South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-22
PUBLIC HEALTH
A Series of Articles by DR..
Charles S. Bosenbury, Sec
rotary South Bend Board
of Health.
THE GUARDIANS OF

THE PUBLIC HEALTH
Quietly and increasingly the work OF
disease prevention goes on. AT the
head OF the organized forces is the
United States public health service.
Cooperating with the health authori-
ties OF the states the service collects
data upon the prevalence and distribu
ton Of disease. administers interstate
quarantine, suppreSses epidemics. con-
ducts research work. maintains nat
ional quarantine, examines immigrants
regulates the manufacture and sale of
antitoXins. serums, and vaccines and
furnishes medical treatment TO various
branches Of the government service.
Perhaps our people have but little idea
what IL means 10 us as a nation and 10
our continued prosperity that In Cali
f0rnia and more recently in New Or
leans the public health service stood
between us and the terrible scOurge of
! bGbonic plague In 1913 during the
floods in Ohio and Indiana the public
service men operated with the state
and local authorities 10 prevent the
spread Of disease among the unfortu-
nate victims. Thus the federal off
GERS are ready to come TO the aid Of
stricken communities at all times and
to bring expert advice and service.
The various state and municipal
health departments are independent
organizations and vet there is "A CON
nectiOn with each other. The state
departments cooperate with the feder-
al service. while they control and sup
ervise the work of their respective To-
caldepartments. This is illustrated by
the use of standard birth and death
certificates. Our own state board OF
health under the able leadership Of
Or. j. y. Hurry has brought about
many reforms 70 the great benefit of
the commonwealth Indiana now
stands for all that is best i'm public
health work. 1t is the first state TO
call upon its citizens to celebrate a Di-
sease Prevention day
Besides the officially organized
forces there are numerous societies
and associations devoted to the public
health cause. The American Public
health association is the largest and
most representative. Many institu-
| lions are supporting experimental and
research work. Some of these have
been purposely created for medical re-
search. a number Of medical colleges
and hospitals carry on research and
many valuable contributions have
come from these centers of fnvestiga-
ton
Throughout the country are count
less Seml-puDlc organizations like our
own Children's dispensary. Anti-tuber-
culosis league and Visiting Nurses as
ISOLATION. They bring the gospel Of
good health to countless thousands by
means OF literature. clinics lectures
and house to house visits.
While the agencies 10 guard the
public health are numerous and their
work efficient It does not behoove the
individual to permit himself to remain
Indifferent The work Of any health
department or agency is limited by
law, lack Of funds and the willingness
OF people 70 carry out the suggestions
and demands OF the health depart
ment. 1t is the duty Of canitarians TO
lead the way to improved and better
conditions. 1t Is just as much the
duty of the people to profit by their
suggestions. It is mighty difficult to
force people TO keep well. The pur-
pose of the coming celebration is TO
bring TO the people the message Of
good health. 1t is hoped that keep
ing we'll will become popular