Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-02-15
NEW HEALTH LAW REQUIRES CITY
 HEALTH BOARD Health Officer Should Be on Salary, Says Dr. c w.
 Garrison.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS
 MUST BE REGISTERED
Statute Provides for Appointment by County Judge OfqRcgistrar in Each Township, With Penalty for
 Failure to Report.

Pine Bluff should have it's physician or health officer on salary and board of health of five members, two of whom should be physicians, accord ing to Dr. c. W. Garrison, state health officer, who was here yester- day and addressed about 40 physicians, club members and others, in the cir cult court room of the courthouse yesterday afternoon. Dr. Garrison eX- plained the new law, whith provides for registrars of vital statistics in each township, these to be appointed by the county judge.
 Dr. Garrison made clear the necess- ity for the registration of births and deaths, from an economic as well as a, health standpoint, illustrating the need by the recital of several incidents caus- ing annoyance, and financial loss. He mentioned that frequently birth rec ords are consulted to establish iden- ity in inheritance cases, in pension cases, and such records are needed under the age of consent and child la Dor laws, and other statutes. Dr. Garrison said Little Rock and Arkan- sas nearly lost the cantonment be- cause of being unable to produce rec ords the government desired showing health conditions. Explaining the reasons for the appointment of town thi was to make it convenient for the people in recording birth and obtain ing burial permits. Ladies make the best registrars, the state health offic- CT said.
 Concerning the impression that the county or city is responsible for the maintenance of a family quarantined because of contagious or infectious disease, Dr Garrison said the city or county is responsible only for it's in- digent sick, and that if the quarantin- ed family has cash or credit it is sup posed to maintain. itself. He also pointed outthe fallacy of the idea that it is the best policy to attempt to hide from. the -cppblic information about the existence of contagious dis ease. He showed by recalling hap pening in Hot Springs, that it is bet ter from business as well as health standpoint to "let the people know" and take the proper measures to con- fine and check the disease.
 Venereal Diseases Reportab.e.
 Dr. Garrison also briefly mention ed the plans to wage war on venereal diseases, saying that every case must be reported by the attending physician by number. The names of prosti- tutes and of those patients who re- fuse to comply with the law are re- ported to the state board. He said that 20 per cent of the 2,00O cases be- ing treated at the State Hospital for Nervous Diseases result from venere- al disease; that 45 per cent of blind ness is due to the same caue, and that from 60 to 75 per cent of the surgical operations on women are made neces sary by venereal disease.
 Dr. Garrison said that with the CO., operation of the city and county of ficials, and vigorous attitude on the part of the prosecuting attorney, he is prepared to enforce the public health laws in this township and county and will endeavor to put Pine Bluff and Jefferson county on the map where Uncle Sam can be proud of them.
 For failure to comply with the law or the regulations of the board of nealIn, the acC imposes 1lne or from S10 to $1O0 or imprisonment or both fine and imprisonment.
 k. B. Bloom, secretary of the Cham Der of Commerce, thanked Dr. Garri- son for his visit and for the health survey which has been made here at his request, by the field staff of the De!ineator magazine, assisted by the city Federation of women's clubs. Mir. Bloom urged the appointment of a woman registrator of vital statistics saying "when there is anything force full to he done, get the women to do it. Miss Mariner, Delineator field nurse, announced that the report on the findings of the health survey will be made on Friday February P, at p. m., at the Chamber of Commerce. Ev- cry citizen of Pine Bluff was urged to be present at the reading of that re- port.