitary
closets; directions for the building of
which will be furnished on application
TO the sanitary inspector. All cess
pools shall be provided with filters
and the overflow from cess pools
shall pass through at least six feet
of gravel or cinders, and thoroughly
disiufected, before being permitted to
enter the gutter or public drain.
There are other things that will
come up from time t. time, but the
above are the most urgent and must
be attended to ut once, We do not
want TO resort to harsh means and do
not intend to, when people show an
honest Intention to comply with the
regulations; but as before stated, we
are determined that when the State
Board visits us again things shall te
found in better condition.
JnU. H. Cooper.
1 Health Officer.
l.. G. Lewis.