Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-29


While 1t Is criminal for employers no
to provide adequate protection IT /
equally culpable on the part of operative
to disregard all such preventive meas
ures.
Lastly. let us insis. on the purity O
the air In our homes, workshops an
towns. and in choosing vocation 70
all predisposed subjects II is impor
tant to avoid occupations involving
sedentary habits and indoor work especial
ly In "A dusty atmosphere
The address was followed by dis
cussions by DR.. j. w. Jackson, healtl
officer of Barre city, and Il. II. Bailey
health officer of Barre town. DR.
jackson spoke Of the rapid increase II
the death rate from among the stone
cutters. He said that some improve
ments had been made in the condition.
of the shops. but that the rust is no
taken care Of, probably due t. neglect ant
not realizing the Importance. rather thar
intention.
DIR. Bailey said that among the quarry
men, owing to their working In the oper
air, consumption was not as noticeable
He considers that the foreign population
environment have caused large increas,
In tuberculosis He further said tina
muscular rheumatism is a characteristic
disease of the quarrymen
SANITATION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Prof. J. w. Votey. engineer of the
board, gave a practical talk on SAM
tation of Public Buildings" He put
10 Nm i h.
ing of fire escapes on all public build
ings. He said that as a general rule
the law Is complied with Throughout,
the State, but there is some deficrt and
tol1 how to remedy 1t. He also toll /
how to build the fire escapes, size, etc
This was followed by a discussion
In which Fred S. Hartman. health Of
fcer of St Johnsbury. told about pre-
vious conditions in that place and how
they have been improved since the
time of the big fire there few years
ago.
HEALTH OFFICERS AND PUBLIC
Health Officer II. L. Stllson of Ben
nington, one of the oldest sanitary guard
ians In this State. spoke at two o'clock on
THE Relation Of Health officers to the
Public"
THE mailed hand of the law" said he,
SHOULD be kept in the background as
much as possible In the course of my
experience l have several times invoked
the aid of the law in enforcing the regula
tons of the board of health, and every
time I have lost the case. For the next
dozen times thereafter l have used per-
suasive methods and won out every time"
At the close of his remarks Mr.. Stillson
offered to the school of instruction the
sanitary reference library which he has
collected during the 90 years of his service
as BennnEton's health officer Later, at
the suggestion of DR.. w. l.. Havens of
Chester Depot. a tribute was paid to Mr.
Stillson, the entire gathering rising to
their feet.
Dr. j. G. Thabault Of Colchester opened
the discussion of Nh Stilson's paper say
ing that It Is well to accomplish changes
by degrees. ordering improvements, in Il
stable, for instance. one at a time, this
year, new windows for better lighting,
next year, better ventilation, and so on.
by asking too much. we get to little"
Writing to the State board Of health IS
another aid. said the speaker, and Secre-
tary Holton often replies with letter
that can be used to bring abou. the de-
sired change. Later on Dr. Holton de-
clared that the law should be enforced
in its entirety. call on me-1m used to
it. I am willing to go into any town, too.
If needed"
Eternal vigilance" said DR., Henry
Tucker of Brattleboro. as the price Of
safety. as well as of liberty. Use the pub
lie press to inform the public on all mat
tiers relating to tn, public welfare. Be-
cause business must not be disturbed Is
the reason that many of our epidemics
have got under way. OF this there are
many recent examples in Europe and
America"
DR.. Holton called upon DR. Caverly
who deprecated the unnecessary ad-
vertising of disease. But surrounding
towns should have knowledge of the
presence of disease IN Il neighboring
1t is reprehensible that
newspapers AMI public officials should
practice the hush-up policy. 1t is an
un Christian act. We will get rid az
disease more quickly II the facts are
known I would advise every health
officer to publish the exact facts, with
out scareheads or in such a way as to
inhame sentiment or stir up excite
ment, or start newspaper discussion
Health officers should publish exact
facts monthly. weekly or even daily
over their own signatures"
Norman Hapgood Of Peru ascen led
to the platform and related an Incl
dent In mrs town, pair Of horses hav-
Ing been driven about when not IN
proper condition and one Of them hav-
Ing died beside the road during the
lay, the other after being taken home.
The case was reported to the states
attorney. saii the speaker AMI when
ready for trial. was postponed two
weeks. This continuation of the case
was repeated eight times. until finally
the respondent demanded trial or re-
ease. and was released. Yet. In spite
Of all these facts, that States attorney
was renominated at the last conven-
ton" concluded the speaker. did
the horse lie beside the road all those
weeks?" asked voice from the house,
and laugh followed Mr.. Hapgood
was warmly applauded at the close of
his remarks.
Professor Mcfarland OF Middlebury
College pleaded for conservation Of the
school and the school child. quoting Judge
Lindsey as saying that the State Is the
child and the child the State. In Massa-
chusetts, where medical inspection Is
more complete, 74,3 per cent. Of the effi-
cheney OF pupils Is realized. In other
States the figures are as follows: New
Jersey, Al; Pennsylvania. 49,; New York.
bl.2' Ohio, 49,; Connecticut, COT; Illinois,
63.s. Sanitation. ventilation and other fac