Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-23
HEALTH BOARDS
Of State in Second An
nual Meeting

O~o>o
Held in Hall Of House at State Heuss
All Parts Of State Repressntsd-
Steps Taken Toward Formation
State Public Health Association
The second annual meeting Of the
local boards Of health with the Maine
State Health Department was opened
Tuesday afternoon at the hall OF the
House Of Representatives with a dna
attendance representing all parts Of
the State. and the days sessions were
most interesting and filed with val
liable suggestions for the health Of
ficials- AT the opening session there
were present about 100 members Of
the local boards and others interested
in health work. a gathering nearly
twice the size Of that at the first an
nual meeting held last year. The dnal
session Of this years conference Will
be held at $50 this Wednesday morn
ing, with DR.. S. J. Beach Of Angus
Ia as chairman.
The first session Of the conference
held Tuesday afternoon was pre-
sided over by State Health Commits
sioner L. D.. Bristol of Augusta The
program was opened with an address
by Miss Elizabeth Ross Of the New
England Division Of the American
Red Cross. Boston. who spoke upon
the subject, "The Plans Of the Ameri-
can Red Cross for Cooperative
Health Work" Her duty had been TO
recruit nurses for the military SER
vice. She stated that the Red Cross
is now demobil.zing its nurses and
expects to have about all OF the
American nurses who are coming
back at present, in this country by
July l. Some nurses are being sent
TO Siberia, the Balkans. and other
places where they are greatly needed
abroad. Miss Ross stated that the Red
Cross has started on its peace pro-
gram. part Of which is to be great
health program, and she spoke CT the
different kinds Of ---'>':o health work.
In public health nursing she pointed
on, that the important thing IS the
especially trained woman, and she
gave the warning for communities
not to be so economical that they can
not prepare a woman for the work
The next speaker was Miss Mary
Van Zile OF the New England Divl-
sion, American Fed Cross. Boston.
who spoke upon the subject PUB
Ec Health Nursing She outlined
a public health nurses days work
in a small community and spoke of
the Importance OF nurses who at
tempt this work being specially fit
ted. She stated that these nurses
must have TIE close cooperation or
the physician and need tie backing
u tie local boards Of health which
lave the authority IN the towns
{, E. Turner. sanitary engineer. [.
s. P H s., Boston. Then spoken up
on the subject. The Relation OF the
United States Public Health Service
70 State Health Work.' He pointed
out that the State is the unit n pub
lie health work as Wei as in govern
ment. and that the United States
Public Health Service stands as an
assisting consulting and advisory
bcdy. When il works in a State Il
does so AT the invitation ana under
tie direction Of tire State department
of health C~iy Il few of tire many
divisions Of it's program relate 10 the
State Of Maine, especially TIE d!Vi-
sion tcr the com batting Of veEerea!
diseasa Of which DR.. Il. z. Hitch
cock is the representative here, AMI
the division in shiDyarf; sanitation.
And tie speaker stated thaE tie Ma
t:oral department maintains for the
benefit Of the people all tEpes OF
people in public health work anu
they are available when needed oy
any particular State.
A. W. Hedrick. secretary Of A. P.
H. A., Boston. was next upon the
program. speaking upon the subject
The Relation oE the American
Public Health Association % the
state Health Work" II opening his
talk he stated that Maine IS gong
ahead in public health work. He
said that the American Public Health
Association was formed in 1877 AZ
New Orleans. La, and he spoke Oh
the personnel OF the association anu
its work.
The last speaker at the afternoon
session was DR.. George Coonos.
president of the Maine State Medical
Association. Waidoborc, who spoke
,,pcn the subject, The Relation OF
the Medical Profession to state
Health Work" He said that a DOC
TOR first gives relief 20 the patent anc
then looks about for the cause, anu
frequently IS Obliged 20 call IN an ex-
pert along spec;a! lines. such as IN
the matter Of proper ventilation ne
urged the necessity OF teach''s
necnle that they have no right 10 De
i, any way parties to the conveyance
~ contagious diseases and or teach
;nv neople the real meaning OF the
word responsibility
Az the close Of the regular speak
i,u prcRram each OF the addresses
was discussed in an informal manner,
,,,astions were asked and answered
illustrating different phases OF the
subjects treated.
stens Toward Formation OF STATE
Public Health Asso'n
During the informal question per-
;od steps were taken toward the tor-
ra-;or Of a state Public Health As
ISOLATION. which Will be an unoHcia'
organization and the general policy
Of which will be outlined by COM
mittee Of five who will be appointed
nv state Health Commissioner Brfs-
mi, The motion TO the effect tnat
DR.. Bristol appoint this committee
-. m Taspoau heaith or