The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-06
HEALTH OFFICERS SCHOOL
Address by President CaVerly at
Opening Session.

dress was given at the opening SEES
sion Monday evening by the presi-
dent, DR.. c. S. Caverly Of Rutland:
With this session the fifteenth an
nual Health Officers School of Yer
mont opens. This school has been
recognized as a State Institution for
several years 1t has received more
explicit and direct sanction, by rea-
son of the Act of the last Legislature
by which the state directly assumes
the expenses of all health officers at
tending.
This new law should remove the
only serious objection that has been
urged heretofore by health officers
to attending. The burden has been
removed from the towns. There is
reason in the change This School
is for the benefit Of the state as
whole As no town is so small or
sparsely settled, that it may not har-
Dor unwholesome conditions or cpl
demic disease, which may spread
pestilence among its neighbors, so
no town, however small, should fail
to receive some benefit from the in
gtruction given at this school. IN
deed il is usually the small and the
poor town, that is in especial need
OF just this instruction.
We have hoped, by means of more
general publicity, to popularize the
proceedings here We would like to
see others here beside health Off
GERS. The presence of the other
members of he local health boards,
Of members of school boards, of
dairymen, Of all other citizens,
whose official positions or vocations,
bring them more or less closely in
touch with the health laws and reg
ulations, is invited at these sessions.
The same invitation is extended to
everyone. who is interested in inn
proving health conditions. The in
terest of the public in public health
matters is greater today than ever
before. The very fact that our state
has sanctioned official supervision of
l}matters pertaining TO health, and au-
thorized this school, is evidence of
this. So we say to all good citizens:
come and enjoy the entertainment
and instruction you provide.
TO you gentlemen, health officers Of
| Vermont, this annual meeting has
| become an event to which | know
most of you look forward with pleas
| ure There are always some new
faces at these gatherings, but most
| of you have been here before
It is the policy of the State
| Board of Health to encourage con-
tinuity in the Office of local health
officer. In this way only can the
state hope to reap the full benefits
| of this school.
It is a matter of more than local
regret when the services of an eff
cient health officer are lost. 1t is
especially a matter of regret when
such services are lost by reason OF
death. Since our last session the
following health officers have died:
Mr.. Eugene Flint Hancock
Mr. H. l.. Stillson Bennington
DR.. II. w. Bacon Eden
Mr. +. II. Cleveland Brantree
Mr.. Jehial Webb Sherburne
DR. T.. S. Albee Rockingham
Verify the grim harvester has
been busy among us the past year.
All these men have been to these
schools. some for many years. All
were faithful and unselfsh public
servants No apology is necessary
for speaking especially of one of
these men. | know you would won
der if | did not.
Henry l.. Stillson was local
health officer in this state twenty
three years. He was a model officer.
The influence of this modest consci-
entious man, and the good work he
4 60 s.,,I.lfn haa1#h
fined 10 Bennington or Bennington
county. Every health officer in the
state knew him and he was a source
of inspiration to each one. All this
was largely due to the fact that he
was layman-not doctor.
Most OF you remember his appear
ance on this platform one year ago,
when he delivered his valedctory.
or, as he expressed it, his last mes
sage" That message. entitled, "The
Relation of Health Officers to the
Public" like all his utterances, was
filled with homcly, sane human adj
wise. founded on long experience and
wide reading.
can think OF no better wish for
our state than that she may have
many laymen in the future. who will
fiji the Office of Health officer as
wisely and efficiently as did Henry
l.. Sillson
In making 4 survey OF the public
| health conditions in Vermont in this
year. 1913. and making comparison
with these conditions, when this
| School held its first session, one
mus conclude that its influence has
| been good.
In the matter OF the we'll known
contagious diseases, this influence is
| apparent. These diseases are more
| carefully handled and the public has
been educated to expect stringent
| precautions.
There are not half as many deaths
a. year now from typhoid fever or
diphtheria as fourteen years ago.
| The former disease has been largely
eliminated by improving and guard
ing our water supplies and the lat
er by the general use OF the anti
toxin, furnished during the last FIVE
| years az state expense.
tuberculosis has been cut down So
| Der cent during these wears. and last
| year there were nn1v 24- daafbc from,