The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-13
HEALTH BOARD.
In AGREEMENT
WITH OFFICIALS
EScAMBIA COUNTY TO GET GEN.
EROUS SHARE OF STATE BOARD
FUNDS FOR SCHOOL ExAMINO-
TONS

The resources OF Inc SLAle nDO11NDdy
VIII be turned over To the county for
the special handling OF this work A
thorough physical examination VIII be
given tn every one of the 10000 stu
dents who are enrolled in the so
schools represented The follow-up
work Of treatment has been left in the
hands of the parents of the children
and the county
Falling in line with the plan mapped
out by the state board, county com
missioners agreed to meet the $1,000
appropriation which health officials
offered at the outset of yesterday
mornings joint meeting The county
will divert $1,000 OF the $1,000 set
aside in the budget for general
health purposes to this end in the
fifty-fifty proposition The State
Board of Health will, in addition to the
funds offered. bear the burden of the
expenses of the trained workers who
will be put in the field.
The campaign is the first to be in
augurated in the state of Florida
With every one of the four district
health officers on the job and staff
OF nine trained workers in addition
under DIR. Whitford, the machinery of
the entire board will be set in motion
and the completed results announced
within two weeks time. After Escam-
bias campaign the board will give its
attention to Hillsborough county.
At the end of the four-hour session
yesterday 1t seemed that the meeting
would end in a deadlock, but when
the vote was taken the ballot for the
proposition offered. was unanimous,
action was taken on the motion of
Commissioner Soderlind, seconded by
Chairman White.
The question at issue hinged around
the legality of the appropriation from
the county which the state board re-
quired TO put their forces at work
here. County Attorney Reese gave an
opinion that such a procedure would
be stretching the law of 1915, but
said that the county could. in his
Judgment supplement and help out the
health program under the supervision
of the state organization.
Injunction proceedings against the
county have been threatened by DIR.
w. l.. Address to whom the work of
examination of school children was
formerly delegated by the county
board. At this time Mr.. Reese stated
that steps taken by the commissioners
We're contrary to law. The attorney
stated that the question at issue was
disburse the funds and said that the
commissioners could apply the money
to help the State Board of Health, but
not to any individual. IF it is illegal
for one it is illegal for another" DIR.
Address said, Il am perfectly willing
TO get rid of the examinations. II
would cost me more than the SIS, 900 at
first set aside. / am ready to step
down and out, but where do I come in
with regard to the assistance / have
secured for the treatment of tracho-
mar" DIR. Address work under the
plan formerly advocated, would have
started October /, the beginning of
the fiscal year, but preliminary steps
had been taken to cure the defects of
children ready to enter school.
Humans can be treated just as well
as CATTLE" James Macgibbon, clerk of
the county board stated when asked
for his opinion. Mr.. Macgibbon said
that the plan of payment could be car
ried on just as is done with the work
of tick eradication. 1t was explained
that the complaint had been made by
the commissioners that, If the health
program was undertaken, with any
question of validity involved, that the
clerk would refuse his signature. Mr.
Macgibbon gave his approval to tho
plan mapped out. Whether the re
naming $500 will be used for follow
up work is yet to be determined
Carrying out the olive branch" pol
icy. advocated by President Joe Il
Earman, of Palm Beach, who presided
over the meeting, the two board.
| Chairman Beggs and Superintendent
| Edwards, of the board of public in.
| struction, City Health COMMISSIONS
Pou. Miss Agnes McKinna. socia
service worker. and DIR. s. r. Mallor,
Kennedy, of the public health service
and DIR. Turperville of Century, go
down TO work early in the day for ar
amicable settlement of affairs.
The matter of finances was earl,
brought into the discussion. The Stat,
| Board of Health gave the explanation
| that the S24 900 which they have fol
the examination of all Florida schoo
| children would not allow a more lib
| eral appropriation for Escambia coun.
| ~. Even then, it was pointed out tina
| Escambia was being given most lib
| eral treatment by the state board
Two thousand dollars will do tn.
work of registration. tabulation ans
examination, it is thought, but if Thu.
is insufficient the state board stand
ready TO make up the deficiency.
1t was acknowledged that the situa
ton, though serious. could be take
care of. Trachoma in Escambia is no
nearly so prevalent as on the Eas
Coast and the return of the FLU is tn
thing most to be reckoned with.
The health law of 1915 was de
nounced as Joker by Dr. Kennedy
There is no such animal as a count,
physician" he said. THE law doe.