The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-02-24
DUFEIN IS PLEASED
BY OFFICIAL ATTITUDE
TOWARD HEAL TIL CARE

"The willingness of local authorities
TO cooperate with the health poaru
in adhering to the laws is matter OF
much satisfaction to me" declared Dr.
G. E. Duffin, secretary os the board
of health, Friday "The health board
Is glad. indeed, to note the spirit OF
cooperation with which people every
where are complying with the require
ments OF the pure food laws.
Diseased meats and impure milk
are not the only things which nave 10
be fought by the health department
Congested theatres, poor ventllatlon
in homes and public places. and pub
lie gatherings which are not properly
cared for-all these constitute a men
ace to the public health which must
be guarded against Our object is to
reduce the chances for disease to the
absolute minimum. We are looking
after all the bulk food and the 1000
served to the public in eating places,
with a view to seeing that every man
gets protection and his moneys worth.
Don't Realize Harm.
Few people realize the far reach
ing effect which impure food may
have on a mans life suppose we
say man gets food in restaurant
which is not up to the standard. Ihat
food is hard to digest. 1t slows up
his bodily and mental processes IL
lowers his efficiency and the change
is seen in his work. Perhaps he loses
his position. Yet the person respon'
sible for the serving of that food Jas
not suffered. II is things sucn as
ka nd
"As a rule, the only thing necessary
with the board of health, in its deal
ings with minor infractions of the law
has been to notify the people who had
stepped over the limit. Many OF these
violations are not committed know
ingly, and the people are willing tC
correct their mistakes at once.
Using Precaution
The strictest precautions in safe
guarding of the health of the public
will be adhered to by this board, he
said. Prevention and control of con
tagious diseases, the quality of food
consumed by the citizens, and espe
cially the quality of milk used by the
infant population. a factor which regu
lates the future health of our citizen
ship, are matters which will be
watched by this board.
Richmond is fortunate in that II
holds a relative rating above the aver
age city of the state, in health condi
tions, sanitation and food quality. We
have been advised by state health
authorities that it is impossible to ge
a hundred per cent standard, bu
there is always a chance for improve
ment.
Office Only Protection
"The meat inspector has discovered
in his work that the only real protec
tion for the public is through thi
office. and condemned meat is no
always there through the knowledg'
of the retailer or the man of whom
he bought the meat The public ma.
depend on it that all meat sold t,
them has been inspected and is absc
lutely pure.
Milk producers have shown an ad
mirable willingness to comply wit
the legal requirements and all farmer
and dairy men are turning out
product of high sanitary and foo
value Each delivery wagon whic
leaves milk at your door is leavin
milk on which the state laboratorie
has placed their seal of approval.
"A decided improvement in tn
cleaning of streets and alleys liza
been noted by the sanitary inspector
but the city ordinance against expec
torating on sidewalks has not bee
enforced as strictly as it might.
may be necessary to make an exampl
of two or three cases in order to r,
duce this condition to a minimum
This is a time of year at which sue