The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-06-17
&c. A COPY; $1.5O A YEAR
A Health Sociological
Campaign for Florida

Icounties west of the Chattahoo-
chez river, with headquarters at
Pensacola, the population by the
census of 1910, being about 1884,
1000. The second includes the
counties between the Chatahoochee
and the Suwannee rivers, with
headquarters at Tallahassee, and
with population of $4,000.
The third embraces the north
eastern counties of Nassau, Du-
val, Clay, Putnam, Baker, Brad
ford, Columbia, Hamilton and SUI
vance It's population approxi-
mates 171,000 including that Of
jacksonville, as headquarters.
Daytona is the headquarters of
the next district which includes
the Atlantic coast counties from
st. Johns to Dade, with an estima-
ted population of $1,000. Gaines
vile is the headquarters of another
district which embraces the coun-
ties of Alachua. Levy, Marion,
Citrus, Lake, Pasco, fernando
and Sumter, and has a population
of 10S,000. The remaining coun-
ties of the state are embraced in
the sixth district which, with the
headquarters, city of Tampa, has
a population of 10000.
To each of these districts a
nurse or superintendent, has been
assigned to carry ON the work, as
far as possible, of ascertaining
the location and circumstances of
every tubercular sufferer in her
district to offer assistance where
lit is acceptable, to advise not only
as to the treatment in each par
ticular case, but also to prevent
the spread of the infection.
The six nurses or superintend-
ents selected for this important
work, were chosen by competitive
examination from seventeen APP
plicants. The committee in charge
of the examination was composed
of DIR. r. III. McGinnis, President
of the Florida Medical Society.
DR.. Ellen Lowell Stevens, Chair
man of the Department of Public
Health, Florida Federation o. Wo-
men s Clubs, both of Jacksonville,
and Mr.. Marcus Fagg, State Sup
erintendent of Florida Children's
Home Society. 1t must be appar-
ent that a person qualified to un-
dertake such large and important
work must be fitted not only pro-
fessionally, but she must have
keen discernment, quick precep-
ton, and be able to comprehend
readily, social conditions that
come under her observation and
she must meet them with tact,
hence the appointment on this
committee of lay member to
judge of qualifications from the
sociological viewpoint.
The work of these nurses by
force of circumstances must ex-
tend far beyond advice regarding
the treatment of tuberculosis. 1t
must include, if it is to be fully
efficient the wisdom to correct in
sanitary conditions, to advise in
Itelligently as to children dis
cases and the many ills that come
monty occur in rural communities
more Of less remote from the di-
rect activities Of local or city
health boards and where the ser
vices Of the physician arc not
readily and quickly avalla Die.
1t is a work of possibly immense
benefits to the people Of the state
in an educational direction, as
wcil as in practical advice regard
ing the home, open air treatment
o.. tuberculosis. 1t is confidently
expected that its successful issue
will warrent its speedy and wide
e1 tension by the employment Of a
larger force Of capable, self-sacri-
iicing women. State Board of
Bralth Bulletin.