Evening star., 1923-12-16

TT is not only the duty OF DR.. Hugh
S. Cumming, surgeon general OF
the United States public health
service. to keep his fingers on
the pulse Of the world In order to pro-
tect the health Of the people of
America, but it is his privilege to
have organized the worlds first ma
tional public health information-by-
radio service.
Today the United States public health
service will celebrate its second an
niversary as a patron Of the air.
From small beginning, in 1921, of
ten broadcasting stations In different
parts Of the United States and Cam
ada, for popular talks on public
health, the service has now thirty
broadcasting stations cooperating
with IL. and it is estimated that there
are more than 100000 radio fans in
different parts Of the North American
continent who listen twice a week to
practical talks on health. sanitation
and kindred subjects.
Thousands OF letters are received by
Surgeon General Cummings asking for
information and advice about health
problems-letters from mothers out
OF touch with community centers,
lectures and women's clubs. who ask
for advice relative to child welfare
or some problem of sanitation. Copies
Of the broadcast material are sent to
a foreign language bureau, where
they are translator into sixteen for
eign languages and published in
newspapers in all parts Of the world.
1t is estimated that this patronage
Of the air gives the public health serv-
ice free publicity that would have a
net value Of s35S,s47.
x Z
TN speaking of Americas world
leadership in all matters pertain
ing to public health, the surgeon gen.
era1 called attention to the conference
of health officers from all parts of
the world who were her in October
to study national health organization
as conducted by the United States.
Eighteen foreign countries, includ-
ing England. italy. Russia, Poland.
Spain, Holland, Belgium, Greece.
Jugoslavia, Germany, Switzerland.
Chile, Canada and France, sent dele
gates to the conference. Among them
are many OF the most noted sani-
tarians Of the world. This conference
represents the third general inter-
change of health officers arranged by
the health section Of the league of
nations, the second meeting having
been hold in London last winter.
The conference broke up into groups
to go to different parts Of the United
States to study state and local healh
departments and special problems in
which the delegates are most inter
ested. Two of the groups went south
to observe rural health campaigns
and child welfare. while others went
to manufacturing places in New Eng
land and Industrial places in the mid
die west. Then. after a study of
health administration in Boston. New
York and Philadelphia. the health
officers assembled at New York for
final meeting and banquet before
sailing for home.
When Dr. Cumming, who attended
the sixth session of the league Of
lidliOilS Hcdili SOiHInltteo III dIl dQ
visory capacity. at Paris in June, was
asked how the committee could help
him in his work, he answered that
the accomplishment of the framing
of a plan for the coordination Of the
international hygiene publique with
the leagues health organization
would be of much assistance; also
the establishment OF close co-opera-
tion between the pan-American sani-
tary bureau in Washington. of which
the surgeon general is the director.
and the league committee would aid
In drawing together all existing agen-
cies for intergovernmental health
work.