The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-03
HEALTH MEET
GREAT SUCCESS
PENSACOLA AND WEST florida
WELL REPRESENTED AT Ma
TiONAL CONVENTION HELD IN
NEW ORLEANS.

From a standpoint of both attend
ance and dissemination of interesting
and instructive data the American
Public Health Association convention
held in New Orleans October 81 to 80
both inclusive was decidedly the most
successful in the history of the organ
ization. according to Pensacolians in
attendance.
1t was estimated that about 400
attended the annual meeting which is
a record number except at the meet
ing in Chicago last year. DIR. Rankin,
state health officer of North Carolina,
was elected president for the coming
year and 1t was decided to hold the
next meeting In San Francisco.
There were present from Florida j.
Fl. Carter, Pensacola: Mrs. F. A.
Brink, Pensacola Miss Agnes Nc
Kinna. Pensacola; Mrs. George Simons,
Jacksonville; Miss Eleanor Tatom, De-
Funiak Springs DIR. HI. E. Whitford
Ozona. DIR. Mac DonneI, Jacksonville
Those connected with the Florida
State Board of Health present were
DIR. Ralph ". Greene, state health Of
ficer; DIR. b. L. Arms, director Of
diagnotic laboratories. who read a
paper on ''Hookworm Infections in
F'1orida:" S. @. Thompson. vital sta
tistician; DIR. Tatom. district health
officer; George A. Sirnons, who gave
a report before the committee ON
swimming pools of the section of sanf-
tary engineering; DIR. Grace whitford.
who read a paper on school Hygiene
for Rural Communities"
II was interesting to note that all of
the papers of the state health officers
and government representatives
stressed tho necessity of full-time.
weil-paid. we1i-trained. efficient county
and city health officers.
1t was also interesting to note that
all uthorfties-writers. teachers. state
and county health officers-men like
Ravonel Mclaughlin (Surgeon Gen
. eral. u. s. Public Health Service).
Rankin presented the necessity of
child welfare work as the basis of
All constructive public health work.
The need OF State Health Societies.
composed OF professionals and lay
men. to foster and consider matters OF
public health for their state. and to
correlate all agencies working for
public health was emphasized through
out the meeting. Many such state So
cities were reported already formed
II was reported that a National
Health Council had been formed DUR
ing the year; this brings into one
body the seventeen representative
national societies of the United States
engaged In some phase of work relat-
ing to the Improvement Of public
health. This Is great step toward
co-ordinating these bodies and will
tend to eliminate the overlapping OF
many activities and concentrate effort
most economically where it Is most
needed.
IN ri MA Qd
upon the need of co-ordinating the eff
forts OF the different Federal Bureaus
dealing with matters of public health
1t was encouraging and interesting
to note that all states are working
along the same lines in public health
and toward the same definite ideals
Florida has made start. at least, SO
the meeting showed. along all branches
of public health activities.
It was interesting to note the much
larger percentage of women present
than at previous sessions.
New Orleans extended every cour-
tesy to her guests. AT night "a huge
electric sign strung across Canal
Street biazed a greeting to the Ameri-
can Public Health Association. Tours
were conducted through the French
quarters and historic sections of the
city permits were provided for visit
to the French Opera House: automo-
hfles for tours were placed at the dis
posai OF wives OF visiting physicians
who were also entertained at a tea
at the Country Club.
on Thursday. a large steamer tool
members and guests for a river triI
and refreshments were served durini
the afternoon. with an orchestra play
ing for dancing. New Orleans knows
well how to please her guests and de-
serves TO be what she has become. a
convention city.