, 1921-11-18

Every epidemic that occurred swept
through Casper with varying results
infant death was at a high level. in
testInal infections were claiming
scores here. and in general the health
OF Casper was on such a low plane
that It was injurious 10 further growth
Of the city.
All these conditions have been elm
mated. Today Caspers health and
sanitary regulation has resulted IN
the plane OF this city being held up as
A model to all other cities and coun-
ties OF tho state. DR.. A. b Tonkin,
fun time public health doctor for the
state, says that Casper's system could
be enforced effectively and with re-
sultant Improvement In any city In
the state Or country.
A summary OF the growth and su.
pervision OF Casper's health is con
tanned In an interview with DR.. ]. y.
o'Donnell. Natronn county and Casper
health officer. IN whose hands tho san
itary regulations have been worked
put
DR.. ODonnell's statement follows:
I'm the late summer and fall Of 1890
n check UP OF sanitary and morbidity
statistics for tho city of Casper and
county of Natrona. particularly as
they applied to baby health and baby
life. was conducted and II was found
tina Casper had long since outgrown
tho cowtown stage. but that the city
government had not kept pace In
fact. there were too many p~reventable
deaths occurring In Casper, attribut-
able to dirty milk and a dangerous
water supply.
Proper recognized disease eve
ton remedies were not in existence
here and accordingly q campaign of
publicity and education was started
through tho daily newspapers and
through tho regular forum meetings
Of tho chamber OF commerce. the local
Rotary and other organizations. seek
ing the truth for civic betterment
There were many committees OF
Investigation appointed to delve into
the need Of remedies suggested by the
local health department These In
vestigations were carried on very
thoroughly and systematically. The
whole matter. finally sifted itself down
TO n committee OF which Robert T.
Kemp vas chairman
This committee arrived at its con
illusions only after considerable time
spent IN n survey of Caspers situation
n after replies from various cities
and state had been received as to
standards In effect there and after The
surgcon generals office OF the United
stntes public health service. the great.
est disease prevention body in the
world. had been consulted and various
other organizations and individuals
had been Interviewed as to what was
ideal for a city of this size.
Tho present state provisions of food
and milk control were found to be in.
adequate. The inspection laws sim
ply provided for a sediment test for
visible dirt in milk and no bacterial
standard whatsoever. undoubtedly for
reason that the state of Wyoming
does DOT maintain n sate neurological
laboratory and further the number OF
he personnel employed In the state
food commissioners office did not al
low them to devote the essential time
for inspection to the city OF Casper.
The final results arc that the city
council of Casper did adopt an ordi-
nance known a. No. lisa setting
forth tolerated sanitary conditions OF
dsiries and restaurants and placing
q bacterial standard limit for Casper
milk supplies, which are In accord with
the standard set for. the cities the
size Of Casper by the United States
public health service and the American
public health association all of which
standards were embraced in ths report
submitted by tho chamber of com.
merce committee INT further institut.
ed h recommended alternating APP
paratus and anne was installed at the
city's pumping station plant. under
the direct supervision of the city en-
gfneer. Frank s. Knittle.
Tn addition the city council ordered
that the water supply be under con
slant psychological supervision. and
that when bacterial, examination show
ed no presence of dangerous bacteria
capable of causing intestinal diseases.
tho water would be c~hioinated until
the danger was removed as shown by
frequent bacterial tests .
The creation of the Office Of city
food and milk inspectorkzSas passed
and has been functioning since Feb
fuary 1. 1921. So that today the city
OF Casper and county of Natrona far
excel n city or county in the state
of Wyoming In its public health ad.
vancement measures.
I'm fact the conditions at present
existing IN the city and county SO well
satisfy DIR. A B. Tonkin. who is the
executive officer OF the state board
Of health and whole time state health
officer, hat he a seen fit to hold
Casper's system as n model for other
cities and counties in the state to
copy. All of this beneit a been
obtained at "a minimum expense. al
most negligible to a city Of this size,
"The city water is regularly tested
at least twice monthly and a report
of findings submitted to the mayor
and city council and when findings
are such as to Indicate the water may
be dangerous TO consumers. 1t is made
safe by chlorination. The milk from
each dealer Is tested twice monthly
and publication of results made in
both daily newspapers. The city milk.
food and sanitary inspector makes
frequent inspections of the dairies.
restaurants, meat shops and other
food handlers to protect the public
n AGAINST IMPURITIES. ncleaulin and