Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-15
CONFERENCE CLOSES
Local Health Officers
Hear Several Addresses

Inc llitl addresses and discussions
of the first annual conference of
Maine local boards of health with the
State Health Department were heard
Thursday forenoon and adjournment
VS. taken at 1890 o'clock. State Com
missioner L. d. Bristol was the pre-
siding officer at yesterdays session.
How the Local Boards May Help
the State Department" was the general
theme of three Of the four addresses.
Under this head W. H. Greenleaf, di-
rector of the division of public health
education, took up the topic Of 'Edu-
cational Work" Mr.. Greenleaf remark
ed that the only parties to whom the
department can be of real assistance
are those who manifest interest in the
work. AS means of educational work
which the department can supply he
mentioned the exhibits (of which sam
Piles were Gisplayed), lectures, some of
Which are illustrated by stereopticon
views and hterature-some to be
loaned and some to be given away. The
making of survey of local conditions
is but the application of business eff
ficiency 20 social and public health
work Mr.. Greeneaf said, and he stated
that the department is ready to aid
any community in such an undertake
ing. Newspapers, said the speaker. have
co-operated cordially in the health
work. The department is ready to as
sist clubs in finding material of essays
on health topics and TO lend aid to
schools by outlining courses in hygiene,
and supplying lectures and literature.
he said. Mr. Greenleaf believes that
health work is losing something of the
"drab gray aspect which it has had
for a majority Of the people. and that
Intelligent enthusiasm for this line of
endeavor may be cultivated
n. D. Evans
Fl. D. Evans spoke on SANITARY En-
cheering" There is enough ground
water and lake water to supply every
community in the State and there is
no need of going to running water as
source of supply, said the speaker. 1t
is almost impossible, Mr.. Evans said,
for surface water to be free from con-
tamination. Speaking particularly in
regard to rural water supply conditions
he gave some interesting facts regard
ing well construction. The most com
mon type-simply a hole in the ground
with rocks stuck into the sides-he
characterized as very unsanitary. The
chief trouble, he said, resulted from
filth coming in over the top. AS an i'm
prOvement he recommended the con-
Struction of a watertight lining to ex-
tend from above the level of the ground
to four or five feet below. In a given
locality better water may be obtained
from the driven we'll than from the dug
well, said MIR. Evans, because much of
the danger from surface drainage is
eliminated. In making a driven we'll
pipe with small holes at the end to ad-
nit the water is forced into the ground
and a pump is connected at the top of
the pipe. The only rock formations
from which a water supply is OBJ
tanned in Maine are granite and slate.
he said. From granite formation a pol
luted supply is rarely obtained as the
granite strata lie in such a position
that the water is effectively filtered,
but the slate layers are sharply tilted.
said the speaker, and often surface
pollution IS not elimina ted. The matter
pf sewage disposal methods was dealt
with at considerable length by Mr..
Evans.
Or r. & Thononson