Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-20
DISEASE IN YER MONT
VERY MUCH DECREASED
Threatened Epidemics of Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria Prompt.
ly Handled by District Health
Officers and Local Authorities
-Pediculosis in PittsfOrd

Disease in Vermont. especially con-
tagious disease, is being very much de-
creased these days through the watchful
viligance of the new district health Of
ficers, who began their new duties July
I. This statement comes authoritatively
from DIR. Charles +. Dalton, seci etary of
the Vermont State Board OF Health. who
bases his assumption on the figures OF
the last few months since the new dis
trict health officers began their work
For instance, DIR. Dalton states that the
number of diphtheria. typhoid fever and
scarlet fever cases In the State is very
low for this time of year. During the
: month of October, there were only q
cases of diphthera, nine cases of typhoid
fever and % cases of scarlet fever in the
entire State. These are dangerous con-
tagous diseases and, when once started
an epidemic Of them proves very hard to
control.
Not only have there been fewer cases
than usual of these diseases for this
time of year, but DR.. Dalton states that
threatening epidemics of both scarlet
fever and diphthera in different parts of
the State We're discovered in time and so
promptly handled by the district health
officers, cooperating with the local au-
, thorities, that the epidemics were stamped
out before they became dangerous. In no
part of the state at the present time is
there an, epidemic of any contagious dis
ease existing.
1t is being proven more and more each
month that the district health officer plan
is good one, both practicable and
efficient, according to DIR. Dalton. COM
Z = MI.
what 1t means to have real definite
health program TO follow, which is uni
versal throughout the entire State.
In all parts of the State, the people
as whole. and the physicians especially,
are cooperating splendidly with the dis
trict health officers to make the health
program a success. In practically every
town i'll the State boards of health, con-
sisting of the three selectmen of the
town, have been organized in harmony
with the working of the district health
officer plan. Excellent cooperation is
being given the district health officer
by these local boards. He acts as secre-
tary of each of the town boards.
School inspection. with the idea OF i'm
proving health conditions among the chill
dren of the State, has formed a promi-
nent part of the work of the district
health officers since they came into office.
AS a result Of these inspections. which
have included nearly every schoolhouse
in Vermont. big or small. many recon-
mendations made by the health officers
have been adopted by the local authori-
ties, and the sanitary conditions and gen.
eral health program of the schools Is
much improved in many sections of the
State. Medical inspection of the pupils
in the schools, as well as the schools
themselves has taken up considerable
time of many OF the district health
officers
Another field in which the district health
officers have helped to improve condi-
tons is in the matter of cleaning up
places where lice have invaded a school
or district. Several such cases have
been taken up by district health officers.
one of them caused quite stir last
week in Rutland county court. DIR. r. D.
Colby, health officer for the Rutland dis
trict. brought into that court several
cases where thefamilies had allowed their
children to continue to go To school in
a lousy condition. after they had been
warned by the district health officer to
keep them out until they could be freed
from lice.
AS a result of this court procedure,
Peter Fredette of Pittsford paid a fine
of 1926 and costs in court November &
because he failed to have one of his chill
dren examined by a physician before the
child returned to school, after their home
had been placarded by the district health
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omcor
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sbnu. that ,,,ora ,,,ara cortogio,,s a,saosas
in Vermont as fo1lovs. N.osI.. 80. scar-
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