The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-06-29
" !: :: !: !: :: :: :: !: :: :: :: :: :: :: ;
:! :,
= PUBLIC HEALTH |:
y DEPARTMENT ::
!; ;,
:: ;: :: !: :: . :: /" :: :: :: :: :: :: :: 3:
conducted by DIR. J. c. MAHR,
State Commissioner of Realth)

i lNoHuuClcu ny Dh. j. {. MAIiR,
State Commissioner of Realth)
Bought Dead Cats.
! Twenty five cents each for dead
, cats delivered and no undertaking du-
ties to perform, was the published
offer that caused the boys of Still
water, Oklahoma, to wage a terrible
warfare on tabby last week. The Of
fer was made in all seriousness, and
accepted as such. Twenty-Five cats.
each with its nine lives spent was
the first days harvest. Cats of all
hues, colors and ancestry fell as vic
TINS and the end is not yet.
This unique offer was made by DR.
j. r. Murphy. county superintendent
! of health for Payne county. 1t is but
a part of the public health campaign
! being waged by the health officer.
The death penalty was meted out to
cats for the reason that authorities
recognize in the common house cat a
carrier for germs almost as efficient
as is the fly in promoting contagious
and infectious diseases.
In opening market for dead cats
DR.. Murphy decided that the most con-
venient depot would be in the heart
of the business section, where all
could see that the crusade was legit-
innate. He even endangered his own
personal affairs by designating the
place Of delivery at his cWn Office.
From reports received IT appears IS
though DR. Murphy's clientele did OF
take exceptions to the new experience
nf nincy bo ,r
erica laden with dead cats. in order
to reach the physicians office.
Dr. Murphy is dcfrayng the entire
expense of anti-cat campaign himself.
He believes the result will be an
awakening to the dangers of commun-
icable diseases being spread thought
lessly by people posse ssing cats.
The state health department is
watching the result with interest.
Parents Report Births.
While the law requires physicians
to report all births to the county su-
perintendent of health, many fail to
do so, while others have invited pros
ecution by failing to comply with the
statute. In order to check up the
births occurring within his county, and
at the same time get evidence for
prosecution against the delinquent
physician DR.. H. e. Williams, of Pitts
burg county one of the most efficient
county superintendent of the state, |
has inaugurated a system of check |
ing up newspaper files for birth an
nouncements and sending self ad- |
dressed post cards to all families |
where recent births have occurred, |
which werenot reported. The post
cards bear the following inscriptions;
Il bereDy notify the board Of health |
that baby was born in my home on
......191... Its name is ..........
was the attending ply
sician. Please have my baby regis
tered under the above name by the
state health department. Name of
The use of this card has resulted in
Dr.. Williams receiving larger num-
Der OF birth reports than usual. In
addition he has secured compliance
rom two physicians who failed to re-
)ort births until they discovered that
he health officer had evidence against
hem. This method employed by Dr.
Williams should be adopted by all
lealth officers of the state, and par
nts should assist by taking cogni-
ance of the importance of register
ng their babys birth with the state.
Is Country Milk Purer?
A statement was published in this
apartment to the effect that milk
reduced in the country was purer
han city or town produced milk, has
rought forth protest from public
ealth official DR.. E. r. Askew, city
ealth officer at Hugo. who takes up
Or the town milk supply Some of
'r Askew's arguments are that farm
RS permit COWS to feed on weeds.
nus affecting the milk; that ice is
OF kept in rural districts, thus per-
hitting the milk supply to turn quick
:; that screens are seldom available,
lerefore the fly is a menace. DR..
skew asks that the state commits
oner Of health give his reasons for
referring the country produced milk
lpply. AS this question has opened
n interesting discussion, and others
ill probably add their arguments,
lie position of the state health COM
issioner will be withheld for the
'eseEt in the hope that other pro-
sts may be advanced, when all will
2 treated in a single article