Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-14
Local Health Officers in First
Conference with State Department

out by the application OF principles already
known, and the same is perhaps true of ty
phoid, but scarlet fever and diphtheria pre-
sent much greater difficulties, he said and
the prevention of tuberculosis is to a great
extent matter of personal hygiene. TAX
ing up the question of the duties required
OF loca! health boards by the law, be ex-
pressed the conviction that plumbing inspec-
ton would more properly be a function of
the building inspector In urging the i'm
portance OF faithful reporting of communi-
cable diseases to the State department he
asserted that if the rules of the depart
ment had been strictly followed the recent
smallpox epidemic would not have develop.
ed Tuberculosis should be reported are
other communicable diseases. he said.
r. r. Hardness
That the public health nurse is the great.
est individual factor in health work today
was the opinion expressed by r. R. Hank
ness, local health officer at York. Public
health nursing is product of evolution and
Is still in the process of development, the
speaker said, in tracing the history of the
movement. In the rural community and
small city the public health nurses duties
are Of very broad nature, he said. The
physical welfare OF school children should
receive much attention, he said
Or. L. D. Bristol
Dr. L. d. Bristol, State commissioner OF
health reviewed what has already been
complishcd by his department and told
something of the plans for future activity.
Much of the time has been devoted to the
work Of organization he stated.
The commissioner said that the state
has been districted into three parts and
that it is his hope that later each of these
PARTS will be divided into two. Hotel sar-
tation is one of the lines of endeavor
which Or. Bristol mentioned as being par
tcularly important. AS the hotel indus
try is one of the chief interests of tn
state anything to conserve the health
of the guests is we'll worth while he ar
gued. DR.. Bristol announced that prepa-
rations for survey of local health CON
dtions is being made, and he said that
while the state department has authority
to make surveys without a towns con
sent, the towns invitation to take sucn
measures will be appreciated. The do.
partment is cooperating with the navy,
said the commissioner. in attempting to
protect the health of members who are
in this state. With considerable dc1al
he explained the nature OF the work bein.r
done by each OF the several divisions ~.
the department. He emphasized the i'm
portance OF the local health officers GU
ties BY SAYING that il is for them TO fer
ret out conditions which the State depart
ment is TO attack. lie expressed the hope
that eventually there shall be full-time
local health officers, as In the larger
cities. The state department, he said. /.
starting big campaign against the dis
eases which are hampering the govern
ment Al tins time. In discussing the con-
serVaton Of child life, Dr. Bristol sliI
mat ne believed the high cost of milk is
responsible for many infantilc troul,ies
partly through the effects of adultcrltiou
by unScrupulouS dealers and par,.;. he
cause OF depriyins the children of the
necessary amount of nourishment 4 de-
partnent of Industrial hygiene. whicr
shaH give attention not only to f3ctor,.
sanitation but also to the sanitation -
lumber camps, where filthy condition,
frequently exist, is an addition tu The
department for which Or Bristol is hon
ing.
l'r. }. r. Drummond of Portland nre-
7"'d ~ INC evening session which vas
@f%"iN OF the nature of a s,mpoSi,Im
~ III" subject of communicative ais
eases.