Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-25
DEFINE DUTIES OF
 THE HEALTH OFFICIALS
Is Recommendation of State Board oi Health in Annual Report.

One of the recommendations of the State Board of Health in its annual report to the governor is that the du- ties and relationships of various health officials he defined for the de- velopment of an effective and har- n1onious organization. The report follows:
 It is with keen regret that the board
 bers. Dr. Joseph H. Townsend, who
 died Jan. '. 1916, at his home in New
 Haven, after a brief illness with pneu-
 monia. Dr. Townsend had been a
 its secretary since 1906. By his death
 the state lost a most capable and con- scientious official.
 Dr. Albert w. Phillips, of Derby,
 and Dr. Louis J. Pons, of Milford,
 were appointed by you on May l, 1915,
 to serve on the board for six years
 from July 1, 1915, both being reap pointments.
 Dr. John T. Black, of New London
 was appointed by the board on Jan
 uary Is, 1916. as secretary and ex-
 ofncio member, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Town send.
 Regular quarterly meetings, as re- quired by law, have been held and, in addition, a number of special meet
 ings. The frequent necessity for spe- cial meetings to dispose of the in
 creased volume of business resulted in
 the board, at it's last annual meeting
 voting to hold regular monthly meet
 ings in the future.
 Administrative duties of the board have been materially increased by added legislation and an ever-grow- ing public demand for advice and as- sistance. In the endeavor to meet these demands, it has been necessary to move our library of approximately ten thousand volumes to the State Li- brary building, utilizing the space thus acquired for modern filing sys- n diyyi6 Ia hn af %I1e office into bureaus or divisions. Whether the anticipated change in ad- ministrative methods is accomplished or not, it will be necessary to pro- vide for considerable increase in this department.
 While the vital statistics of Connec- tfcut have been considered to be among the best two conditions are now Seriously ieopardizine their renue tation; one is the increase in the num- Der of certificates. which has been at the rate of two thousand a year; the other is the greater demand for spe- cial data and tables. The clerical force of this bureau has not been in creased for number of years and the tabulation of statistics has required more time each year until now com under fifteen months. This should be completed within three months.
 A full report of preventable dis eases will be found in the supplement tary report of the secretary. The most serious and widespread epidemic in years, and one which caused great consternation was the invasion of. in fantile paralysis during the past sum- mer. The rapid progress of this dis ease, with its high fatality, resulted in a near-panic. Hundreds of appeals to the state board of health for as- sistance had to be ignored for lack of authority and funds. Had the board been endowed with power to institute and carry out protective measures, the chaotic condition and extraordi- nary expense incurred by the various towns of the state would have been avoided, the confidence of the public would have been retained and health authorities would have been saved hu-- initiation.
 Under the direction of Prof. H. W. Conn, the laboratory, located in Mid dletown, has rendered excellent ser vice and one that is appreciated by health officers and physicians alike. The operations have more than dou- bled since our last report, the great est increase being noted in Wasser- been done, largely in the study of oysters. Members of the laboratory staff have assisted in the survey of water sheds and in the study of the pollution of streams.
 Practically the entire activity of the board along these lines has been the study of sewage disposal, stream pol lution and water sheds. With the pas sage of the acts by the last legislature conferring upon the board additional powers and responsibilities along these lines, the work has materially in creased. No specific appropriation to carry out the intent of the acts was made, and the efforts of the board have been necessarily confined to con- siderfng plans for future operations. These plans have been worked out and the board is prepared to go for ward with them as soon as the state makes an appropriation. The prelimt- nary work of preparation has dis closed certain weaknesses in the acts and the board will submit amend | ments to the incoming assembly de- signed to correct these weaknesses and make them operative.
 Particularly has the need of control | over the operation of water purif1ca- | tion and sewage treatment works | been shown. Large sums have been | expended by municipalities and towns