Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-27

Inc following dTIcis - tePiihteo
from the American Journal of Public
Health, Vol. Z, No. 5. a well-known
Boston publication and authority on the
subject Of health laws. The author is a
Maine boy, formerly Of Harmony. SOM
erset, one of the many Maine boys,
who after working his way through the
preparatory schools. did the SAME
through college (Bates) and immedl-
ately began to make a name for him.
self among men Of affairs. Mr.. Turner
is now instructor of biology and re-
search associate in the department of
biology and public health of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology. He
was a visitor in Augusta during the
session of the 18th Legislature and is
thoroughly we'll posted on the subject
: of which he writes. The article:
At the adjournment of the 18th leg
islature Of the state of Maine on April
the newspapers commented at length
upon it's acts relating to war, suffrase
and prohibition, but nothing was said
about a matter no less important to a
modern democracy; namely, public
health. And yet this legislature and
the progressive administration of Gov.
Carl r. Milliken are to be credited with
giving the State a form of health Or
ganization second to none in the coun-
try, one which is sure to place Maine
among the leading states in preventing
disease and safeguarding the health
and welfare of it's citizens.
The act creating a State Department
of Health was introduced and support
ed by the State Medical Association,
acting through it's legislative commit
tee. The influence Of this organization
is widely felt in Maine, and from such
an association with it's Committee as
that enjoyed by the writer during the
recent campaign for re reorganization it
is apparent that the continued and as
sured support Of this wide awake and
progressive body of physicians will be
of inestimable value to local public
health progress. The support accorded
to the measure by many leading edu-
Gators, scientists and public men in the
various parts of the State was also
important. Their statements, together
with strong letters from prominent
summer residents, public health ex-
perts, and statesmen elsewhere. assist
ed materially in placing the case clear
" before the legislative bodies, parti-
cularly the Public Health Committee of
the legislature, before whom the bill
had its hearing. This committee gave
to both the main provisions and the de-
! tails OF the plan careful and intelli- :
gent consideration. After being con-
WINGED of its worth, they worked with
the proponents of the bill to secure it's
presentation in the most desirable form
ard reported unanimously in favor Of
it's passage.
| The establishment Of a State Depart
ment Of Health is a 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 sup
plant was created in 1885 and has an
excellent record of efficient and faith
ful service. It's early and authoritative
reports upon school hygiene, d'sinfen-
ton and the prevention of tuberculosis
as well as such activities as the devel-
opment Of the permanganate process
for lberating formaldehyde gas ana
special methods Of public health educa
ton. have met with nation wide an
| prevail. Moreover 1t is significant that
Maine, which was fourth from the last
among the states in establishing a board
Of health, is now among the very first
OF the states to institute such a re-or-
ganization as authorities agree is best
calculated to administer the increased
public health duties of a state depart
ment.
| The need Of re- organization in Maine
arose from condition which is not
today peculiar to that state The
Board of Health, which was created
al the time when sanitary science was
in it's infancy. found itself overbur-
dened by the increasing activities
placed upon its shoulders through the
recent advances of that science. Bills
to allow the Board to embark upon new
fields Of endeavor have been almost
constantly before the legislatures of
recent years. Among these bills for
example, have been requests for district
sanitary inspectors and for state in
/ spection Of hotels and summer camps.
Such piecenfeal legislation however
was hard to secure and the board re-
manned with limited activities and ap-
p"opriat ton.
/ 1t was evident that the State seri-
ously needs improvements in local