The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-02-13

w yITH further reference to the proposed State
Nv Health Department bill. attention Is direct.
ed 10 Section -. entitled Duties Of Physi-
cions. etc. This section Is, apparently, the only one
specifying duties OF physicians and II j. therefore
interesting 10 note the duties specified. The section
reads
That II shall be the duty Of the physician.
mid wife or other person in attendance NJ the
birth Of any child, 10 instill into the eyes Of
such infant such APPROVED PROPflY-
LATlC a. will prevent opthalmia necantor.
ium. Should one or both eyes Of an infant be-
come inflame,l. swollen aud red. and show an
unnatural discharge At any time within two
weeks after birth. Il shall be- the duty Of the
physician. nurse. relative or other attendant
having charge Of such infant. 10 report within
sx hours thereafter to the local health officer
IN the jurisdiction IN which the parents Of the
infant reside, the fact that such inflammation,
swelling aud redncss of the eyes aud unnatural
discharge exists. On receipt Of such report, or
Of notice Of the symptoms given hy a physician.
THE HEALTH OFFICER SHALL TAKE
SUCH IMMEDIATE ACTION AS HE MAY
DEEM NECESSARY IN ORDER THAT
BLINDNESS MAY BE PREVENTED.
The question arscs rs 10 what Is am approved
prophylaeiic" and who DEGREES It's approyalT II
this Is done by order Of the state Board of Health
we create in the state the power If diagnosis and
prescription. Suppose the physician attending does
not approve Of the chosen prophyiaeticf Must We
discharge the physician and call Ia the siatei
Note that the bin does not state that an infam.
nation. swelling or rcdncss of the infant eyes must
be from any specific cause. The nurse may stick her
finger in baby's eye aud crcate inflammation, red.
ness aud swelling Under this law the attending ply.
stefan MIST call In the local health officer, who
thereafter takes the ease out of the hands Of the
physician. and takes such steps ns ne, the said health
officer, thinks advisable TO prevent blindness.
Note that section S II this bill confers rights
upon the individual 10 select the physician or
mode Of treatment Of his choice and note that all
these proposed mandates which effectively take
away these individual rights, come after and super.
cedc the individual rights clause in this bill.
Let the fathers and mothers Of this state think
for n biz about whether they wish to confer upon a
state board Of health, and a local appointlye health
officer concerning whose selection they have no
voice. the power 10 come into the home. 10 take out
Of the hands of the trusted family physician IN al.
tendance the new born child and turn II over Va a
health officer for such treatment rs he may con.
slider necessary.
We read with somc care the recommendation
made by DR.. Kerr OF the T.. ;. public health scrvic,
~ 10 New Mexico's needs in public health lcgisla
tion. We do not recall amy such requirements a.
cials. Of the birth Of our children. annual yaccina
tim Of everybody irom the eat upward. ~law-makinp
powers for state. county and municipal health Of
fccrs. and an $4,000 annual appropriation.
Let us get the unreasonable and unnecessary
things out Of this bill, including the unnecessary
part Of the appropriation 10 be- raised by taxation
and proceed 10 set up a really useful state health
department, with power 10 assemble vital statistics
carry on health education, improve sanitary condi
tions and effectively quarantine against diseases OF
known danger.