Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-23
UNITY FOR HEALTH
BN Il. AddinrtOn Bruce

/ TNOHIE day it is much to be hoped, there
~N will be uniform health laws and regula-
w. tons the length and breadth of the
land.
It is easy enough to raise the cry Of local
sell-government in opposition to the gaining
Of such uniformity. But in matters Of health
the national good should be paramount.
And sickness in any locality means national
damage in some degree. If the sickness is OF
an infectious character it may mean extern
sive damage unless the local regulations are
what they ought to be and are properly en-
forced.
Suppose the local regulations are lax with
reference to quarantine of the infected sick.
Freedom of movement being permitted, infec-
ton is given a chance to spread rapidly, ana
a costly epidemic may soon be under way
And consider the consequences of inferior
regulation in the matter of sanitary building
laws.
For any locality to permit the construction
OF dwelling places and working places-or
houses, apartment buildings, tenements,
hotels, offices, stores, factOries-that are a
menace to the health Of those occupying them,
is more than an injury to that locality.
The workers in every locality contribute to
the progress and prosperity OF the nation. In
proportion as they suffer from unsanltary
housing conditions the vigor Of the nation is
impaired. This is a truth that ought to be
accepted automatic
So, too, as regards pure food laws. With
reason the hygienst Broadhurst excalims:
cit is a sad commentary our state laws
to be told that many people, perhaps in your
own state, insist on western meat, thus secur-
ing through the United States Interstate regu-
lations safe meat which they cannot trust
their own state to provide for them.
"Alcoholic candies, adulterated drugs, and
injurious foods may be sold in quantities IN
your state by manufacturers who find it more
profitable to cater thus dishonesty to small
market than to supply clean and correctly
labelled commodities for interstate trade
Obviously, there is a national peril from
every state municipality whose people are
weakened and made i'll by failure to safe
guard their food supply. The national in
terest calls imperatively for raising of the
local standards when they are low and for the
vigorous enforcement of new and better laws
How to secure the needed uniformity in
the enactment and enforcement of health laws
in general is, of course, a serious problem.
Some see its only solution in the creation
of a department of health. To this depart
ment they would intrust powers of health
administration for the entire nation.
Others favor the establishment OF ma
tional health commission, with power to make
standard laws and supervise their admins
tration by the local health authorities.
Or it might be possible for the states to
come to a mutual agreement to accept and
vigorously to enforce code of laws worked
out by leading hygienists, and revised from
time to time as scientific and medical progress
made necessary.
Most assuredly some way should be found
+ to unity the nation for health. Some way
will have to be found if the evils which i'll
health brings on the nation are to be success
Iully fought.