The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-10-22

every state and all progressive cities
have committed the regulation Of
their sanitary and health affairs tc
bodies of trained experts, who are
eq4 u! pue 'ql[eeQ 10 spIeoq Sc uMou'
majority of cases these boards are eff
fcient, dependable and vastly more
useful in their communities than any
other bodies intrusted with the admin
Istration of public matters.
1t takes money to make such work
effective and, therefore, it is dis
tinct reflection on the intelligence of
any community when those charged
with handling it's finances, begin their
retrenchment for economy's sake, with
the expenses of the health depart
ments. 1t is reflection on the wis
dom and common sense of public Of
| fcers.
Many and bitter experiences have
taught Florida the value of public adj
ministration of health affairs, both
city and state. The results accom-
plished have justified the expenditures
of public funds in this way.
The City of Jacksonville has
health department that has given the
city reputation far and wide, espe-
cially in its successful fight against
typhoid fever.
Within the past year or eighteen
months, the City of Miami has had the
wisdom to create board of health,
whose rulings are given the force Of
municipal ordinance without special
enactment by the city council, and the
work accomplished has been success
full beyond expectation.
Years ago-and not so many years,
either-the lower East Coast of which
Miami is the metropolis, swarmed
with flies and mosquitoes, which made
life serious problem in the warmer
months Of the year. The new board
has reduced these pests to almost an
unnoticeable minimum, in striking
contrast to the conditions that prevail
in number Of the more negligent
cities in the northern and western part
of the state, where natural conditions
are much more favorable than in
Southern Florida.
How has this been done? By ac-
ceptlng the scientific fact that mos
quitoes breed in damp places and by
filling in these low spots. By regula-
ting public and private stables and in
sisting that manure shall be covered
and disinfected and by enforcing pen
alties for neglect.
1t has taken control of the city's |
milk supply with the result that the
meteorological count is lower than
that required for certified milk. Dairy
stables under its jurisdiction are built |
with concrete floors, easily cleaned, !
and screened milking rooms; the milk !
is Immediately refrigerated and. kept !
on ice until delivered to the customer.
In many instances the cows are
groomed and particular care is exer-
cised to keep them scrupulously clean
and comfortable. Miami revokes the
licenses of milk dealers whose product
falls below the required standard And
the courts have sustained the Miami
Board Of Health in its work for the
public welfare.
And the results? Miami, located in
the semi-tropics with many natural
conditions against the highest sani-
tary surroundings, is one of the most
healthful cities in Florida.
What Miami has done, every CITY
IN the state should do, and every city
can do it if its affairs are administered
by intelligent, up-to-now officials, who
are ambitious to continue in Office
State Board Of Health Bulletin.