The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-04-15

eaten, shall be protected by wire
netting of a mesh sufficiently
small to prevent access by flies.
A bill requiring that all earth
closets, used for the deposit OF
human excreta shall be screened
and shall be constructed and
maintained in conformity with
plans approved by the State
Board of Health.
A bill requiring that all school
buildings, public or private, shall
be provided with adequate toilet
facilities. In rural districts where
sewerage systems do not exist, all
closets shall be fly proof construc-
ton in accordance with plans rec
commended or approved by the
State Board of Health.
A Bill providing that it shall be
lawful for common carriers, in
Guiding railroads operating in Flo
rida, to grant free transportation
to the State Health Officer, the
Assistant State Health Officers
and to all agents and employees
of the State Board of Health,
when travelling in connection with
the business of the Board.
A Bill authorizing the State
Board of Health to gather infor-
nation concerning the causes, ma
ture and extent of communicable
diseases, to secure AND equip a car
or cars containing information by
charts, models or other exhibits
relating to public health santa
ton, and hygiene, and permitting
railway companies to furnish and
transport such car or cars with
out charge for the purpose, and to
permit the Board of Health to re-
ceive from individuals, counties
cities and towns contributions to
further the purposes of such edu-
cation.
A Bill creating a Bureau of vi
tai Statistics and providing for
the registration of births and
deaths; providing for the appoint
ment of State Registrar with To-
cal registrars and deputies, fixing
their duties and compensations;
providing that the State Board of
Health shall have the power to
adopt, publish and enforce rules
relating to the notification of
sickness and of statistics of mar
Fiages and divorces, and requiring
reports of vital statistics from
physicians, midwives, undertakers
and others.
A Bill authorizing the State
Board of Health to purchase or,
at its discretion, to establish
plant for the production of hog
cholera serum, which is to be fur
nished at cost to farmers ard
swine owners in Florida. 1t will
be noted that not one of these bills
when it becomes a law, will call
for a cent of appropriation from
state funds. The expenses entail
ed in the preparation and opera
ton of the "Health Train" out
side OF the transportation propos-
ed to be furnished by the railroad
companies, and that of the hog
cholera serum plant, are to be met
from the funds of the State Board
which, by law are already provid-'
ed by one-half mill tax on all
assessible property in the State.
The first three of these bills
provide for the enforcement in
public places of ordinary rules of
cleanliness, which every careful
and wise housekeeper insists upon
in her own home. When it is
realized that one-half of the rural
schools of the state are not pro-
vided with toilet facilities of any
description, all good Floridians
blush with shame and cease to
wonder why hookworm affects
nearly three-quarters of the pu-
pills in these schools.
Continued on last page) ;