Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-31

the community.
In regard to this disease what is
the most important function of the
laboratory? Is it diagnosis of the
condition when It appears? The an
swer, l think, to this part of tho
question is in the negative. 1t is
very gratifying OF course to q ply
stefan to have his clinical diagnosis
confirmed in the laboratory as once
the organism is found the identity
of the disease is established. The
confirmation of the clinical diagnosis,
however, Is not most important.
Given even a suspected case Of
diphtheria 1t Is of the utmost i'm
portance that anti-toxin be admin
istercd promptly. If the condition
eventually should prove not to be
one of diphtheria the anti toxin can
do no harm and in all probability
will do great deal of good. If, on
the other hand, 1t is case of
diphtheria, the time saved by i'm
mediate use of anti toxin rather
than to wait for confirmation of the
clinical SYMPTOMS by the laboratory
will enormously enhance the patti
ent's chances of recovery without the
development of unpleasant after
symptoms. Further, the physician
knows that a negative report may be
returned in spite of strong clinical
evidence of diphtheria. "a
THE reasons for this are numer-
Gus. If diagnosis is not considered
seems to me that the primary func-
ton of the laboratory is in con-
trolling and preventing the spread
OF this disease by cooperating with
you gentlemen in maintaining quar-
antine until it is proved that the
possibility Of spread has been eradi-
Gated.
1.-THE public health is a matter of
vital Importance to the country as
whole and in the army fighting for
better health. the local health officer
is a unit of Importance, but he can
not stand alone. He must have the
district health officers and the var
ious divisions Of the state depart
ment of health. One of these
divisions is the State laboratory.
How it can assist you, have en-
deavored to show you with the hope
that you will take full advantage of
the facilities the state places at your
disposal to the end that your com
munities will be healthier. May the
day soon come when ignorance and
suspicion are replaced by the practi-
Seti iSoiiLdliOil VI lilS Slogan OF all
health workers. PREVENTION IS
BETTER THAN CURE"
Dr.. J. w. LaughIin
'The object of this paper is to
show how public health work de-
veloped and how by means of educa-
ton we may further develop this
great work." said DR.. ]. w. Laugh
lin, M. D., of Damariscotta, district
health officer, who spoke on "Edu-
cational Methods in Public Health
Work.
1T Is a we'll known fact among
public health workers that the aver
age man and woman is more inter-
ested in and know more about their
bank account, business, automobile,
sports, society. and how to make
hooch than they know about the
rules of good health" he continued
We all know how difficult it is to
get crowd out to health meeting,
but how easy it is to get a big at
tendance to a movie or prize fight
For a long time as history re-
cords, man has been terrified by
pestilence and sought escape. BY
one means or another he has tried
to ward off disease. In England in
1S4S. Edwin Chadwick and his CO.
workers established the first board
of health. Interest in public health
work developed more slowly in this
country until repeated outbreaks of
cholera and yellow fever did much to
first health department in this
country was organized at Providence,
r. l., in 1856. New York City
formed a department in 1866.
THE early promotions of public
health saved many lives and did
much for human comfort and con-
venience. They made several err
rors which have had a detrimental
effect on present day health work.
One is that disease breeds in filth
instead of being merely carried in
filth. Another is that all kinds of
dirt are dangerous. That infectious
diseases are air borne"
DIR. Laughlin then discussed the
work still to be done by health Of
ficers regarding such diseases as
tuberculosis, scarlet fever. measles,
whooping cough. typhoid fever. etc.
He points out that if a health Of
ficer learns of a case of a report
able disease in town it is his duty
to investigate the same and see why
it has not been reported. 1t is very
important that your State depart
ment have a record of all COM
municable diseases. In closing DR..
Laughlin told of the various means
1ines-by moving pictures, health
clinics, and education in schools, etc.
Dr.. n. M. Howard Of Rumford
1.-THE Full Time Health Officer in
Towns" was the subject of paper
local health officer at Rumford.
1.-THE terms Public Health today
means more than the control of pre-
vention of epidemics of contagious
diseases" said DR.. Howard. "It
means the saving of lives and the
raising to q productive maturity of
many children formerly permitted to
die 1t Is more and more coming to
mean the prolongation of life
through educational means and
through better diagnastc facilities
for physicians.
I'm town the full-time health
officer finds himself at once con-
fronted with many of the problems
of the larger community except on a
smaller scale. He has not the facili-
ties nor the personal Of a large de-
partment at his disposal and most
often must take up his problems I'M
aided and do the best possible with
the resources at hand.
The nrst branch OF work which
I would mention is the control of
contagious disease. Here the health
officers must expect to be blamed for
epidemics or to assume the glory If
there happens to be none during his
term Of Office. His real duties. how
ever. Law in an endeavor to educate
people to avoid disease when pos
sible and to recognize symptoms Of
possible contagious conditions to in
sure prompt treatment and isola-
ton.