The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-17
ASKS DIVORCE
 H5 5ALTH WORK AND POLITICS
Bowling Says Efficient Con- tfol q Foundation Of Civic Weifaf With Industrial Ex- pans ioa At Stake
< .SULTS QF FIVE YEARS
 sRE USrD AS ARG UMENTS
Cites Denougoi0c 3f Political
 InterferenC 3 The resent Board And asY ainSt
 Proposed Ch s i.l Law

Public health rem ;. from poli- ties will facilitate public health con trol by making it more elastic and efficient and will tend to raise poll- tics to a higher plane by abolishing the necessity of juggling votes and dollars with human lives" pr. J. D. Bowling, city and county health of- flcer, said Thursday morning at the city hall, when asked the Altitude Of the health authorities in regard to legislation now pending In Montgom- cry.
 Bowling Discusses Subject.
 Discussing the subject the health officer said:
 "Efficient public health control is at the foundation of civic welfare. Quick growth and industrial expan- sion of a city depends. in s large sense of security that can be in- stilled into the public mind. but community will not be conten ed nor settled in city where mortality Is high and disease rampant. Tie con- genial smile and glad hand of the politician does not effect a d. crease In the death rate nor afford protec- ton against the scCurge of epidem- ics
 "The politician is not called to the bedside to cure dlsease similarly 1t Is illogical to suppose that he is skilled in the prevention of sickness or the needs of public health admin istration. These are matters that come clearly within the scope of the medical profession.
 Political bodies who are u4afa- miliar with the requirements and many administrative details of pub He health control are invariably .1 in the direction of expenditures, The board of health, which Is looked to for results and which Is held nor. ally responsible by the community for the status of public health, can net normally function when ham pered by injudicious expenditure of the very limited appropriated funds available.
 "The board of health consists of five members appointed by the Jef- ferson County Medical society chosen from 44S doctors of Jefferson county without remuneration or po- litical obligation supplemented with one ex-officio member of the board of revenue, who appoint the health officer s their executive agent. The board of health Is entrusted with the safeguarding and protection of human life, of infinite significance tC the control of dollars and cents.
  than by the election of officers by those most competent to judge the needs of the people in the enhance ment of public health, while public funds cannot be used to greater ad- vantage than when expended by those familiar with the necessities of administration.
 O O O
 Differs From Other Branches.
 The department of health differs from all other branches of civic administration as for example, the department of public safety The de- pertinent of health is called upon to deal with classes or groups of in- dividuals not necessarily criminals, but who are actually of greater men, ace to the community. It is not un- common that such classes or groups of people have the welding of po- litical influence and to enforce on them the laws of common decency
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