Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-05
)RK Of SAVING LIVES
TOLD BY DR.. C. |. SILK
(continued from page IL

t%Q4ItAliA Gu LEuUl pd5d A.
Id realize that by conducting
Id welfare stations, having visit
nurses go to the homes of
Others and expectant mothers, and
bnducting clinics that lives of moro
han a. hundred babies alone are
paved each year, the doctor said,
The hbard would not be so severely
ycriticized for asking for more money
with which to further decrease the
J death rate.
THE s27,500 appropriated to the
Meath board this year represents
about sixty cents per capita" DR..
Ss5Ik said. "This might justly be
considered health insurance at a
|6xery low rate, as the money is ex-
nded in preserving lie and pre-
lting disease. The fire appropria-
Ia $56,700, representing $1.25
capita. The police appropriation
ans q per capita rate of 1925.
spend these large amounts for
protection OF our property but
v sixty cents for the protection
life. Isn't our health as valuable
our property? Should we not
Ind as much to save lives as to
btect property"
Speaking of the present system OF
bblic health nursing DR.. Silk SAID
p work had improved greatly In
state supervision and gives
8nnntsa of getting better from year
10 rear a. the public is beginning to
necoune educated to the fact that
k11is work is for their protection.
There are two child welfare stations
an operation at the present time.
Fhe president said, and as soon as
fultable locations are found two ad-
Ittonal stations will be established,
Pc importance of this work being
[Ryo1d estimation.
we will not attempt to place a
FaI1ef upon the lives saved by the
FerkH of the health department. I
III &eave 1t to the people them
fefFe to say what the lives are
port DIR. Silk declared.
SpI pking of the full time dental
mid Whlch was started last spring
Tx SAID 1t was not all 1t should
Y~-sF much of the dentists time Is
taken up with prophylactic work
and Fleaning of teeth. This should
ahe done by an assistant, he said.
leaving h entire time OF the dem
Htlst to do the other work.
1t is not an Easy matter to DEM
&onstrate what we have prevented
4or reduced in the matter of conta-
Xs1on and Infection" DR.. Silk said.
1T is safe to say the cases have
been reduced but the physicians do
Hnot report all cases and it is difficult
keep accurate records as the re-
eFult. Fo rtnStance not more than
twenty-five per cent OF the cases Of
7r1easies are reported. the number
AoL scarlet fever cases reported is
#slightly higher, and reports Of diph-
Eheria cases are better. T~ubercuIo-
Is cases r far from fully reported.
need a new isolation hospital to
Mare TOR these cases, together with
Z otter equipment and better atten-
\ pm. There should also be wards
tuberculosis patients"
The laboratory has increased in
$pe the doctor continued, the
ftor now making tests OF milk,
bhSheriA, tuberculosis, urine,
&od and Wasserman tests.
m Not many cities can boast of
1fter sanitation supervision than
W nth Amboy," DIR. Silk said. THE
I38Ezp dical examination of food hand
H e1s in restaurants has been intro
uced The inspection of slaughter
"a animals is rigid.
- With reference to milk I might
*<ty9 that there Is not a municipality
atch. erves a higher quality. Our
Standards are high and the milk
sold is perfectly safe. I do not be-
ieve diseases can be traced to
BUR milk supply"
DR.. silk pointed out the import
nce of reporting all deaths caused
~tubercular menengitis and keep
ing an accurate check upon these
eases so that effective preventative
measures might be taken.
= With reference to the price of
milk, the president said:
milk prices are not a problem for
pills board. We have no more power
70 control the price OF milk than we
{have to tell merchants what they
shall charge for shoes Or other art
icles."
The first item contained In DR..
sinks suggested 1923 program is the
establishment Of school lunches for
he purpose Of giving the children
proper nutrition. The second sub
ect is the completion of two addi-
Son4 INFANT welfare stations. Third,
prenatal clinic for ~expectant
Others. With reference to this sug-
estion, DR.. Silk said:
1--WE could reduce the infant NOR
lAllty twenty-five per cent if we
klld reduce the congenital causes
peath. You can do this by pre-
clinics but you need a physi-
IN charge of this clinic who
Lies in this subject and has
k~terest OF the clinic at heart"
Fourth item in his suggested
Eogram covers the establish
venereal disease clinic.
e board OF health Is con-
kging the establishment Of
PC" DR.. silk said, but I
hope for it just now. We
clinic ono ana had
&c extension Of the