Evening star., 1917-12-16
''WAR.0F CHEMISTS"
SAYS;SURGE0N BLUE

This will be known as war of
chemists, in the opinion of DR.. Rupert
Blue. surgeon general of the public
health service. He points out that
chemists have devised most of the new
order of perils that stand out in the
present world war and have also origi-
mated most of the aids for the relief of
those who are afflicted with wars
bane.
The terrible explosives-of power
wonderfully increased over such as
were employed in previous conflicts
are the inventions of chemists, says
Surgeon General Blue. The deadly
gases that asphyxiate, irritate or create
a tremendous atmospheric pressure to
slay or confound an enemy are the
products of chemistry.
In surgery the chemist has been fore
most with antiseptics. In providing
incubation for camp diseases the chem
list has discovered the drug compounds
that are regarded as now most ef
fective.
Chemist Has Led.
The doctor and surgeon have had
their share in the progress made in
caring for wounded and diseased. But
the chemist has led.
The healthy nation is a happy ma
ton: the happy nation IS efficient and
endures.' This is an .epigram coined
by Surgeon General Blue, with which
he tries to drive home war lesson of
coping with disease. He points to the
menace of unpreparedness in meeting
the situation, and regards the reme-
dies as the provision of adequate funds,
authority and sufficient expert force to
carry out intelligent plans of preyen-
tion and cure.
History informs MS that every great
war in which our nation has been en-
gagged" observes Surgeon General Blue,
has been accompanied by: outbreaks of
communicable diseases. This is among
both the civil and military population.
at has been noted in the past that
during the period of recruitment epidem-
les of disease have occurred In concen-
J tration and mobilization camps. This
has been due, as rule. to the trans
portation of raw levies. who have not
vet learned either personal or public
hygiene. and who by reason of rural en-
vironment, have not become immune to
the common infections. such as measles.
numus and chickenpox. which city
dwellers usually contract in their child
hood
Lack of Appropriations.
"The sanitary unpreparedness which
now exists in certain sections is due to
the lack of public health appropriations,
both state and municipal" insists DIR.
Blue These appropriations have al
ways been too small to meet ordinary
needs Therefor when serious dangers
arise the health machinery is liable to
break down for lack of funds to provide
power Of activity
Much of the unpreparedness in the
states Is due also to the lack of author
| ity on the part of the health boards.
state legislators seem 1oath to clothe
these health commissions with power
| at all commensurate with their impor-
tant duties. The same is equally true
iof the federal government.
\ "One of the most important duties that
can be performed by these health boards
| is the collection of vital statistics. 1nclud-
ing reports of sickness. without which a
health officer is like a mariner without n
compass Yet only a few states collect
| reliable data on the occurrence OF COM
nnunicable diseases.
| You cannot run a protective force OF
any sort without ample funds for carry
ing on the work" he reiterates.- He also
l complains Of the lack OF intelligent dag
nosis of diseases, where the physicians
lack of facilities.
| zone of the main difficulties met with
in getting accurate reporting. saws Dr.
| Blue. .is the lack of diagnostic skill due
to lack of diagno5tic means Laboratories
clinics and dispensaries. equipDed with
microscopes and the necessary diagnos.ic
devices In charge of experts, should be
Established in convenient places by tne
federal government and the states, TO
these specimens might be sent by local
\ practitioners for expert diagnosis