Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-26

much Of this mortality was in a
calss called preventable deaths.
Mothers should have instruction in
the care Of her infant in the local
tiles where the foreign element is
prevelant it being in these localities
that the people are ignorant of the
customs of hygiene and physical
welfare. The public health workers
must get into the homes to look aft
CT the child especially during the
years before the child is old enough
to SO to school for it is only after
the child gets into school that the
element Of personal hygiene exerts
its influence upon its mind. Much
good would result from an adequate
law passed by the Legislature for
the environment of the child.
See to it that there is a re-adjust-
ment of our valuation Of disease con-
troll work We are shocked when we
hear of deaths resulting from scar
let fever. small pox or other malig-
nant disease cases, but we do not
think Of the more serious disease
tube rculosis but statistics show that
bESbil &tSIit ofOspto
and the lesses diseases than from
scarlet fever and small pox. We are
scared when we hear Of scarlet fever
in Augusta. We want to take our
children from school and do all sorts
CT things. forgetting that all about US
there arc many cases Of tuberculosis.
Another item Of reconstruction is
the attention to rural hygiene. the
sanitation OF small towns. The lar
ger cities have been lately seeing
this. helping the small towns in their
region in public health work. In
many instances the boys from the
farming communities are not as fit
as boys from the cities Maine be-
ing essentially rural State we
should consider very much the ques-
'i,n OF rural sanitation.
The time is coming when n part time
health officer will he thing of the
past We need at present more thar
anything else fuii time public health
officer for health WORK. sanitation ami
hygiene. The State has recently passed
a law to help communities III paying
for the work of such an officer and the
oyer should not be turned dowa.
Coordination and cooperation ietween
the pubic and private health agencies
IL needed and they are getting together
in many cases all in the interest Of
progress ald publ; welfare
One Of the greatest needs Of the coun-
try is 8 federal department for public
health. There Is al pre- ent the Bureau
II ~ MI
the Division Of Vital Statistics. the De-
partnent OF Social Hygiene and the Bu-
reau Of L. :. Public Health Service, and
theoretically it is health service but
practically it is only a bureau All
these agencies should be brought to-
gether in a federal department with the
secretary In the Presidents cabinet anu
the department adequately financed.
Public health is the foundation upon
which reposes the happiness Of the PEG.
pie and we owe it to ourselves. our
children and our countrs TO forward
the mo, ement
Question Period
Is there a law for the compulsory
treatment Of yenerea, diseases? The
speaker answered that there is a law
covering that case and at present there
is work going on to prevent this men
ace in the State.
What is the attitude in the rural Sec
lions toward rural sanitation? DR.. Bhis-
tol answered that in the past there had
been an attitude of indifference. The
rural communities hadn't the comnnuni-
ty idea and couldn't see the reason for
work. but now having been
aroused by the war there is a feeling
toward the need of public health vorl @