The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-27
THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER.
PLAN FOR WIIOLETIME OFFICIAL
FOR COUNTY INDORSED.
chamber of Commerce Idea is Dis
cusscd and Economic Value 10 Com
munity of Sanitary Survey and Ac.
cessory Moves and improvements
are Pointed Out,

~
Ihe unanimous n hearty endorse
ment or the proposed whole time
county health officer for Sumter coun-
ty, by many of Sumter's leading citi-
Zens at the Chamber of Commerce
rally last Tuesday evening, and the
further fact that the Sumter County
Medical Association, the Sumter
Board Of Health, the Grand Jury of
sumter county, the Tuomey Hospital
Visiting Board of physicians, and 9TH
crs have endorsed the plan to have
such an official, coupled up with the
additional gratifying information that,
SO far as is known, not a single man
or woman has entered any objection
to the creation of such an important
office, IN office that will mean a COM
plete county health survey by a num-
Der Of sanitary experts of the United
States working with county health Of
icer, should be sufficient guarantee
to the Sumter County Legislative DEL
egation and the board of county COM
missioners that a whole time county
health officer is needed and desired.
The Sumter Chamber of Commerce
is seeking to better the conditions of
the agricultural districts of Sumter
county, to have the rural homes more
| aficionf cnrnforfoh 1o ooI ,xs,z
and to in@ zee families t remain on
the farm. 1t desires to have hygiene
taught in the rural schools as a part
Of the regular curriculum. poe
Surely there is nothing, of an eco
nomic nature, of more importance to
the progress Of a community, or a
county, than the public health, the
decreasing of sickness, particularly of
unnecessary sickness, and premature
deaths. To do this would mean i
great gain in sustaining the earhihty
power of the individual and comfnuf.
ity. Sickness means decreased pro.
duction and loss of earning power.
Greenville, South Carolina, q coun-
ty which had one Of the complete
county health surveys this year, held
a big health celebration at which the
secretary of the treasury, the surgeon
general of the public health service,
and other distinguished statesmen
were present. Hundreds of business
concerns had beautiful floats in the
big health parades, and thousands of
persons attended the celebration.
The whole time county health off,
Ger, the complete county health sur
vey, and the improved health condi-
tons in Greenville county are shown
by reports following the county health
survey. These progressive steps show
that Greenville is looking for the fu-
ture and offers itself as a very de-
sirable location in which to live and
do business.
The Sumter Chamber of Commerce
is after new enterprises, and desirable
settlers of all kinds. And one of the
very best ways to get these desirable
enterprises and people is to make
Sumter county one of the most en-
terprising and desirable places in
which to live. "f#
By eradicating mosquitoes and ma
larial fever, by discriminating flies and
the diseases they scatter, by extermi-
mating hook worm, and in general de-
creasing the amount of p~reventable
sickness and premature deaths, the
county indicates that it is trying to
improve conditions, which is the best
evidence of progress. Sumter county
can have its health celebration and
it's complete county health survey, at
tended by the biggest kind of legitl-
mate advertisement of national scope,
if our people will only get to work
for a whole-time county healtl. Off
Ger. 81"
The Sumter Chamber of Commerce
is far sighted enough to see that the
best possible sanitary conditions, and
the best possible public health show
ing are the best advertising assets We
can possibly get.
VxrJHyn ~av-cuS., DUpOuYnrD