Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-26
The Conservation of Health
DR.. z. W. Rowe.


As president of the Board Of Health Governor More
head invited the public health service to send man 70
make study Of health organization in Nebraska ms
man was 10 be an expert and impartial person Dr.
Carroll Fox was detailed After two months he has Just
left and his report in the hands Of his chief IN
Washington. From close association with pr foh :
know he will recommend changes that are not 700 aeA
for adoption but that he feels will III our local condohs
The recommendations will give you now are IN my
Judgment in harmony with the views Of pr. Fox
After thorough study Of the State Board OF Health
and careful consideration Of the public health needs OF
the state IL may be concluded that much Of the trouble
arising within the health body due 10 the absence
of an administrative head clothed with authority and re-
sponsibilty and the lack Of proper organization 70
carry on the necessary work In order 10 correct THIS
the following recommendations are made
1. That the name Of the state health organization be
changed to the State Department Of Health
O. That fu-tne state health officer 10 act as exec
utve officer of the board Of health be appointed by the
Board Of Health at salary Of not less than $4,000
annum. That the state health officer be physician
with previous experience in public health work. and that
hold his office long no renders efficient services
10 the state That he receive his appointment only
after passing competitive examination before the board
Of the advisory board the questions 10 be sub
tted and the graded by the United States Public
Health Service.
g. That the State Department Of Health be divided
into the board Of health the executive office
bureau of epidemiology bureau Of public health snsln-
eerng and bureau Of vital statistics.
That the bureau Of epdemology be placed In charge
Of fu-time chief epidemioogis 70 be appointed by
the state board Of health upon the o
the health officer that he hold his position 50 long
he renders efficient service TO the state and that his
salary be not less than $4,000 per
s. That ulltime chief sanitary engineer be placed
charge OF the bureau Of public health engineering That
he be appointed by the board Of health the
endation Of the state health officer salary Of not
less than $4,000 per annum and that he hold hs office
20 long he renders efficient services to the state
g. That full-tims chief statstieian be placed In
charge Of the bureau Of vital Statistics that he be APP
pointed by the state board Of health the
daon Of the state health officer at salary Of not less
than $1,000 and that he hold his office 30
long as he renders efficient service 10 the state
T. That the position designated state health in
spector be changed 70 that Of chief Of the bureau Of
epdemoogy.
3. That in addition the above the personnel Of the
State Department Of Health be increased by the addition
Of laboratory attendant and at least three clerks.
o. That all Of the employees Of the health department
be fuI-tme and hold their offices during efficiency.
10. That the bureau of epldemIoogy made respon-
sbc for the collection Of morbidy reports the control OF
preyentabe diseases the work Of the diagnose abora
and the supervision Of the activities Of local health
authorities.
II. That the bureau Of public health engineering be
made responsible for the activities concerned In the main
tenance Of the purity OF water supplies the disposal Of
garbage and trades wastes, and the laboratory
work entaed IN the analysis Of water and
~. That the bureau Of vital statistics be made
sponsble collection Of birth death eercates
marriage and divorce reports and the compilation and
tabulaon Of information relating 70 the public health
49, That the laboratory be divided into two parts, the
diagnostc and the water and laboratory. That
the former be made division Of the bureau Of epidemic
ology and the latter division Of the bureau Of public
health engineering.
H. That the work Of the laboratory be extended both
in amount and in that the physeans and health
officers Of the state have greater facilities to assist
them in the diagnosis Of communicable Diseases
49, That without delay. energetic efforts be made in
the localities TO increase the efficiency Of birth and death
registrations and the notification Of reportabe diseases
49, That popular literature the different subjects Of
public health be published by the state board Of health
and distributed among the citizens Of the state.
~. That as soon as practicable, public health
hibt be ACQUIRED BY the state board Of health and
hibted IN the different communities Of the state
eompanied by lectures and moving pictures.
is. That the advisory board be retained exam
give advice when called by the state board of
health, but to have no administrative controlling
function
49, That the advisory board meet Jointly with the
state board Of health the call OF the president Of
the board Of health.
90 That less than $4,000 per annum be appro.
priated to the state board Of health be used the
following manner at the discretion Of me state board
One state health officer not less than $4,000 an.
One epidemiolosist at not less than s2Soo annually.
One sanitary engineer at not less than $4,000 annually.
One statistieian al not Less than 81 go annusIIy
One laboratory attendant at not less than ss4O
-Four clerks as stenOsraphers at not less than saaso
Maintenance Of health department including travelling
expenses laboratory printing etc. $4,000
"D Total s24.7Oo
a. That larger quarters for the State Department
of Health be provided in the state house Lincoln.
a. That record Of the expenditures be by the
State Department Of Health according to the nature Of
the and the bureau mourning IT, the
Of maintaining bureau. the any activity
or item, may be determined at a moments notice and
without effort
49, That the regulations Of the state board Of health
be amended to provide for vaccination against smallpox
a. That as soon AS practicable. chemist be en-
poyed TO be placed in charge Of the sewage
laboratory under the direction the sanitary engineer
20 That the state be divided into less than four
districts each district to have tutme district health
officer who must be physician with previous exper.
fence IN public health work. and receive less than
$500 per annum. That the district health officer be
made responsible 70 the health officer and the
endemoosist for the efficiency Of his and that he
hold office long he renders satisfactory service 10
the state, That he perform within His district ali tho
work required Of public health official including the
control 81 communicable diseases the delivery Of public
health lectures the supervision o. local health auhor
ties supervision over the milk supply the collection Of
meIhdY reports and reports Of births and deaths tbs
health supervision Of schools IN rural districts etc
~ That m order 60 defray the expenses Of the ds.
tret health organization. including the salary Of the ala
tfe health officer and assistant Necessary travelling e.
renaes, etc. there be appropriated the spm 81 10000
uF $4,000 for each dtstriet