The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-17

fitted. Our public health administration
has had great opportunity to be benefited
and strengthened by many government
activities working Jointly with the state
health department., notable among which
are: A survey of the trachoma situation
at Camden, Wilcox county; milk inspec-
tion established in Montgomery, Annis-
tor and Tuscaloosa, with a hope of Pas
teurizing plants at these places; rural
sanitation begun in the counties where
all-time health officers have been pro-
vided, including the counties of Walker,
Tuscaloosa, Talladega Elmore. Jefferson,
Calhoun, Montgomery, Pickens, Choctaw,
Madison and Dallas. Probably the great
est object lesson in public health way
that has come to us has been the work
OF the United States public health service
in cantonment and xtra-cantonment
sanitation about Camps Sheridan and
Mcclellan. These demonstrate the prac-
ticability of making a city and surround
ing zone clean and safe to human life
and health.
LACK OF FUNDS
Only lack of funds now prevents our
state from availing itself of generous
offer of the Rockefeller foundation, which
proposes to donate annually $4,000. and
furnish a public health expert to work
with and under the direction of our state
health purposes. provided our state APP
propriates an equal amount for the same
special object.
/ purposely refrain from Recommended
tons on which there might be difference
of opinion in this. association at this
time, when it is not only a necessary
policy that every organization and insti-
tuition, but also the entire citizenship OF
the country, stand united behind one
IniIrnnco--fnrpattipe o. or M irno tIat
one object is attained; that there has
| ever existed a difference of thought or
division. But. Notwithstanding this, l
! urgently recommend that our next legis-
| lature be petitioned and persuaded it
| possible to appropriate annually a sum
| for public health and sanitation COM
mensurate with the needs of this depart
ment in it's undertaking to keep pace
with the other sections of the country in
promoting. preserving and protecting the
health of our people. At least let us re-
mind our legislators that it is as impor-
tant a function OF state to provide for
the protection of life and health of human
beings looking even to perpetuation and
Improvement of the race physically and
mentally as 1t is a duty of state ia
protect its live stock against disease.
| WAR AN AWAKENING
| Although during the period OF thu
war we have not time nor inclination tc
turn aside from the one purpose which
engages the concentrated thought anl
| devotion of every worthy son (you will
pardon the depression for the prediction
that coming out of this war, and the les
sions it will teach as to health, sanitation
and physical development of the million.
of young men whom the country Is Sc
| lecting to serve it, there is going to bt
an awakening and changing of standards
our country is going to hereafter recog
nize as its greatest asset it's men O
healthy body and brain, and as it's great
est liability it's weakling and degenerate
and persuant to this national awakenin,
there will be new era, the central gov
eminent looking to the greater protection
and development of it's most valued pos
session--man-wil evolve more central
lied, compact, unified scheme OF publi
health, sanitation. physical and menta
hygiene, so that there will be unificatiol
land coordination between the health de
partments of the various states; TIL
same efforts along the same lines towart
the same ends prevailing alike in ever.
county, village and hamlet in the Unite,
States, avoiding all conflicting schemes
lost motion, duplication and divergence o
effort. Understand. am only predicting
lby the trend and signs of the times
and am not advocating, pleading or rec
omfnending. Under this scheme ther
will be maintained and correlated unde
the central government health depart
ment bureau on each of the allie,
branches of public health that may pro
lmote the physical and mental health C
human beings. Each of these will be de
I