Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-05-03
HEALTH OFFICERS
PLAN BATTLE TO
COMBAT DISEASES
Soldier and Civil Popula-
lions May Be Kept Apart
to Prevent Spread.
ESTABLISH ZONES
ABOUT 80 CAMPS
Systematic Inspections Of
Food Part of Program to
Be Followed.

Washinton, May 2,-Extraordfnary
measures have been taken by the Pub
lie Health Service to prevent COM
munication of disease between civil
and military populations where mill
itary camps have been established.
This general scheme of health conser-
walton, constitutes what the govern
ment officials call "a hitherto unpar-
elled demonstration in efficient public
health organization and administra-
ton"
In tweny states, a total of more
than thirty health zones surrounding
the military camps have been estab-
lished, each with a separate, care
fully planned cooperative health or
ganization. TIE Public Health Service,
the state and local health authorities
and the American Red Cross combine
in this cooperative movement The
general plan is to gafvanize local
health authorities into action, to sup
port and widen the scope of state
health authorities, to supplement but
not supplant them. One object is to
SO stimulate and strengthen local and
state health activities that the m
| provement shall be permanent after
the guiding hand of the federal ser
vice has been removed
An experienced sanitarian has been
placed in charge and given a compe-
tent staff. Local funds were supple
| mented by Red Cross funds and by
funds which Congress appropriated
| by the presence of a large number of
soldiers, the communities were found
TO be eager to pass ordinances to pro-
tect the health of these men.
Health measures adopted in these
military zones have been grouped
principally around the control of COM
municable diseases and the precau-
tons include investigation, proven
ton, disqualification and clinical treat
ment of these diseases. Isolation hos
pitfalls and clinics have been found nee
| essaI'y in combating one of the most
common diseases falling within this
class.
Supervision of food supplies, espec-
tally milk and milk products, is car
ried out by systematic inspections and
typhoid and smallpox vaccinations of
persons employed in handling food
products. Supervision of water sup
plies and disposal of sewage and waste
|
zone, laboratory is used for diagnosis
OF suspected cases of communicable
diseases. Schools are being medically
supervised for control of communic-
able diseases and precautions taken
| by smallpox vaccination and voluntary
inoculation against typhoid fever.
Most of the AGRA surrounding the
environments being rural, the govern
ment has instituted rural sanitary sur
veys to improve sanitary conditions
at dwellings. In each zone, the pub
lie is being aroused to the Importance
of health through lectures, exhibits,
qualifications, school and home in
spections and similar work.
Through these measures" Surgeon
General Blue, Of the Public Health
Service, says, mot only is the san
itary condition of these areas being
steadily raised to a plane SURPRISING
anything in their previous experience
but communities are being taught in
a most practical manner the value OF
public health work and the great con-
tribution to national efficiency which
is made by the conservation OF
health"