Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-07-03
Names New Health Law.

Chautauqua.
Grass For Sale.
Grass For Sale.
Names New Health Law.
tC.E. Turner, N. A, Instructor In Biology
and Research Associate In the Department OF
Biology and Public Health OF the Massachusetts
Institute Of Technology
At the adjournment of the seventy
eighth legislature of the State OF Maine
on April Z the newspapers commented
at length upon its acts relating to war,
suffrage and prohibition, but nothing
was said about matter no less important
to a modern democracy; namely, public
health. And yet this legislature and the
progressive administration OF Gov. Carl
K Milliken are to be credited with CIV
ing the state form of health organiza-
ton second to none In the country, one
which is sure to place Maine amoung the
leading states In preventing disease and
safeguarding the health and welfare OF
Its citizens.
The establishment Of q State Depart
ment Of Health Is . step In advance
which clearly expresses the growing
appreciation of public health activities
In Maine and desire that the state shall
secure the most efficient method available
for the prosecution of this work. The
State Board of Health which the new
organization is to supplant was created
In 1885 and has an excellent record OF
efficient and faithful service. Its early
and authoritative reports upon school
hygiene, disinfection and the prevention
of tuberculosis as we'll as such activities
as the development of the permanganate
process for libersting formaldehyde gas
and special method Of public health
education, have met with nation wide
approval. Moreover 1t is significant that
Maine, which was fourth from the last
among the states in establishing board
of health, Is now among the very first Of
the states to institute such re-organiza-
ton a. authorities agree Is best cslculat-
ed to administer the increased public
health duties of state department.
The need of reorganization In Maine
arose from q condition which Is not to-
day peculiar to that state. The Board
of Health, which was created at the time
when sanitary science was In its infancy,
found itself overburdensd by the incress-
ing activities placed upon its shoulders
through the recent advances OF the
science. Bills to allow the Board to en-
bark upon new fields of endeavor have
been almost constantly before the legis-
laturss of recent years. Among these
bills, for example, have been requests for
district sanitary inspectors and for state
inspection of hotels and summer camps.
Such piecemesl legislation however was
hard to secure, and the board remained
with limited activities and appropriation.
1t was evident that the State eriously
needs improvements in local health ad-
ministrstion. A few of the summer re-
sort towns, of which York Is conspic-
nous example, are securing the services
of we'll trained, full time local health
officer and the experiment In York has
been so successful from every point of
view that after three years Of trial the
renewed Of an appropriation of one dollar
per capita for public health work was
voted unanimously at the last annual
meeting. But in most towns OF the
state there Is no need Of direct stimulus
for health work.
Other needs are, more effective work
In the control of contagious diseases,
better provision for the distribution and
use of sera and vaccines, the extention of
educational work, and definite campaigns
for the protection of child life and for
the prevention Of tuberculosis. There
are many labor and pleasure camps in
Maine, as well as the numerous hotels
over which the state might we'll institute
an effective supervision.
These improvements Ii was believed
could be best assured by comprehen-
siye reorganization, and consequently a
bill was proposed following in general
the New York Massachusetts, plan, which
provides for State Department. of Health
consisting of q commissioner and Pub
lie Health Council, together with direct
and other employees.
In Maine the law provides that the
Commissioner, man experienced in pub
lie health sdminiStration, shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor for q term of
six years. Upon him rests the RESPONSE
bility of administering the laws and
regulations relative to health and SANTA
ton. He shall prepare rules and regula-
tions for the consideration OF the Public
Health Council, appoint directors of
divisions, district health officers and
other employees, submit annually to the
Public Health Council recommendation
regarding health legislation, and per-
form all executive duties previously re-
quired of the State Board of Health.
He has the power to direct any executive
officer or employee Of the State Depart
ment OF Health to assist In the study,
suppression or prevention OF disease In
any part of the state.
The Public Health Council is to consist
Of the commissioner and four other
members, two OF which shall be physi-
clans, to be appointed by the Governor
for q period of four years. Il 10 TO meet
once . month and at such other times n
Its members may determine, and 1t viii
be the duty OF the council 10 make and
promulgste rules and regulations In
furtherance of the public health law, to
advise the commissioner upon the APP
pointment of district health officers, and
other employees, and to recommend to
the Legislature needed health legislation.
1t Ia to have no administrative or execu-
tive duties.
There are to be such divisions In the
State Department OF Health a. the COM
missioner, with the approval Of the Pub
lie Health Council may from time 20
time determine, and the commissioner
with the advice OF the couucll, 10 to ap-
point and may remove director Of each
The Commissioner from time to time
IL to divide the State into three or moro
health Districts appointing to each dis
trict district health officer who shall be
. graduate of an Incorporated medical
school or shall have been certified In
public health by reputable institution
Of collegiate grade. These men are to
spend their full time In the field work of
the department..
The bill provides that the Commission-
or Of Health shall receive an annual
sslery Of "a 900. that the Public Health
Cornell shall receive IS . day while In
conference and their necessary travelling
and that the compensation Of
directors Of division and district health |
officers shall be fixed BY the Commission-
or Of Health bat shall not exceed q, 500 |
per year.