The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-01-08
HEALTH BY mail
BOARDS SLOGAN
Wis. State Board of Health
In Campaign For More
Accurate Report of Com
Inurlicable Diseases.
NO IDEA OF COMPETITION
Physicians Will Hereafter Be Able To
Transmit Reports Of Contagious
Diseases On Cards With Gov
eminent Frank.

| rHealth by MALI is the slogan
adopted by the Wisconsin state board
of health in the campaign for more ac-
curate and complete reports of COM
municable disease. Lest it be thought
that a medical mail order business is
contemplated, it may be said that
there is no intention on the part of
the board Of entering into competition
with the medical practitioners of the
state, the board explains in statement
issued today. The battle cry has an
entirely different application.
Through the courtesy of the federal
government and the active assistance
of the U. S. public health service, ply
sicians will hereafter be able to sub
NIT reports of communicable disease
| to their local health officers on postal
cards bearing the government frank.
In addition to saving considerable
postage in the aggregate, the system
has the additional advantages of being
convenient and carrying considerable
prestige In the near future it will al
50 be possible for physicians to trans
NIT specimens for examination to the
state laboratories of hygiene without
the payment of postage The granting
| of the ranking privilege to the physi
clans Of the state may be taken as an
indication Of the earnest intent Of the
federal government to control the
communicable diseases insofar as it is
humanity possible.
In meeting the legal requirements
connected with the use Of the frank
| ing privilege, it was necessary to APP
point a number Of local health officers
and laboratory directors in the state
as regular employees of the public health
service. These are dollar a year
.uen, who bear the somewhat formid-
able title Of assistant collaborating
psychologists. Their duties, how
ever, are not multitudinous. Briefly
stated, these men are expected to slim
ulate physicians and other persons to
report all cases of communicable dis
ease coming to their attention. The
cards obtained are to be forwarded
weekly to the state board Of health for
compilation and study.
A fact not generally known or ap-
Ipreciated, is that the law requires not
only physicians but all other persons
to report eases of communicable dis
ease coming to their attention. Any
one, therefore, whether physician or
not can obtain cards FROM the health
officer and report disease or suspect
ed disease. A great deal of valuable
assistance can be rendered. any health
! officer if lay people would aid in this
way, the board declares.
BY obtaining more accurate and COM
Iplete reports not only the local health
| departments but also the central
agency at Madison, will be able to cope
more promptly and decisively with out
breaks Of disease. Not only can such
efficient aids in disease control as
placarding and quarantine be institut-
ed without delay but thel service of
skilled men and women cdn be made
available for the afflicted communities.
| ''There is every reason to believe
saiys the board, ''that the more quick
| " and completely cases of communi-
able disease are reported to the respon-
sible health authorities the healthier
and happier will be the people in the
community. This good health literally
becomes possible through the medium
of the mails. =
Thousands of franked postal cards
are being sent to various parts of Wis
consin as rapidly as the oaths Of office
are received from the newly appointed
dollar year officials. While the
larger cities are being served first it
is the ultimate aim to extend the mail
reporting system TO every part of the
state.