Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-10
ILLINOIS BABIES
ARE NOW COUNTED
REVOLUTION IN STATE HEALTt
WORK BROUGHT ABOUT BY
PROGRESSIVE LAWS.
BIRTHS MUST BE RECORDED
Prom Being Behind We Go to Fore
front Of Nation In Public Health
Actlvity--fscforn Are
Set Forth.


4 revolution In tho activities Of the
Illinois state board Of health has been
accomplished In the last year In q
report TO Governor Dunno the board
describes the progress Of the depart
ment as attracting national attention
aud quotes the Journal Of the Ameri-
can Medical Association. the author.-
tntive publication OF the medical pro-
fosslon. as saying.
Fortunately for tho people OF the
state q now era In public health actiy-
ity seosns 10 have dawned. Illinois Ia
TO bs congratulated on her progress.
which all friends OF public health viii
hope IL oziy promise OF better things
u The futnrc.'
-Ths year asIs.- says the report 20
ths governor. stands out IN tho his-
tory ef the TIipoia state board Of
health as tho most Important year
since the creation OF the board I'm 1877.
In times past Illinois was properly re
garded 30 one OF the foremost states
IN sanitary aud public health admins
trstions n cannot be said tha, the
state has Stepped backward. but. 10 a
eewtain extent. lt has marked time
while other states. taking advantage
of the trcnenfous scientific progress
Of recent years. have gone ahead rap
idly. Illinois. consequently. has ep-
rsarsd 10 lag behind.
Here Are Progressive ssepa.
But In 1915 illiuois resumed ns
place IN the forefront IN public health
work. the report points out. with ths
following progressive stcps:
Exfabiirhmsszt Of r.odern and accu-
rate registration ef births aud deaths.
Creation Of bureau Of sanitary en-
EineerfnE. charged with supervision Of
water and sewage aystems. and dis
case prevention.
Employment Of state apidemioiogist
rnd four district health officers TO fight
Contagious disease. supervise quaran-
tins ia epidenics and advise local
health officers.
Enlargement OF Springfield health
laboratory and establishment Of
branches at Chicago and Mount Yer.
nou for diagnosis Of communicable dls-
case.
Distribution OF diphtheria anti.foxin.
antifyphoid vaccine. smallpox vaccine
and packages OF nitrate OF silver for
preventior OF blindness Ia children.
Those changes we're largely brought
about By the enactment OF new laws
recommended by the governor and
passed by the Forty ninth general 40
eembly.
Illinois Babies New Counted.
"pc<hnps the most important step
taken In public health administration
In thirty years." says the report. ''was
the establishment OF modern and ac-
eurats system OF the registration OF
births and deaths. For years Illinois
hna stood almost alone among the
larger states as being unrecognizcd in
Its vital statistics BY the United States
bureau Of census.
The bureau OF sanitary engineer
ing. working closely In touch with the
state epidemiologiat. will place the pre-
venfion of communicable disease In
expert and efficient knncs. and these
agencies viii be further strengthened
by the recent division OF the state into
sanitary districts. each with its full
fine medical health officer residing In
his own district and working under
ths supervision OF tho board. The dis
trict health otiicarB viii not only have
charge Of the supervision Of contagious
diseases and insanitary conditions in
their districts. but they will be adyis.
ers OF municipalities and will bring
about frequent conferences OF local
health officers for the purpose of ele-
waiting the standards OF public health
protection in the various towns and
cities.
AntitoxIns Are Free.
For some time the state has dis
tributed diphtheria antitoxin and more
recently vaccine for the prevention of
typhoid fever, and during the past year
smallpox vaccine and packages OF
nitrate Of silver for the prevention OF
blindness In children have been added
20 the list. In addition to the ordinary
demand for such agents. the state
board OF health during 1915 furnished
sufficient typhoid vaccine to immunize
ali the members OF the Illinois Nation.
ai Guard and the inmates Of number
pf state institutions. ~ .-..-~-- -~----