Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-11-07
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
y Physician Outlines the Work OF an
Efficient Bureau.

The hygienic laboratory at Washing
ton, with a working force Of 81 Of
ficers and technical assistants, operat-
ing under the advice and counsel of
eight of the ablest representatives of
the medical profession, is utilized as
training school for or.1cers OF the
United States public health service to
further prepare them for dealing with
questions of public health. Many mu-
nicipal officials recommended by the
health officer of their respective
states are freely availing themselves
of the advantages of this course of in
struction.
Studies of hookworm, leprosy
typhoid fever, pellagra, measles,
rabies, infantle paralysis and other
diseases are in progress, and many
valuabl additions have accrued to our
knowledge as to their cause and pre-
vention. All the work of the labora-
tory is directed toward the conserva-
ton of the public health, and all these
Investigations are not confined TO one
institution. There are 10 public health
laboratories at different stations, each
one of which is engaged in the solu-
ton of its own problems.
Biological establishments in this and
foreign countries must receive the
license of the public health service be-
fore they are allowed to sell viruses,
serums, toxins and analogous products
in the United States. There are now
more than sixty products on our mar
kets.
An officer qualified by training and
years of experience annually inspects
every esta blishment producing these
biological products.
The examination of arriving aliens
conducted by the service of 90 sta
tions along the coasts and borders to
determine the mental and physical
-'lifications of immigrants resulted
exclusion of n large number of
loathsome, dangerous and
able diseases. as well as of
aniens because of various
pn, cal defects which affect their
ability to earn a living. During the
year 1914 1,274 insane and mentally
defective were debarred. The i'm
portance of preventing the entrance
of this last class of individuals arises
from the fact that they reproduce
their kind indefinitely, and our pres
ent annual expense of one hundred
million dollars in caring for the men,
tai detectives ought not to be in
creased. Too high value cannot be
placed on this work: and it Is gratify-
ing to be able TO state that this phase
of the examination of immigrants Is
receiving tne dltchIioH "hiSh ''
merits.
Surgeon General Rupert Blue, who
has Just been reappointed after the
completion of 4-year period OF duty
during which the work of the public
health service has increased as nevel
before in its history, says:
"The public health movement ha'
acquired such momentum that 1t can
not be arrested. II the needs anc
demands of the people are to be met
congress must awaken to the neces
sity of increasing the commissioner
corps by an addition Of two hundred
officers.
"It has been demonstrated that th'
rural communities can be almost freet
of typhoid fever, that the incidence O.
malaria can be greatly reduced. ant
that the general Death rate can be ap
preciably lowered. To this end 1t u
necessary that publicity appropri
ations be increased.
"At present the service Is limited =
an edition of five thousand for 1t
educational publications; ten thousan'
are not infrequently demanded.
by concrete example the people
large-not n few scattered counties
must be shown that tuberculosis, ma
laria and typhoid fever are a needles
drain upon their vitality. Outlook