The Pensacola journal., 1917-06-03
NepU Health Officer Tells of
Plans for State Advancement

otherwise; he would supervise the
collection of vital and morbidity sta
tistics in his county, which is most
important in securing sick and death
rates in the state.
This plan will carry on the work
of the present system of district
nursing in d far more satisfactory
and intimate way with the people of
Florida, and in addition to tubercu-
lOsis, such conditions as bad hygienic
surroundings, hookworm infection,
feeding and care of infants and child
welfare generally, will be taken up
by the county representative.
1t has long been an ideal of mine
that the public health service, state,
county and municipal, should make
stronger and concerted efforts for
child welfare. This work is conceded
and known to be of the very highest
importance and it has been carried on
in Florida in a more or less desul-
tory way by Women's clubs and other
organizations of women, who have
worked somewhat independently of
each other and of the constituted
health authorities.
l believe that the State Board of
Health should work consistently and
earnestly in co1operation with these
efforts to better the conditions of
child life. The advantages to this
movement under this plan would be
that the work for child welfare would
be stimulated in every part of the
state and under the direction of the
state health department it would be
carried on uniformly and with the
benefit of the advice and study of the
highest authorities on the subject N
every pat of the country.
These county health officers would
be force to be employed elsewhere
/ than in their own jurisdiction in cases
of serious emergencies in any part
of the state; that is, they could be
concentrated at any point where an
epidemic of EARNING proportions
might break out, and being men ex-
| perienced in handling health and sani-
tary matters they would become un-
der the direction of the State Health
Officer an efficient fighting force to
restore normal conditions.
1t would also he my idea that the
county health o&lcers should be mem
bers of, or intimately connected with
the city or other boards of health
where such existed in their counties,
and that they would, in this way, be
/ able to keep the state and city health
workers in close touch and working
harmoniOusly and uniformly for sani-
tary betterment would save a lot of
waste motion and duplicated effort.
Such county officer would be uuali-
fed and would be expected to deliver
/ before the schools in his jurisdiction,
lectures on sanitation and hygiene,
which would be educational and ex-
tremely valuable in their influence
! towards. better health. They would
/ emphasize to the child, and through
him to his parents and the commun-
! ity, the essentials of good sanitation
and clean living.
The department of sanitay engi-
neering, established within the last
/ two years, has already proved itself
of the largest value to the various
/ communities in the state, and it will
| be my plan to push this work to its
! highest possibilities. 1t provides, free
of cost to the communities and sec
tions of the state, studies of local con-
/ ditiOn of water supply and sewage
! disposal and this work l consider of
/ the utmost Importance as a basis for
! perfect sanitation.
The state meteorological Iabora-
/ tories in the past have Oeen of ines
| timable value and assistance to the
| people of the state in the prompt
| diagnosis of disease, and this depart
ment should be encouraged as the
needs of the people of Florida de-
mand.
There is an annual levy of one-half
mill on all the assessible property of
the state for the support of the work
of the State Board of Health. Al
= though there are some rather heavy
| drafts on this fund for the support of
work not strictly within the purview
/ of the board, l believe that by strict
/ economy and a careful use of these
funds we shall be able to carry out
the plans that l have outlined.
| believe these plans will meet the
new conditions before US and will
bring the work of the board more in
timately before the people of Florida
in a way that will merit their hearty
cooperation"