The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-03-17
Is 1t a Useless Law?

Laws, WnaCS the need OF them II
they are not enforced?
The Florida Legislature at the ses.
siol of 1915, at the urgent sugges-
ton OF the State Board of Health, en-
acted a law-Chapter 6953, Laws OF
F'lorlda-which is, or should be, one
OF the most important Acts ever en-
rolled on the statute books of the
state for the prevention of disease,
and it has meaning for every citi-
zen of Florida, permanent or" transi-
emit.
1t provides that it shall be mis-
demeanor to operate a hotel, board
ing house, restaurant or lunch coun-
ter without screening every door,
window or other opening in the din
ing room, kitchen or passage leading
to them, with wire netting of a mesh
small enough to prevent the admis-
sion of flies.
1t makes it a misdemeaner to sell
or expose for sale food in any meat
or butcher shop, grocery, fruit stand,
bakery or other place, which is to be
eaten raw or which is to be consum-
ed without cooking, and to operate
any dining or buffet car within the
state without screening such eating
places with wire netting which will
prevent the admission of flies.
The penalty upon conviction is q
fine not to exceed fifty dollars, or
imprisonment not longer than three
months for each proven violation.
This law, while it might possibly
have been better, is vast improve
ment on any previous attempt to pro-
tect the people of the state through
these channels from the infection of
typhoid fever and some other filth
produced diseases, if mote the if)-
it shall be enforced.
Florida's Board of Health has been
working for more than twenty-five
years to make the state a better
place to live in, to prevent disease
and to bring to all the people an in
innate knowledge how to help them
selves to longer life, to better SAM.
tarys surroundings and more eff
cient working days in each year. The
board has succeeded fairly we'll in its
never ending labor, and it is shown
by the fact that when epidemic
threatens, the people throw up their
hands and surrender in blind faith
to it's leadership out of the emergen-
cy into which their own disregard of
it's warnings has plunged them.
True it is that the business of the
board is to take charge in emergen-
ties that threaten disaster through
disease, but it is equally it's mission
20 advise and warn when no imme-
liate danger menaces, in order that
may not come. In times
If stress, municipal and county au.
,horities, solicitors of criminal and
circuit courts, sheriffs and all the
est, willingly use their full authori-
" to aid the board in it's enforce
nent of law and safety measures.
Why are they not as ready to back |
he board in it's work of prevention !
When no danger is in sight? 1t is i
fact that, with few rare exceptions,
hey are as indifferent as a Georgia !
abbit to the war in Europe.
The deaths in Florida, from ty- '
hold fever alone each year, exceed |
hose from yellow fever in any cpl
emic in The state of which there is
ny record. This disease is carried
o the new victim by flies, which
founder in the excreta of the pa
lent and deposit the germs of ty-
hold in or on the food which is eat
n by healthy persons, who thereby
re doomed to suffering with pretty
trong chances of death. Disgust
lg, isn't it? Yet it is the purpose
f this Chapter 6953 to aid in stop.
ing this cycle of disease, and the
oard of Health is asking the people
{ Florida to insist on it's enforce
lent for their own preservation. !
Regulations ON the statute books of
lorida for the preservation of health
re just as really laws as those that
rovide for the punishment of the
murderer. The private citizen has
he inalienable right to demand of
lie proper authorities the enforce
lent of any law, and the official
ho deliberately or carelessly neg
cts to perform his duty may be re-
loved from office.
Baby Week has just been observed
Florida communities, as in those
{ other states. It's celebration has
5sumed the proportions of society
motions, and the elite four hundred
eight hundred-it doesn't make
UGH difference how many-hava
nused themselves and incidentally
nd remotely have aided the baby.
s a splendid thing-this idea of
wing the baby a better chance, but
lie ultimate and greatest benefit to
,ciety lies far in the future-a whole
ahead. 1t is in the hope
lat the baby of today will become,
irty or forty years from now, a cit
en- alive in his responsibilities, and
.tive-vastly more active than his
Their and mother of today, in de-
anding those things that will make
m and keep him strong and heal
y-more efficient in body, mind