Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-15
DR.. Silk, President, in Statement
Outlines Plans for Coming
Year In Clear, Concise Man.
ner.


to succeed William ]. Willsey, re-
signed, took over the office this morn
Ing.
This in reality starts the new health
program in this city which was born
of the visit to this city of DIR. William
H. Wolfram, of Boston, Public Health
Service surgeon, who asserted that
the city was a rotten hole" and
should be cleaned out. Following
close on the revelations and exposures
of DIR. Wolfram the health board Sc
cured a greatly enlarged appropria-
tion for 1919 from the Board of AL
dermen and are planning compre-
hensive health program for the city
which will, If carried out as planned,
soon clean up the health situation
here and give the city its first COM
prehensive work for combating dis
ease and keeping health matters in
proper shape.
DIR. Thompson is a veterinarian re-
siding in Market street. He will con-
tinue as health officer for a period of
three years. He was named with the
proviso that he pass the state health
departments examinations for mimic
ipal health officers within period
of three month ----@
He is at present acquainting himself
with the various duties which he will
be called upon to perform.
The first regular meeting Of the
board as II is now made up, will take
place Friday night and it is probable
that at that time the health program
will be taken up and discussed by the
new health officer and the members of
the board.
DIR. silk Outlines Plans.
DR.. Charles I. Silk, elected at the
organization meeting. as president to
succeed Edward III. Dilts, who declin-
ed reelection. has outlined In state
ment, his policies for the board and
what he contemplates for the next
year.
SIN the past" the statement reads.
things have not been as they should
be, not entirely due to the faults of
the members of the health board but
rather because of lack of funds, due
to short sightedness on the part of our
city fathers and a general indifference
on the part of both the public. as well
as the department, as concerns mat
ters of health.
Would Eliminate Politics.
Another serious drawback" the
e statement continues, was the mixing
of politics into this department and
this tendency, l fear is still a menace
to the success of our work. IL there
is any city or municipal department
that should be free from political in
nuences II is the department of
health. Natures laws which govern
biology, physics or chemistry know no
politics. Disease germs, physical dis
integration and putrefactive processes
continue their destructive work un-
ceasingly day and night and care not
what particular faith any one of us
processes. 1t is my sincere hope that
you will refrain from playing politics
in this department. or shall he
obliged to refuse to play with you at
all. These laws of nature, however,
are not destructive in character for
il is by and through these same forces
that growth and physical de yeiopment
are obtained and we must not Re sat
isfied by merely attacking or checking
these destruvtice agencies, but by IN
telligent qualification of the laws of
: nature, the most approved, modern
and scientific methods make most Sc
rious efforts in helping to build up and
to construct the health OF the public.
have formulated a tentative. yet
believe, comprehensive program
which submit to you:
"A strong health board organiza-
ton of the most capable and infiuen-
tial men I'm town. That we are not
such a body is not our fault. 1t has
been pointed out recently that the
big men of the city will not accept a
position on this board because ii may
hurt their business. This condition
of affairs must be remedied. Ny idea
of a board of health, as such, is that
of a legislative body for the passing
of health laws and ordinances in the
first place: as an organizing body for
the formation, cooperation and super
vision of all public health activities in
the community in the second place.
The board must not be bothered with
adjusting and judging petty nuis-
ances. This should be left in the
hands of the health officer and the
court, where they properly belong.
active, virile auxiliary organiza-
tions TO cooperate with the health de-
partment. Such organized bodies, as
a rule, are chiefly composed of wom-
en-. and work independently, but in
harmony and under advisement of
the Board of Health, so as to con-
centrate all health activities. The
following are some of the auxiliaries
i'm question: The local Red Cross
chapter, local Anti-Tuberculosis
League. the Child Welfare League,
the milk commission, moral society
ana social service organizations.
"House to house survey with the
assistance and backing of the Red
cross association. The Atlantic Divi-
SION of Red Cross Office has already
taken steps in this direction, but un-
less we show a willingness TO push
this matter vigorously, fear that not
CONTINUED on page 30
ifardware' 13l7-i-l5-1t'