The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-25
PURPOSE and
SOURCEHEALTH
FUNDS STATED
SURVEY OF WHAT IS NEEDED IN
CITY AND COUNTY is SET
FORTH BY SANITARY AND
HEALTH OFFICIAL.
tsy DR.. o. II. cox


(By DR.. o. n. cox
| 1t seems well at this time to let 1t be
made clear to the public what has been
the purpose and source of the various ex-
penditures for health and sanitation that
have been made in this community dur
ing the past few months.
| The u. S. Public Health service ex-
pended previous to Feberuary IL, 1919,
the sum of S2S75. and since February II,
S2,92S, a total of SO, SOB.
This has been for salaries and smaller
items expended locally. There have been
in addition a number of special advisors
ana assistants visit here from the service
for different reasons.
State Board of Health.
Maintenance of laboratory, which in
cIudes salaries of doctor in charge, at
tendants, and upkeep, at least $500 per
month Sanitary inspector and inciden-
tails, per month, $50. Total $3.50; or a
grand total for twelve months of $1,000.
In addition to these regular expendi-
lures the board has recently appropriate
ed for use in this region:
Toward city-county health officer Gun
time) per year, $1,000. For tuberculosis
visiting nurse Especially trained) $1,000.
Total, 81 200.
AS with the public health service there
are always available sanitary engineers
organization available for special pur-
poses.
1t would seem apparent that this re-
gion is able to obtain its full quota of
| expenditures for health, especially If
there is evidenced any sense of appre-
citation in the form of cooperation.
City of Pensacola.
The efforts by which the city attempts
to maintain sanitary order costs about
as follows. These constitute the main
expenditures for public health:
| City physician and health officer, $3.50
per month.
Six sanitary inspectors (only five since
death of one) $40 per month (now S450).
Miscellaneous possibly $50 per month.
Total $40 per month. or $3.50 per year.
1t may be proper to charge against
THIS one-third of the salary of the COM
missioner of health (also tire and police)
The following plant of action is sub
mitted whereby health activities will be
placed on a definite basis in Pensacola
and Escambia county:
| Health officer (whole time).
Duties-by groups:
| l. emiology-Morbidity reporting
| by doctors Estate law. Investigation OF
contagious cases, as reported
q. Food Observation-Disclosures and
other food handling places. Milk prod
ucts and dairy inspection.
| 8. School Medical Inspeetion-Examf-
nation of all school children. Follow
lup by nurses and clinics for corrective
measures.
4. Sanitary Conditions dis
posal. Privies and scavenger system
Stable and manure disposar to control fly
breeding. Nuisances.
5. Drainage and MOSQUITO Control
Abatement of breeding places. Artificial
containers. Ponds and marshes.
6. Venerea1 Disease-Clinic and law
enforcement. aided by state and federal
funds.
Prospective needed personne1 for CITY
and county organization:
Health officer.
City: Public health nurse: one for
schools, one for tuberculosis to extend
into the west end district. Sanitary In
spectors; one for milk and food, four for
city districts. Clerical, office clerk.
for office records and to handle reports.
County: One social worker for work
with rural schools and Eomes One SAN
itary Inspector for general work, espe-
Ecially in rural and suburban districts.
N. B-These are already employed by
the school board md state board or
health.
From this group as a beginning there
could gradually be built up a health
unit that would be bound to bring about
better conditions throughout the county.
beginning must be made. Something
must be done.
The personnel required to carry out the
program would have the following du
ties:
City.
Health Officer-He will be under the
commissioner of health. He will direct
all routine duties that may arise. Note
that every departrvent of local govern
ment has health and sanitation phase.
l. Epidemiology-Step must be taken
to bring the doctors to the realization
that the state law, ts~ed similar reg
ulations in many countries requires that
certain disea ses, usually OF a conta gious
nature. must be reported promptly. The
mutual advantages of reporting can be
shown later.
He should then be required to make
complete investigation of all phases of
tho case as the origin and the course and
termination.
2. Food Inspection-This wopk must
be closely supervised and directed For
milk and diaries he will have to be very
active at first until an inspector can take
charge Visits to the farms are neces-
sary and collections of samples for lab
oratory tests must be made
Restaurants, markets, soda fountains
and other places where food is handled
and sold must be closely checked up A
score card system has been thoroughly
tried out and all details of procedure are
thereby included. One active inspector
may cover these sections
5. School Inspection-Al1 school chill
dren in the county have been examined
this year, and necessary data put on in
dividual card. The following year newly