The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-01-27
ANNUAL REPORT or THE
DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICER

DH. u. ". Eliot Reviews the Work Of
the Year and Gives Various Points
Of Lav: Also Suggestions for the
Coming lear.
To the Voters of Health District
No g.
In rendering my annual report,
desire 70 again call attention 10 few
requirements q the Health Law
Local Boards of Haelth The lsw
provides Tor focal Boards of Health in
each town. composed ~ the Selectmcn
Of the Town. one ~ whom IA elected
chairman n the board Complaints as
70 nuisances dangerous 70 health
should H. made to the local Board Of
Health Or the District Health Officer,
who, by virtue u his Office, is mem
Der and secretary Of each local board
Local boards Of health should be able
70 keep in close touch with health con-
ditions. can be Of great assistance in
many ways 70 the health officer, and in
many ways act independently Of him.
II Is recommended that each local
Board Of Health add 10 their sanitary
code an ordinance providing that all
cows whose product is sold locally be
subjected 70 the tuberculin test for
tuberculosis This test 70 be made by
state veterinarians at such time as
their services can be procured.
Medical Inspection of Schools I'm
der the present law. If any town
votes at its annual meeting, to have
medical inspection Of school children,
the work will be done by the state
free Of expense 70 the town, under
direction Of the District Health Officer
Fifty per cent Of the towns in this dis
trict and about 70 per cent Of the
towns of the state voted for this SER
vice M their last annual meeting. i
hope that an the towns IN this District
will vote for inspection this year 50
that an children can have the benefit
Of ths work. No treatment Is given
but parents are .rred to.consult their
family physician for further examina-
ton end treatment or advice, so that
the defects found may be remedied. I
In cities whore the examination Of
school children has been carried on for
several years. the number Of defects
have steadily decreased / am very
glad 10 report that in towns that had
this inspection done, a largo number
Of people have had corrected the de-
fects that were found Adonoids are
very common and defective vision very
frequent The number Of corrections
made cannot be given till another in
spection has been made
Contagious Disease; - Physicians
are now required to quarantine cll 4
cases Of contagious disease which they
attend, and report the facts to the
District Health officer Where no
physician is In attendance, the head Of
the family IS required by law 70 at
once report the facts to the District
Health Officer. School teachers are
also required to report all cases Of
contagious disease that may come to (
their notice, occurring among their :
pupils or in families from which their
pupils come. Full instructions have (
been printed and hung in each school
for the teachers guidance. /
The district has not been visited by .
ary serious epidemic during the past c
year. There were 1s2 cases Of influ- S
enza reported last spring. Persons (
who he'd II in 1918 seemed to be free
from il during the last year Five '
cases Of diphtheria were reported, two
of which were imported. Prompt c
and willing cooperation /
prevented the spread Of this disease n
which might have been serious. The J
Health Officer is always glad 10 re- a
spond to the call Of any physician for v
q consultation, when there is ques- il
ton Of doubt. In,
The State Board Of Health employs 4
two specialists, one for tuberculosis 4
and one for infantile paralysis who are
AZ the disposal Of any physician when II
called FOR. Much has been accomplish n
ed in the way Of educating the public "
Is to the requirements which are be- Il
ng enforced The public has a right S
10 expect protection from contagious D
disease and the cooperation of an cit q
zens Is earnestly requested % the end p
hat these expectations may be rea- a
izod. is
The Importance Of reporting com W
nunicahlo disease p rot generally ap- a.
ireci1;ed - tfe public and many ot
physicians No disease has been a
iaoed on the list % be reported by
hance Or arbitrarily bat only after h
ue thaarht and eor liirn The p
B r Nl m Surgical Journal a
ea ~ t et Eys ,hs, the o
.Haule3re q TIE preeoirr diseases -