The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-02-16
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<IDENTIFICATION OF DISEASE :
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Few people in Florida, outside the
medical profession, have an adequate
realization Of the comprehensive work
being done By the State Board Of
Health.
To many, possibly majority. It's
functions are limited 10 general
oversight Of health IL the state. 70
guard against the invasion Of disease
and epidemic from outside lis boun-
daries and 70 assume complete charge
Of administration whenever disease in
epidemic form gets beyond the coz
trol Of local health authorities.
II general, the functions Of the
health board. whether municipal,
county, state OF national, IS 70 pre-
vent disease and the invasion Of dis
eEse-no- 70 cure il. lis work IS 70
anticipate and prevent conditions that
might invite sickness. leaving 10 the
individual prscrio1er the treatment
and cuIe q individual cases.
Flor:da's health board has. il sever
q directions, established precedents
by erlargi-g -he scope Of the ordi-
naTy health board, especially !. pro
vidicg facilities beyond the reach o.
TIE individual practitioner for the
prompt and accurate diagnosis Of dis
ease. Il has gore beyond every other
state health board i This cou-try
II ;ts WORK Of educating the people
II matters q health p-ese-vst;o, and
sanitation. Flor.ca's Health T-a;,
Is cre u the few Schools n
Wheels" to- sanitary e6tcatio7, and
IL is equipment and ldapt25;lity ~
lis uses. !. . -he most advanced ir
this COUNTY, ard !. the World.
Tae department Of sanitary e-gir-
eer.ng his 10 counterpart. 50 far az
Is known whereby problems 0: provi-
ding pure water supply and sc:e1t;f-
ca..y Constructed sewer systems. c-e
studied and solved without cost 70 nu-
inequalities and sections Of the state.
In is six lab9ratories-at Jack
sorvi,lc, Tampa, Pensacola. Key West.
Miami. and Tal1hassce--he board
provides ample facilities for the most
prompt bacter:o.ogical testing Of -pe-
cimen- submitted for examiratio. and
report. and the value Of such eya-i-
nation Is but partially appreciated.
even by thC medical profession Itself.
As Is vel known. the absolutely
correct diagnosis Of some diseases il
their incipier. stages. is reyt n i'm
possible. even by the most killed
physicians. especially as several dis
eases closely resemble each other in
their earliest symptoms. Occasion
-'1-- -rs--cY~1 = 81 f1<r,-
physician c, be certain what disecze
he hac 70 combat and before he c2c
confidently begin the proper treat
nent
For the Identification Of some dis
eases there is one. and but one, in
fallible test in the earliest stages.
Il Is founded on the certainty Of es-
tsblisLed scientific investigation ana
not or Z sometimes mistaken human
judgment. There is for each Of the
diseases most commonly TO be han
died. specific organism or germ.
Science has identified these germs.
clsesirg each with the aiiment that
results from lis invasion Of the hu-
man system. but the Identification Of
these bacteria requires expert bacte-
riological search, and for such re-
search few physiciar3 are prepared
either by experience or by laboratory
equipment, and right al this point the
State Board Of Health offers its SER
vices TO every physician in Florida.
The laboratories Of the Board are
always ready-practically they are
never closed and upon receipt Of
"sDecimen" Of blood or sputum or
other germ-bearing material taken
from the patient. the analysis is made
by the export workers and the germ
is identified and classed. The report
Of the examination is immediately
sent TO the physician by telegraph. i
necessary, who has made the inquiry.