The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-29
AN UNDIVIDED DUTY

1IiG sIdLe government OF the mum
cipality- is responsible for
warding off epidemic infection?
The question has been suggested
and debated in Florida, particularly
in connection with the possible II
vasion of the plague, which has been
definitely located at New Orleans, at
Havana and at two or three other
Cuban points.
On the same general principles IS
based the answer to the question in
all the states, but in Florida tee
reply is somewhat modified by the
large powers granted to the Safe
Board of Health by legislative at
| thority.
The federal government controls
international shipping where il
touches its own coasts, and Il IS also
in control of sanitary regulations TO
the extent that it may prevent the
admission of disease or Of diseased
| persons by quarantine or by such
ether rules a. it may see fit to ell
force.
Within each state its own author
ity is supreme regarding health mat
ters, but each state may call upon
the federal government for advice
and assistance, or it may voluntarily
delegate to the federal government
T full control in an emergency, when
circumstances seem to justify. Such
situation is illustrated by Louis
lana, which has resigned its author
/ ity TO the United States, represented
by surgeon-General supert Blue, Of
1.-The q. S. public health service, to
| direct the campaign against the
plague in New Orleans.
In Florida, which in sanitary mat
ters acts through its State Board of
Health, this board is in general
charge of matters affecting the
! healthfulness of the state. For the
protection of the entire state or of
any section of it, the board my super
sede local authorities, municipal
county or others, taking entire charge
in an emergency, in which its wider
resources and powers may seem nee
| essary to meet existing conditions.
Under ordinary conditions the board
exercises its powers and authority
outside of cities and incorporated
towns in which local boards of health
are in control of sanitary matters.
The duty of the municipal health
organization, although perhaps de-
fined in different language by vari-
Gus cities. is to maintain such SAM
tary conditions as may be required
by municipal legislation, and it is
regulated by the powers delegated to
these boards by their creators. Il
is a duty of such city health boards
to exercise authority in the emer-
gency of an epidemic disease, which
Is confined to the limits of that city
calling on the State Board of Health
for assistance when such aid may .bt
needed.
The duties of the antiona1, state
and city health authorities are large
ly, but not entirely. toward the pre-
Hlvention of disease invasion and Il
create and maintain such sanitar,
HIconditions as will not invite disease
Fl Under the laws of Florida, no mu
nicipality may establish quarantin,
I against any other city or section, do
4 imestic or foreign, without the con
sent of the state board on the othe
hand, the state board may establish
!, quarantine without the permission o
! Irequest OF local authorities.
In view of these conditions, tn
matter of Kidding Florida seaport
and interior cities of their rat popu
s lations, is plainly the duty of tn,
cities themselves, by efficient roden
!, surveys; to create such sanitary con
. ditions as will make the invasion o
: the plague improbable, If not impos
sible. IF in spite of such efforts. tn,
I disease should appear, it would be
come the duty of the state healtl
authorities to take charge of the sit
a uation, to stamp out the disease an
= the infection, calling upon the feder
? al government for such advice an
aid as might appear necessary.
. The preservation of health-invitin
= conditions is the province of ever
municipality, and having been fore
. warned of the menace of the plague
. it is an imperative demand Resin
slupon the authorities of every Flor
. da city, and especially upon it's tie
. seaports, to make impossible tn
: nearer approach Of the plague, b
using every precaution that sciene
= has discovered.
RERTTN