The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-04-29
Laboratory OF Hygiene.

| @aoo'asofJ VI hygiene.
Included with the report OF tn
state laboratory for March Is a brie
historical and descriptive account O
the work of the laboratory, fron
which the following is quoted:
The growth of the public healtl
/ laboratory idea was an inevitable
development Of the great increase il
our knowledge of communicable dis
eases which followed the discoveries
OF Pastcur, Koch and other con
freres in the early eighties. Up to thii
time efforts TO control infections wert
rewarded with comparatively little
success. Following discovery of the
specific cause of diphtheria typhoie
fever. tuberculosis and many other
epidemic diseases, the utter i'm.
portance OF making a diagnosis OF
these infections from symptoms was
brought home and with this, the rea
son Of the failure Of previous meth
DDS of control, was made very evil
dent Later with the development OF
specific treatment of these cases II
became OF the utmost importance TO
the infected individuals that q dag
nosis be made as early as possible,
even before the clinical symptoms be-
came characteristic. The detection OF
the specific bacteria of disease was
early found to be beyond the abilities
OF the general practitioner.
such work could only be done in
well equipped laboratories and by
men specially trained and kept up to
the highest efficiency by much prsc-
tice. These conditions could only be
hoped for in public health labora-
tory. Vermont was fortunate at this
very time In having a man who had
been student OF Robert Koch and
was familiar with the work OF Pas
teur and other German and French
bacteriologists. DR.. ]. Fl. Linsley was
able TO give timely advice to the state
board of health at that time wrest-
ling with an epidemic of diphthsria
and thus Vermont was one OF the
flrst to develop its state laboratory.
This institution once established and
equipped 1t was natural that other
chemical. meteorological. pathological
and general scientific analyses found
desirable by various departments Of
own. county or state should be un-
iertaken by this institution. Thus !
rom being restricted laboratory |
giving assistance to the board OF |
health in epidemics, the laboratory |
las become the scientific workshop OF
he state and not only renders es-
Iential assistance In the diagnosis OF
liphtheria, tuberculosis. typhoid fever.
Malaria. poliomyelitis. meningitis.
yphilis. gonorrhoea, pneumonia,
rhooping cough and the other infec-
ions to which the human family is
ubject, but also determines in many
I these diseases. the length Of time
hat the individual is dangerous,
ence the proper period of quaran-
me. IT makes chemical and bac-
examinations of water OF
9th public and private supplies to
etermine the conditions dangerous to
ublic health. All the examinations
ecessary to determine that the
,ods, drugs. confectionery and
quors sold to the public IN our mar
cts are pure. wholesome and true to
lie claims, are made here.
Successive legislative enactments
ave made II the duty of the labora-
ny to make examinations to deter
inc the presence and assist In the
,ntrol of communicable diseases in
title, horses, poultry and swine. II
Is been the policy OF the institu-
On to make for the department OF
,riculture asy examinations Of dis
sed tissue from any animal on re-
lest OF the commits sioner or any OF
@ veterinarians even though not
ecified by law. An act OF the leg
ature provides for examination of
ints at the laboratory and any town
entitled through its paint inspec-
to send samples, of paint, and oil
: analysis. The prosecution OF
micides often involves questions
luiring an expert medical, chemical
pathological examination. These
aminations are made at the labora-
v or by members OF its stan. Ins
, trial OF these cases the members
the staff are available as witness
without fees. Late legislation has
en- 10 the laboratory stan the In
'ction duties involved in the sani-
y control OF food establishments as
Il as that formerly done In con- =
,tion with the pure food control
,uring the month Of March there o.
re $50 examinations made at the
oratory.