Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-09

! North Dakota and Harvard university.
| DR.. Bristol has had considerable ex-
perience in both city and State neaIth
work. In Syracuse, \. Y, he served
| for time as acting city bacteriologist;
| in St. Paul, Mimi, he was director OF
the city anti tuberculosis dispensary;
| in North Dakota he was director of the
state public health laboratories and
/ had charge of the milk inspection and
water publication for the second larg-
est city in the state. During the last
/ year he has been making a special
! study of infantile paralysis for the
| Massachusetts State Health depart
ment and the Harvard Infantile Paral-
ysis commission. and has been a res
| icient at the South End Social settle
ment house where he has had an op-
portunity to investigate the relations
between the various social conditions
J and disease.
The new health commissioner of
Maine is a member Of many medical
and scientific societies and has received
national recognition in public health
work. He las served as secretary of
the clinical section of the National AS
ISOLATION for the Study and Prevention
! of tuberculosis and as chairman of a
special laboratory committee of the
American Association for the Control
of Cancer. DR.. Bristol has published
many articles in various journals on
| tuberculosis, cancer, sewage disposal
| laboratory methods and allied sub
| jects.
The first work which the new com
missioner will be expected to do in
| Maine is to choose a staff Of well
trained health experts to take charge
of the various divisions in the new
Health Department. The following di-
visions have been decided upon The
division Of epidermiology and com
municable diseases. including the d.
agnostic laboratory: a division OF vita
statistics and public health education
a division of sanitary engineering.
The State will be divided into al
least three sanitary districts and a,
the head Of each district will be placed
district health officer who will give
his full time to the work. So far as
/ possible it is DR.. Bristol's intention tC
fill these positions with experts now
residents of Maine, but it may be nee
essary, as has been found in other
states, to go outside Of the State tc
pick men properly qualified for such
work
The foundation for progressive public
health work in Maine must be a thor
oueh sanitary survey of the variou;
districts above mentioned, according
to DR.. Bristol. To do this carefully viii
include a study Of the large problem OF
infant mortality and means for the
prevention Of deaths in children under
one year of age. 1t will take into con
sideration the sanitary conditions OF
the various resorts and hotels in the
State. The farm and country com
munity as a sanitary unit will be care
fully investigated in an effort to bring
about better hygienic conditions.
Small towns and communities will be
advised concerning the proper dispose
Of sewage and wastes. and the various
underground waters will be carefully
examined.
DR.. Bristol today outlined these
points as just a few of the features
that will mark the creation of mod
ern health department in Maine. He Is
a great believer in the value OF pun
licitv as given through the newspaper
columns Of the press. Il shall depend
uron the newspapers for hearty CO
oreratior in spreading the gospel ol
health to the people Of Maine saio
the new commissioner in speaking OF
this subject.