The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-11-28

newton. Inc surgeon-general Of the service is
rupert Blue, whose research work aud whose &C
complishment in lines of medical endeavor are
we'll known to the profession There are six as
sstant surgeongenerals, Doctors A. H. Glennan.
W. G. Simpson, L. E. Cofer, J. w. Kerr, w. C.
Rucker and j. W. Trask. They are all stationed
in Washington and have direction the va
rious branches in all parts of the country.
Recently in the medical council there appeared
this brief but conclusive statement of the mani
fold functions of the public health service of the
United States government:
Cooperating through the health authorities
Of the states the service collects data upon. the
prevalence and distribution of disease admins
tiers interstate quarantine, suppresses epidemics,
conducts research work. maintains national quar-
antine, examines immigrants regulates the manu-
facture and sale of biologic medicinal products in
Interstate traffic and furnishes medical treatment
to various branches of the government service.
officers Of the service may be assigned to duty In
any part of the world"
1t is the intention in the present article to take
up and describe only one Of the works and fields
Of labor Of the public health service The waters
of Chesapeake bay and its inlets and tributaries
form the field Of an enormous industry. 1t Is
/ from these waters that are taken large part OF
| the shell fish approved delectable food by
| thousands and perhaps millions who never saw
salt water. How many Americans nodding with
the approval Of appetite over their oysters on the
half shell know that 1t has been made matter
of government concern that the shell fish should
be a food as safe to the health as 1t is grateful
to the taste?
II has been said that the American people show
great interest in a dreadnaught, big ship built
for offensive purposes, and II 1t Is not putting IL
too strongly mainly for the sinking Of other ships
and their crews along with them-a killing pur-
pose. Is 1t not to be hoped that an equal II not
a greater interest may one day be created In the
little ships of the government whose only work
and only purpose saving ones!
In the control of the public health service Is
little ship called the Bratton. 1t bears the name
of q surgeon of the service who did commanding
work for mankind in great yellow fever epidemic
and who laid down his life for humanity. The
scene of the Brattons activities is on the waters
of the great shell fish producing bay which washes
MARYLAND and the tributaries thereto 1t Is one OF
. the ships helping to guard the lives OF ninety mil
lions of people.
! The work of safeguarding the shell fish BEDS
! from pollution and thereby performing the worn
Of prevention at a source from which danger fire.
quently springs, falls in the field OF dlrecuon o
u Assistant Surgeon-General ]. w. Kerr, III charge
: of the division of scientific research" To give
: an idea of the immensely OF the held OF precau
; ton prevention and cure coming under the dlrec
ton of one man it may be said that Doctor Kerr
duties as set forth in the organization chart o
the service appear as follows: Laboratories
o leprosy investigation station Hawaii; hygleni
laboratory. Washington, d. c.; division OF chemis
It try zoology. pharmacology pathology and bat
d. teriology Field Investigations: Diseases affec'
j. ing man pollution of streams by sewage and In
s, dustrial wastes rural hygiene and school hygiene
The services of the good ship Bratton are give