The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-28
WOULD ORGANIZE
HEALTH FORCES
FOR Use In WAR
DR.. Black Suggests Effici-
ency Corps be Formed in
Connecticut.

Hartford, March 2S.-A movement to
organize an efficiency corps of profess
sional men from all parts of the state
to prepare Connecticut for war from
a standpoint of civic health has been
launched by DR.. John T. Black, Sec
rotary of the state board of health,
who asked the health officers of the
state to aid in forming an organiza-
ton which may be effected either as
a state body, or in conjunction with
the United States public health SER
vice. DIR. Black said he hail outlined
the plan to the military emergency
board and had been told that the
movement was good one and to 90
ahead with it.
The notice sent out to health officers
and other professional men by DR..
Black yesterday follows:
To whom it may concern:
| Our country is at war regardless of
| the fact that war has not been OFF,
cially declared. We must arouse to
! the responsibilities which a state OF
war imposes, and promptly prepare for
all contingencies.
! Elaborate military preparations are
under way and our best men are rap
idly enlisting in one Or the other
branch of the service. An efficient
fighting force is imperative, but. it
alone cannot carry On a war OF any
length to successful contamination.
The support of an organized and eff
Gent working force at home is an alb
solute necessity.
Connecticut, because of its geo.
graphical location, it's railroads, it's
1 Il,
ufactories will he the center ofSsreat
military activity. Camps Of soldiers.
interment camps, base hospitals and
various other military institutions will
not only demand the cooperation Of
civil authorities but will Introduce
problems affecting the health and
welfare of civilians.
| We should profit by the experience
Of countries abroad, particularly. Eng
land, and not wake up some day to
find our forces in the field, sacrificed
because of chaotic conditions at home.
An organized, well nourished and
healthy people at home will enable
our armies to be promptly supplied
with all their needs, and will be big
Efactor in making this war short and
decisive.
The Home Guard is being orga nized
for home military protection and it is
just as necessary to organize for the
protection and conservation Of the
health and food supply Of our civil
population. Before all our best blood
has rushed to the front we should en-
list some Of them for this very impor-
tant home duty.
An organized state board Of health
such as proposed legislation will pro-
wide, would afford an excellent nu-
|cleus for this service, but the situa-
ton is altogether too urgent to await
lpending legislation.
1t is proposed to secure at once a
list Of sanitarians, sanitary Engineers
psychologists, psychologists, chem
lists, food experts, publicity agents
purchasing agents, transportation ex.
perts, inspectors, nurses, orderlies an6
clerks who are willing to enter this
service. Within a short time an or
|ganizaztion will be effected either as
La state body or in conjunction with
1.-THE UNITED States Public Health Ser
vice
A conference will be called at an
early date. If you are interested, send
your name and address to John T.
Black, M. D., secretary, state board OF
health, Hartford, Conn.