The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-09
MANY DUTIES FOR
HEALTH OFFICIAL
Water Supply, Milk, Cream
and Other Foods to Be
Safeguarded
SCHOOL INSPECTION
TO BE LARGE TASK
Dr. Chester s. Leach, New District
Health officer, Gets Insight During
Months Experience Into What Will
Be Required of HIM.

Although none of the various branch
es Of health work under the supervis-
ion of District Health Officer Chester
s. Leach show any startling develop
meIts in the first month IS work under
the provisions of the new iaw which
weat into effect throughout the state
July !, q resume obtained IN an inter-
view with DR.. Leach shows that il has
been necessary for him TO keep "'on
the move and the next few months
will be crowded with official duties.
The first proposition which met the
new health officer was that of investi-
eating report of diphtheria in Inc
Swedish section of Brattlebora, with
the result that he found one child had
died of the disease, the nature Of which
was not discovered until about the time
of the child s death, az tho family
physician was not called until too late
to save its life. The investigation NJ
so showed five eases Of the disease In
two families, and these were inocuiated
and no further cases developed. This
/ is the only serious contagious disease
with which DR.. Leach has come in con-
| tact, although several eases of mumps
and other minor communicable diseases
have been reported and quarantined. In
cases of the minor diseases, however.
where the family physician is not
called there seems to be a lack of
knowledge as to who to notify now that
each town no longer has its individual
health officer, but the statute states
l specifically that the district health oiiic
er shall be advised at once.
i Another matter which has been con-
sidered by DR.. Leach Is the local pub
lie water supply, the smell and taste
of which have been decidedly unpleas-
ant much of the summer. He has sent
one sample to Burlington, but has been
advised that it is normal However, ne
stated in an interview with Reformer
representative that he would make
further investigations in an effort
to improve the conditions sur
rounding the supply. 1nasmuch as
some persons had advanced the belief
that there might be some chemical to off
set the vegetable growth in the reser-
voir the representative of The Reform
( er made inquiry on this point and was
e informed that a chemical could be
S used but very likely it would take eff
Y feet on those drinking the water as
: we'll as on the growth.
t Milk and cream for consumption in
!. the towns over which Health Officer
y Leach has control have come under his
i scrutiny in some places, some stables
have been visited, and others through
n out the territory viii receive attention
k as soon as he finds it possible to make
e the calls, as it is his intention that tbs
l. provisions of the law shall be complied
/ with regarding the production of mill
l. for sotcalled local consumption, and th'
e dealers (and dealer is any one whC
sells milk, whether pint day OF
e n,pre) too, will not be left out Of con
5. sideration. In one town in the county
where DR.. Leach spent two days recent
ly on the milk situation, 90 dealer
were found who had no licenses an'
: apparently were unaware that the stat
law required them. In cases where i
is obvious to the health official tina
rs persons are knowingly and wilfull.
evading the law the attention of tn
states attorney will be called to th
violations.
A big task will be presented to tn
70 health officer with the opening o
X schools in the district of which he ha
er charge, inasmuch as it is another 0
'n his duties to see that in towns wher
r medical inspection is voted every chill
ay of school age is properly examined. |
1T
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