Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-06-30
HEAlTn WORK IN our STATES.
THE Chicago Tribune.)

DR.. Charles V. Chaplin, health commits
sioner Of Providence, Rhode Island,
and sanitarian of recognized ability
and long experience. has recently con-
Quoted an investigation of the various
State departments of health.
His conclusions are embodied in re-
port of State public health work issued
within the last few weeks. Judged BY
this report, some of the States are very
mnch alive to the necessity of conserv-
ing the health of the people, while certain
others leave such matters very largely to
individual initiative.
Speaking generally. the older States
have developed the best department of
health. Again, it is noticeable that, also
speaking generally, the best departments
are in those States in which, by reason of
the development of great manufacturing
or commercial enterprises, a large por-
tion Of the people live in cities. In ru-
raj communities the conservation of
health can be left to individul initiative
without causing such disastrous results or
disastrous results 80 easily appreciated.
BY reason of this we find that, again
speaking generally, the agricultural States
have not kept pace in the development of
their State departments Of health.
Another deterring influence in nearly
every State, but much more rare in some
States than in others, lie the tendency tn
dismiss trained health officers and to re-
place them with green, wholly unframed
men (for they are not sanitarians) with
every change of administration. Speak
ing of one State, DR.. Charm says:
"Politics are said to dictate appoint
ments to the State board of health. IF
this Ia 90 permenancy of tenure for the
executive, and perhaps his subordinates,
can never be secure, and no matter how
efficient an official may be, the whirligig
of politics may displace him in moment
and reverse the policy of the department
and destroy its influence. (The incubus
Of easily preventable disease lies so
heavy on the South that no Southern
State can afford to allow party or per-
sonal politics to exist in the department
OF health.) The people should demand
that no governor appoint to membership
In the board Of health any man who
does not hold himself above all petty
politics."
This criticism applies to every section
Of the country. 1t is as true in the North
~ in the South. The statements quoted
were in the chapter devoted to the Louis
lana health department.
Within year after they were written
Louisiana elected new governor. Pow
erful political interests are exerting them
selves to displace the present efficient
president Of the State board Of health and
to replace him with Q man without
training in sanitation or experience in
protecting people against disease.
The reputation of Louisiana AZ State
where proper health work il being done
has greatly enhanced since DR.. Oscar
Bowling became the State health officer.
As such he has national reputation,
and the State has capitalized and is capi-
talizing on that reputation.
People from other sections of the coun-
try feel little more tempted to move to
Louisiana when they know Of the good
reputation borne by DR.. Bowling and
the other members OF the State board.
Naturally the people of the State would
be expected to visit their vengeance on
any officer who would turn the State
board of health over to unframed and
untried men.