The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-28

Runert p,,n - encouragement of the eervice is
nlue' whose research work and vbooo m
compl1shment In lines of nodiaa, "nu "nose az
Ien hno"n TO the profession. There r six 90.
W. y eueeoh'generals Doctors A. H. Clepnan,
" simpson, L. E. Cofer, j. w. Kerr. W. G.
In W,shina .. W. Irask. They are all stationed
- -snineton and have direction over the va.
iou oranehes IN all parts Of tho country
neeent!y IN the medical council there anneared
this brief but conclusive statement ~ ,ha uaSI
IoIa functions of the public health service of the
onleu states government:
Cooperating through the boo,th
vi tne states' the service collects data upon the
prevalence and distribution of diseasa odn,inI,
CTS Interstate quarantine, suppresses epidemics
conducts research work, maintains national quar-
ahtine' examines immigrants, regulates the manu-
facture and sale of biologic medicinal nrodncts In
interstate traffic and furnishes medical trea+n,on+
10 various branches of the government service
oh1cers 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
or labor OF the public health service. The waters
of Chesapeake bay and its inlets and tributaries
form the neid OF an enormous industry. It Is
from these waters that are taken a large mart n,
the shell fish approved as a 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 a matter
OF government concern that the shell fish should
pe d loou as saie TO the health as 1t is grateful
to the taste?
1t has been said that the American people show
great interest in a dreadnaught, a big ship built
for offensive purposes. and, If it is not putting it
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 are saving ones?
In the control of the public health service Is a
little ship called the Bratton. 1t bears the pame
of a surgeon of the service who did commanding
work for mankind in a great yellow fever epidemic
and who laid down his life for humanity. The
scene of the Bratton's activities is on7the 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 mill
lions of people.
The work of safeguarding the shell fish beds
from pollution and thereby performing the work
of prevention at a source from which danger fire.
quently springs, falls in the field of direction Of
Assistant Surgeon-General J. w. Kerr, III charge
Of the division of scientific research" To give
an idea Of the immensely of the field of precau-
ton, prevention and cure coming under the direc-
ton of one man it may be said that Doctor Kerr's
duties as set forth in the organization chart of
the service appear as follows: Laboratories;
leprosy investigation station. Hawaii; hygienic
laboratory, Washington, D, c.; division of chemis-
try, zoology, pharmacology, pathology and bac-
ing man, pollution of streams by sewage and in
dustrial wastes, rural hygiene and school hygiene.
The services of the good ship Bratton are given