The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-09-07
FLORIDA'S FINE
HEALTH RECORD
STATE AND LOCAL BOARDS
HAVE BEEN WGILANT
The Good Conditions Existing are
Especially Desirable When the
Schools All Over the State
are Beginning TO Open

Never before in the history 9
the state has the health of Florl
da's citizens been guarded will
greater watchfulness than during
the summer now drawing to
close. The only possible excep
tions being when epidemic has ac
atually invaded and overwhelmeo
individual communit / es ano
threatened the wellbeing off al
sections.
Never before have the health
boards, state and local, been more
alert and never before have they
had so fully the active and intel.
ligent cooperation of physicians
everywhere. 1t is a striking trib,
ute of confidence in the medical
profession and in the constituted
health authorities that there has
been no alarm nor undue excite
ment, in spite of the fact that the
infection of infantile paralysis
from northern centers has been a
menace to Florida in no degree
imaginary nor unreal.
SO far as positively known at
the present writing not single
case of the disease has entered the
state during the summer. The
statement is made with caution
while confirmation of the diagno-
sis of single doubtful case is be-
ing awaited by the State Board of
Health.
In the larger centers of popu-
lation in the state the general
health of citizens appears to be
quite up to the average for the
season. and probably somewhat
above the average in many com
munities. This is no uncertain
Testimony to good conditions, to
good common sense among the
people of Florida, and an evidence
of efficient sanitation under the di-
rection of able health authorities.
In Jacksonville not a single case
of typhoid fever is known which
had its origin within the city, and
only a few occurrences of the dis
ease, all of which originated else
where and were brought to the
city.
Such conditions are particular
ly desirable at this season of the
year which marks the near ap-
proach of the opening of the
schools of the state, urban and
rural. Some anxiety has been ex-
pressed in a few communities as
TO the entire safety of opening the
schools, particularly as many
children return from vacations in
northern states just before the be-
ginning of the school year.
The State Board of Health, be-
ing in close touch with conditions
in every part of the state as well
as in constant communication
with the health authorities in
northern infected centers and
with the United States Public
Health Service, knows of no rea-
son for postponing the opening of
the schools beyond the usual date,
in any city or community of Flor
ida.
While it is probable that the
danger of infection of infantile
paralysis being spread from New
York or other infected points may
he slightly less than it was a
month or six weeks ago, it is still
an actual possibility But the
splendid service rendered by the
various city health boards in COOP
Grafton with the State Board, is
still in effect, with its rigor in no
degree diminished. And this will
work as efficiently for the welfare
of the children in term as in vaca-
tiOn.
The annual opening of the
schools usually brings some slight
increase of few of the childrens'
diseases, notably diphtheria, but
this condition the doctors expect,
and prepare accordingly. 1t is
not likely that the present season
will see any marked difference in
this respect, but although this is
anticipated, it rarely has been
urged as a reason for not open
ing the schools at the customary
time.
Florida has the reputation of