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

historically CTlGC not only nave III
dividual cases of illness been caused
by partaking OF impure and con-
taminated food but that epidemics
with tragic and horrible results are
matters of record.
lone very reliable author who has
given a great amount of study to the
subject gives it as his opinion that
from 10000 to 10000 persons in the
United States are, annually, affected
by impure food. My personal opip-
ion is that the figures are not high
enough.
81 cannot agree, however. with
Alfred Mccain, editor of the New
York Globe, who maze 4 statement
recently that 100000 people are
made ill in this country every year
by adulterated food. But there can
be no doubt but that more cases oil
illness are caused by eating impure
and contaminated food than are ever
recorded.
MANY cases occur where an Of
Tending food is justly incrminated
but are never heard beyond the
family table. 1t is only when an at
tack of illness is of serious enough
nature to demand the services of
physician or the investigation of a
food official, or when a large number
of persons are affected at once. that
a report of the occurrence comes to
the attention of the public press, and
a remarkably small number of cases
ever find their way into medical
journals"
Dairy inspector Barbour
Some people still persist that the
milk dealer is q man to be spied up
on, but during my experience as
your State dairy inspector, l have
found very few men whom I sus-
pect OF Intentionally Swimming their
milk" said State Dairy Inspector
Forrest a. Barbour. Mr.. Barbour
read a paper entitled Milk and Its
Production
1.-THE quality Of our milk supply
has improved to large extent dur
ing the past 10 years through i'm
proved methods of production con-
tinued Mr.. Barbour.
Methods are, however, still far
from IDEAL. There is a great deal of
work to be done. Few diaries are
as they should be. We. as health Of
ficers, can be of inestimable value
in improv wing those conditions
through constructive criticism and
assistance to the dairymen. | shall
be glad to help you at any time
can in this work.
TN most localities our local milk
inspectors are working under very
serious financial handicaps. In a
few OF our cities the milk inspector
holds an honorary position, no salary
being attached. In our 40 places of
5000 or over milk inspectors have
been appointed as is required by
law. These inspectors receive, in the
aggregate, about $4,000 in salaries.
hoI af &c
$4,000 Is paid In three of our cities.
Excluding these three cities. the
average salary of our milk inspec-
tors is about S65 per year, about
enough to permit the inspector to
put in one day a month and in many
places. no time at all. The average
city has about 60 milk dealers.
1t is an impossible task for a milk
inspector to visit so dealers on the
salary he is getting. yet frequent
visits should be made if we are to
, have proper production of milk.
about 100,000,000 quarts of milk
as milk and cream are being sold
each year in the state. About 300.-
900 people are drinking fhis milk.
The average milk bill per person
each year is about S25. The cost of
milk inspection per person is about
500 ID. 1t seems to me that two
and one third cents for s25 worth
of milk consumed is a very low rate
of insurance for our babies and is
so susceptible of contamination"
Or. Dumont OF Lewiston
DR.. L. J. Dumont of Lewiston,
health officer of that city. in speak
ing Of the subject of THE Relation
ship of the School and the Local
Health Officer in Health Work" de-
clared that the modern school,
whether urban or rural, is coming to
realize something which for a long
tune has been clear to the majority
of health specialists and workers,
namely that its function is quite as
much TO direct and guide the body
into correct channels of living as it
is to direct and guide the mind in
to correct methods of thinking.
1.-THE achievement of the first
grea : simplifies the attainment of
the second" continued DR.. Dumont.
THE Importance of the right start
in the formation of health habits is
clear. for the way children begin
largely determines their future
health and happiness. The plastic
clay of childhood is easy to mold
into correct habits of living.
1.-THE school is the only practicable
way of reaching the child. 1t is then
the scho is opportunity and re-
sponsibility to arrest the physical
impairment and the NAL nutrition in
the pupils to prevent among the
men and women Of tomorrow i'll
health. physica! defects social mis-
fits. and public charges: to bring re-
lief before the impairment becomes
chronic. In this way the school not
only becomes an aid to the physical
betterment OF the child, but also, an
aid to the health standards Of the
community.
Through the study of tuberculosis
and other diseases we have come to
see that the protection of childhood
Is the key tc the situation More
over. efforts to give the school chill
dren better health are contagious for
the pupils with chiIdlike enthusiasm.
take the message home to their par
ents. and thus the gospel of hygiene
and sanitation is general throughout
the homes of the community.
The school should organize a def
mite and lasting program for the
promotion of better health among its
children. All students of the ques-
ton agree that such a school pro-
gram should include four distinct
phases. namely, health instruction.
physical supervision. maintenance
and school nurses and adequate
medical inspection.
Now it must already be evident
that the city health officer, whether
he be a physician or merely the
secretary of the board of health, has
an intimate relation to any health
project in the schools relation which
it is necessary and practicable shall
be fOStered and strengthened Tho