Milford chronicle., 1919-07-11
DELAWARE TO BE
A HEALTHY STATE
SIGNIFICANT CONFERENCE OF STATE
AND LOCAL BOARDS HELD In
DOVER TUESDAY.
DR.. |. S. CONWELL PRESIDED
EVERETT C. JOHNSON, SECRETARY OF
STATE, ADDRESSED THE MEETING
ON HEALTH MATTERS.

The first of a series of conferences
between representatives of State and
local boards of health was held at
Dover on Tuesday in the State House.
Representatives were present from all
parts of the State. The meeting was
presided over by DR.. L. S. Conwell,
secretary of the State Board of Health,
who in his opening remarks suggested
that an appropriate motto for the State
Board of Health would be mo Death
Except by Old Age, and he called the
attention of the local health officials
to the necessity for the closest kind of
cooperation with the State Board of
Health if best results are to be
achieved.
The Governor, who was on the pro-
gram for an address, was represented
by Secretary of State Everett c. John
son. who outlined briefly the condi-
tions that had led up to the present
interest in health matters in the State
OF Delaware.
THE Powers and Duties of Local
Boards of Health" was the subject of
an address by Health Commissioner
c. H. Wells, who pointed out that un-
der existing laws local boards of health
have full authority to secure the abate-
ment of all kinds of nuisances, to
prohibit the occupation of unhealthy
tenements, to secure entrance upon
a property, regardless of the objec-
tions of the owner, to secure the quar-
antine and, if necessary, the removal
from their homes of persons suffering
from communicable diseases, and to
erect temporary hospitals whenever
necessary and to employ sufficient help
to operate them.
1t was also pointed out that in ad-
dition to these powers given to local
boards of health every local board of
health is required to enforce any san
itary rules and regulations that may
be adopted by the State Board of
Health, and in the event of failure or
on the part of any member of
said local boards or other official they
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and /
liable to a penalty of $50.
All of the representatives of the local I
boards of health showed the keenest I
interest in ascertaining just how far
hey could go in cooperating with the .
state Board of Health in abating
luisances in their own communities,
md it was decided to have printed in
form all of the State regula-
ions that annly &c the duties &C .iissee tise
ocaf boards of health.
The work Of the laboratory was dis
'ussed by DR.. w. H. Watson, State
,acteriologist, who showed the tre-
nendous importance to local health
'oards of an efficient laboratory and
le offered to cooperate with local
lealth officials in every way possible
n the control of communicable dis
ases and food supplies.
A very interesting and instructive
ddress was given by DR.. Brown of the
!. X. milford Co. in regard to the I
Methods of production of the serums {
nd antitoxins used in the prevention
nd treatment of communicable dis
ases. The discussion in regard to the
reparation of diphtheria antitoxin
nd typhoid fever bacterin was espec-
lily interesting in view of the com {
ION use that is made of these prod
cts. I
Clean Drinking Utensils
The recently adopted regulations of J
le State Board of Health regarding I
le proper cleansing Of drinking uten- 7
Is at soda water fountains, in regard /
, proper precautions to be taken by 4
arbers to prevent the spread of dis 4
ase and in regard to proper con- 4
.ruction of privies, so that flies can I
ot gain access to the contents there '
!, were thoroughly explained and dis 4
lssed.
A model Of a strictly sanitary privy '
as shown for the information Of the Z
embers, and there was present a N
of the P. L. Pease Co. +
no explained by means Of models and \
agrams a sanitary toilet outfit that
furnished by his company for use ]
rural buildings and other public Z
aces.
The milk regulations Of the State :
oard of Health were also discussed t
detail, and the Importance to the n
salth of the community of a pure
ilk supply was clearly set forth. The "
cal health officials were instructed o
at it was their duty to see that the a
Iiries from which their milk supply p
obtained came up to the required u
and to see that competent Il
made careful examina- e