The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-03
j. S. OFFICIAL HAS
PLAN TO BENEFIT
MEMPHIS DISTRICT
Would Have Government
Guarantee Health Condition
of Counties Which Comply
With Requirements.

Counties in the tri-states viii reap
untold benefits in an advertising way
incideht 10 their improved health con-
dltlohs, II a program mapped out by
surgeon l.. y. Prick, medical officer
In charge OF malarial investigations I'm
the South, with headquarters in Mem
pms Is carried out by the United States
public health service.
DR.. Prick will submit his program to
the surgeon general of the United
states before 1t can become operative.
before doing so, however, he is OBJ
tanning from all persons possible their
views as TO feasibility OF the plan.
IL provides that counties shall do
certain amount of health work This
completed, the government viii ZAP
prove the county. With this approval
IL viii give the county authority and
permission 10 use the governments
name IN advertising to the world that
the United States government guar
antees that this county's health condi-
tons are excellent"
The proposal, II carried out. will en-
able counties in the whole lower Mis-
sissippi valley 10 deal final and death
blow to the ill-founded belief through
out the nation that the region Is not
healthful II will do more to stimulate
immigration and development OF idle
lands than any other one thing in the
belief OF some OF the men who already
have approved it,
Association Helping.
DR.. Frick recently submitted an out
line OF the plan to the Southern Allu-
vial Land association, of Memphis
which is devoting its efforts TO at
tracing attention to the development
OF the so-called delta portions OF the
lower Mississippi valley and to remov-
ing some of the old prejudices people
in the North and East have against
the territory. The association not only
approved DR.. Tricks program but Of
fered to aid him in any possible way
Directors of the association, who in
clude lumbermen, planters and business
men, say that the greatest obstacle
TO a steady flow of immigration into
the lower valley is the old belief that
the territory Is not healthful,
In submitting an outline of his pro-
gram, DR.. Prick said that 1t probably
will provide:
"The United States public health ser
vice viii enter into agreement with the
different state health authorities where
by county health organizations will be
inspected and approved when found to
be properly organized. financed and ad-
ministered.
County health organizations will be
inspected from time TO time by rep
resentatiye of the state board OF health
and an officer OF the United States
public health service detailed for this
upon request Oh the state HtAltIl
officer. The result OF these inspections
viii be published In the public health
reports, together with a list Of those
counties whose health organizations
have been approved. This Information
will be furnished to the different agri-
cultural journals of the United States |
and the counties themselves may make |
whatever use they may desire Of these |
reports in advertising improved health |
conditions within their limits.
Four Requirements.
''The following requirements will be |
accepted as minimum standard of |
health organizations In any Southern |
county:
First. Full-time unit with the fol-
lowing personnel as a minimum: one |
county health officer. one public health |
nurse, one sanitary inspector.
Second. Adequate appropriation for |
public health work.
Third. An adequate system OF birth |
and death reports.
Fourth. An adequate system Of re- |
porting communicable diseases.
I'm addition to the above require
ments II must be shown that the health 4
work OF the county unit Is being prop
erly administered-that communicable
diseases within the county are being |
controlled and that from health stand |
point the county can be recommended |
as safe place OF abode for anyone de-
string to take up his residence therein,
before approval of the county's health
win be given"
II Is said by DR.. Prick that many
already have provided for
county health work so that they would
need to spend but little more than at
present. Under present conditions they
do not get the backing" Of the gov 1
eminent as is provided under DR..
Tricks program. He estimates that
$4,000 TO $4,000 a year would take
care Of work in any county In the lower
valley region.
DR. Frick has charge ol all malarial