Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-03

their stations against their own de-
sire to take up military action
deeming it of greater importance to
assure the continuity of the health
departments at home than to for
sake them for the more spectacular
work among the belligerents. The
health departments, therefore, vol
UNFAIRLY assumed q position which
seemed to be of secondary import
ance and readily accorded to the
volunteer organizations the place of
honor, besides affording every facil-
ity in their power to forward the
great work. BY reason of the re-
spective positions, continued during
the four years of war, there newt
ably developed in the minds of the
workers and the public, a confused
idea as to the relative Importance
of the various activities. but the
health officer needs the social work
err. The latter represents an organ
ization which is not held down by
law, nor confirmed by circumscribed
rules or customs. He can rise to any
occasion within his province. or can
spread his activities as far as his
resources allow. He is. therefore,
free to Investigate new fields of
work, or experiment. with new meth
DDS. He can originate and pursue
lines of activity which health Off
Ger cannot touch. He can do both
welfare work and public health
work. thereby uniting the two great
sources of benefit to mankind. He
can secure funds from sources not
available to a health department and
is limited only by his capacity for
work. He can assist cases of disease
and suffering which do not fall with
in the scope of activity of health
department"
1.-THE social worker needs the
health officer. He has the authority
of law in the prosecution of his
work. His entrance into given sit
uation makes the action "official'-
rather than volunteer. He has. or
should have, his finger upon the
pulse of the community, and can
diagnose and advise as to the char
.acter or amount of activity which is
wise or beneficial. He has the out
look of generalized rather than
specialized public health specialties.
so what We must all aim for is CO.
operation and coordination"
The evening session opened at
o'clock with DR.. George III. Coonbs,
Maine State Department of Health
as chairman. DR.. Coombs introduced
DIR. Rochelle S. Yarnos of Washing
ton, D. c.. who is special consult
ant with the United States of Pub
lie Health service.
DR.. Yarnos stated that her part in
the Public Health Service was two
fold and her talk for the evening
would be the Relationship between
the Responsibility of Communities
and that of public health. The first
phase of her talk was remedial and
dealt with the results of diseases
from ignorance. She said that the
dangers to individuals, families. and
communities from these diseases
was very great and such diseases
have to be diagnosed early. treated
promptly and effectively. ignorance
has contributed largely to the de-
plorable conditions in communities
and consequently intelligence and
sanitation are necessary.
Her second pharase she termed the
constructive and educational eni of
the program. She pointed out
wildly that it was necessary to edu-
cate young children to the scientific
and clean conception of Biological
facts of life and later inoculate
higher standards of morals between
young boys and girls SO as to have
greater health and happiness.
DR.. Yarnos has recently returned
from Europe where she has made
prolonged study of the economic and
moral conditions on the continent.