Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-01

are used as gulQe 10 appropriate
action in the maintenance and i'm
provement Of public health. With
out vital statistics. health officer
would be unable to compare the
health conditions of o community
under his supervision, with those
previously existing In the same COM
munity or with similar conditions In
other communities. He would be un-
able to determine whether his efforts
toward the reduction of illness and
death were meeting with success. He
would be unable to determine
whether or not the public's money
entrusted to his care were being
judiciously and wisely expended. He
would be unable to present concrete
evidence of the health needs Of a
community in support of q budget
he may be submitting to an appro-
pirate body.
Every health officer should have
a thorough understanding of the
fundamentals of vital statistics for
they are primary Importance in
health work. Figures can be made
to prove anything. Statisticians
sometimes consciously or uncon-
sciously can twist figures to suit the
case in hand. Data and tabulations
may be entirely trustworthy, but the
audlyZSr may nave Wrongly inter
preted their meaning.
Marriage statistics are Of value
from legal, social and public health
standpoints. The number of mar
riages in a community has a direct
relation to the legitimate birth rate
and since the population is depleted
by deaths and replenished by. births,
marriage statistics are important.
'In order that birth statistics may
be of value, registration must be
complete. Birth records to be of
full value must be complete and
accurate, or otherwise their value is
diminished.
"Morbidity statistics bad their
origin in the requirement of noti-
fication of cases of certain dread
! diseases such as small pox, yellow
fever, scarlet fever, etc.
Mortality statistics are of, prim-
airy interest because of their rela-
ton to changes in population. Apart
from the factor of emigration, NOR
tality statistics show the losses in
| numbers being sustained by the
population just as the birth records
show the additions.
1.-THE practising physician
whether he recognizes it or not, or
is SO recognized by the community,
is essentially an adjunct of the
health department, for unless he
performs his part the health depart
| ment Is in large measure help
less.
"The failure to report the occur
| renee of case of communicable dis
ease in one patient may lead to it's
| spread among others whose rights
| he has ignored, and in some cases
may cause death. The public have
certain rights and privileges which
must be protected. The notification
! of disease is in the interests and for
| the protection of the community.
1t would seem that the physician or
| any other person who fails to report
his cases of reportable diseases re-
! quired to be notified, may properly
be considered as actively obstructing
| public health administration. j..
1T Is the duty of the local health
officer to investigate all cases of dis
ease reported to him and even to
investigate rumors of disease. as he
| may be able to ward off some
| threatening disease.
| IF all the facts of births. mar
rlages. sickness and death are fully
known by the health officer he will
be able to do much more active
work in the prevention of disease
| and decrease the mortality, especially
| that of infants in the community.
Speaks on Law Enforcement
DR.. E. p. Goodrich of Lewiston.
district health officer, in a paper en-
titled Enforcement of Laws, Rules
and Regulations of the State Depart
ment Of Health" said that the stae
department of health does not con-
slider it good policy to close any
school on account of contagious and
infectious diseases, except under GER
tain conditions that might arise.
not common in all cases.
The situation can be handled
much easier where they live at home
or IN private family" continued
DR.. Goodrich, than in large schools
or colleges where they live in
| dormitories.
| "Of course our rules and regula-
lions must be enforced to prevent the
spread of disease but how, where
there are no extra rooms in the
building?
| In such case, it Is difficult at
times, although generally extra
rooms or making rooms by rear
ranging the student body, are made
| possible.
Let us consider what can be
! zone In case a severe epidemic
breaks out in a town. In such a
| case, the local health officer may, by
consent of the department of health.
close all places of amusements'
churches, or any public gathering.
as we'll as residents of the town
from leaving the town to go to an
other town. or those from other
towns from entering without per
mission from the health officer dur
ing the period of quarantine, in
order to suppress disease and all
conditions dangerous to health.
] Inc health officer may cause a
ptacard In words and form sub
stantially as follows to be placed
upon the door of the infested apart
ments or premises; tuberculosis is
communicable disease. These
apartments have been occupied by n
cOnsumptive and may be infected
They must not be occupied until the
order of the health officer directing
their disinfection or renovation has
been complied with. This notice
must not be removed under penalty
or the> law except by the board Of
health or duly authorized Official,
| Another perplexing thing that
confronts the local boards of health
| and the state department as well is
| a nuisance. One of the first things
the think of Is not to let it be known
| VINO the complainant may be but TO
investigate the nature of the com
| plant, to determine it's nature. Is It
one that pertains to health? Would
1t cause sickness or just one of
these unsightly complaints?
| we have no health law to pre-
vent pile of ashes, or unsirhtIv
! parts OF old automobiles piled up.
| put 1t must be considered first and
! last. does it pertain to health? Per
| maps our neighbor has his yard full
or old boxes, ashes, ropes, carts and
what not, where our ward ia clnan