Corpus Christi caller and daily herald. [volume] (Corpus Christi, Tex.) 1911-1917, 1914-09-20
DUTIES AND STATUS HEALTH OFFICERS

Public health administration H. nns
looked upon as profession whlc
h,nds ia knee TO none, ~ far an ideal
and service are concerned That th'
vocation OF hraith officer and mcdlca
practitioner II ao longer considere'
compatible by educators IL evidence
hi the fact that school for iiealil
Officers has been cs,abllahed undo
the joint auspices ~ Harvard Unlycr.
sit, and tho Mnssne hnsetts institution
~ Technology the first time IN tAel
/ history that ihane two institutions hay,
ever joined hands.
{ That health administration through
out the country has heen establishe'
ou this country has Jagged because
ihe lack at trained leadership. II "a
reason given IS the educators bnei
~ the id"n They Furthermore main
tain that q health officer should NJ
pfactice medicine. and that he mus
b. required 10 give his entire time I,
hir official duties otherwise the latte
cannot be- properly done, Iis must
therefore, Doe nuppnftsd morally ans
financially. the same az any other hifi
official IN order to be assured q
ihiH. the uffite should no longer be
political one. but n should Soc made 4
depend entirely upon the steady I'M
proy.mont In saniiary conditions o.
shown by the gradual decrease Ia a.
sick and death rate. Then. and no
Until then. Will the health afficer cnms
into hia own kingdom
In Tho old days amy mar who had r.
eolvea the orthodox trimming leading
degree u ~ -" could be honorcl
with the position ~ health officer. O.
necosaity the major portion ~ his tim
WAS given 20 hlA own individual prao-
lice. though he took time a. post diph
ihsria. scarlet fever and other con
tanous disease pincafds when occns
ion required The Idea ~ prrveniinf
Stsenae never occurred 10 him Ever
n IL had. be would not have the tim
20 spare from his own individual prac
lice % combat them. Besides, he knew
no more ~ the duties ~ health Off
ser than does the average young med
eht man tptihff
How can health officer prevent the
spread spread ri disease " h@ does
mol kao~ lts mode " trnnrnsission7
TIE snceesnfui health officer must
be- 40 things % an men-and more
lic mn1 understand the making and
braskine n health laws IL must con
oern himneif with the laws ~ hereai,,
and eugcnicn. lie must make every ~
fort 10 improve the copdstions thai
rnsnace WORKING people. ne must Hsiaf
anics the qualify u our food. the pur
rs ~ our milk the cleanliness u GU
water lie must he q student Of inslus
trial hygiene. and the diseases 81 oc-
cupa,ion IL short. he must be familiar
with al the sanitary sclencss as well
a. the medical nsiences. both u which
in the broad biological sense underllf
the foundation of successful health SD
minisiratioE II viii thus be seen thai
the health officer Is concerned sith =
fe,~ e.aw mstfers besidss Ais alleged
~fad" ~ etampiuw out communicable
0,reas1s He knows fall wall that there
are many preyenini.ls defects which
may 10 reached. especially IN school
children.
TOE position and prestige n those
snterlnR the rsbisf health service
sbould be- as jealou.iy guarded AZ an
officer in the army ~ honored az . De-
fender Of his country from the out
s::s.S foes. for 70 must the henith off,