The Colorado statesman., 1917-05-05
May Be Maintained in Any De-
gree That the People Desire,
Say Experts.
CONCERTED ACTION REQUIRED
Continued Education of Public Along
Sanitary Lines Necessary, De-
clare Uncle Sans
Inspectors.

A very extended and interesting
study has been made by Uncle Sans
public-health service on the subject of
public-health administration. AS the
result of this long study, officials of the
service have come to the definite con-
cluslOn that community health must be
understood to be an attainable condi-
tion, and then that practically every
community may have the degree of
healthfulness which it desires to secure
and with which it is satisfied.
Sanitary regulations. the experts say,
often interfere temporarily with indi-
vidual comfort and family manage
ment, and the statement often holds
that any interference which tends to
protect the health of the community
is considered unwarranted Interference
with vested rights.
Individual Effort Ineffective.
The old idea, 1t is pointed out by
officials of the service, that ones
health is his own business, is based
upon false and unfounded premises,
and has no standing in the sanitary
code of today. In the past, individual
effort to protect oneself against infec-
ton from without has generally proved
ineffective, they say, and the appear
ance of epidemics called for more con-
certed action.
The earlier efforts in public health
work found expression in local COM
munities before being taken up by the
state. However, progress in smaller
towns and villages has in many in
stances, the experts say, remained at
standstill. This lack of progress has
often been due, 1t has been found, to
n certain civic pride which has defeat
ed any attempt to change the old order
of things, or to cooperate with neigh
boring communities in promoting meas
ures for the betterment of all con-
cerned.
Local Boards Weak.
Although theoretically responsible
for the health of the communities they
represent, local boards of health are
today, generally speaking, the weak
est elements in the public-health ma
chlnery that is so slowly being built
up for the physical welfare of the ma
tion, according to these experts of
Uncle Sam. Aside from certain rou-
tine matters, such as the enforcement
Ol Olu-luSillOueu QuuTaHllue, lllt pil-
carding of some of the cases of conta-
gious disease that happen to have been
reported, and fumigating at the termi-
nation of some of them, their activi-
ties are too often expended in attempt
ing to abate common nuisances or set
Ting neighborhood disputes over
chicken pen or carting away and bury
ing dead animals-functions more fit
ting for the police department.
The study of the public health serv-
Ice on this subject has shown that the
public has been slow, especially in ru-
raj communities, in accepting the sim
pie facts of preventable diseases. Con-
tinued efforts to educate the individual
as well as the public at large, the ex-
perts say, must be made, because sue
cess in public-health organization and
administration depends upon the CO.
operation as well as the moral and
financial support of the community.
The same general laws, 1t is pointed |
,ut, govern health and disease in the |
ity and the country. |