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

" OC tOIy QSClul III SIlidllCl 4oOioSSN
communities. Here we have
means of aiding in the control of
disease and also in the early dag
nosis Of disease.
Fourth among the duties of tho
health officer would put that of in
spection of markets, restaurants and
stores. Here general sanitary condi-
tons are looked after in the main
with especial attention to refrigera-
ton of meats. exposure, of foods to
contamination from dust or flies.
"Other departments of health
which the full-time officer will be
called upon to do, include dairy in
spection. plumbing inspection. and
the medical inspection of school
children.
1.-The relationship of the full-ti
health officer to the public is i'm
proved, / believe, over that of part
time official. He is looked upon by
many as a necessary evil and by
others as a political CRATER. But
by the majority his true position in
the community is appreciated and
they are glad to have someone at
their disposal to meet conditions as
they arrive.
Or. Worth of Bangor
The next speaker was DR.. H. D.
Worth of Bangor, district health Of
flcer of the fifth district, who dis
cussed the subject, '"The Relation
ship of the District Health officer
and Local Health Oficers with
Physicians" DR.. Worth spoke Of
the instituting of the State depart
fare of the people of the State. Of
the fact that it is not under political
influence and that the commissioner
Is wisely appointed for term of six
years
The speaker pointed out that the
| old family physician of the past has
been surplanted by specialists in al
most every line. This is certainly
| an age of specialization. He stated
| that members of the medical profess
! sion are always ready to be shown
| discovered, and are willing to CO.
operate with the health officers in
anything that promises beneficial
results. He said that in his expert
ence he had noticed a most cordial
rela tionship between physicians and
health officers, and that the ply
sicians of Maine have been most
considerate and helpful.
Speaks on "ChiId Hygiene"
Miss Edith S. Soule, r. N, direc-
tor of the division of public health
| AANA oiAAo anu Siihu ny SlcilC vi Tile
Department of Health. addressed the
assembly on the subject. Child
Hygiene and Maternity in Public
| Health Work"
Miss Soule asserted that we have
had campo igns of various kinds, for
better milk and food, etc, and for the
eradication of communicable dis
eases. but one of the latest develop
ments of public health is for the
preservation of life in it's earliest
! period. Long before the Federal
Government offered assistance in this
line. there were milk stations and
clinics for infants.
The child is so dependent upon its
mother that the two cannot be sep
! arated, and the subject of all work
along this line carried on in foreign
! countries and this country is to give
better prenatal care to the mother
so that the child will be born with
greater vitality. Another object is
to help make this world safe for
mothers and babies so that the race
may continue.
Miss Soule pointed out that the
first month is the most critical in
the life of child, and she spoke of
the dangers in that period Why are
! we allowing our mothers less care
than in many foreign countries? she
asked, and she quoted statistics re-
garding the mortality rate of babies
and mothers in this country and
others.
In conclusion. she spoke concern
ing the public health nurse plan for
Aroostook and Washington counties,
one object of this plan being to CO.
operate as far as possible with all
existing agencies. In these counties
the start is being made in the pub
Tic health nurse program.
| DIR. e. w. Campbell
! Speaking on the subject, ''Impor-
lance Of Pure Water Supply" DR.. E.
| w. Campbell. director of the divis-
ion of sanitary engineering of the
state Department of Health. de-
clared that the purest water in ma
! ture is that contained in the clouds
distilled by the great purifier. the
sun. but that as this condenses and
falls in form of rain-drops through
dusty air. it washes out and carries
| down multitudes of particles which
make up the dust-bits of coal and
SCOT. particles of iron, stone, lime
and various fabrics, tiny fragments
of plants and possibly numerous
bacteria. All these are gathered in
when rain water is collected in els
! tern for household use.
When the water reaches the
| ground and washes its more or less
dirty surface and it's people. with
| their houses and streets and the
animals and plants, it takes up a
good many more impurities. If the
layers of the soil are thick enough
and of the right kinds and if the
water passes slowly enough through
it, by the time it reaches the ground
: hox 10y II,
| freed itself of foreign burdens, and
joins it's kin below in pure and
wholesome form.
This process of natural liberation
under ordinary conditions will take
out larger part OF the foreign
chemical substances, disagreeable
color and odor as we'll as whole
hordes Of minute living things, and
map continue until such a time,
| when man may put his ignorant or
| careless finger into the machinery
and disturb the regular course of
things by crowding too much filthy
! material into one place. or by draw
ing too hevily upon the supplies
which should slowly accumulate, or
by cutting off the forests which
shelter large regions from too rapid
water losses, and is apt to find that
| he had upset the balance of things
and usually suffers from it, sooner
or later. by those personal punish
ments for ignorance or folly, which
we call disease.
The impurities which are found
in water are those that are not
alive. which include mineral. inor-
ganic and organic mater. and those
which are alive. which include mi
croscopic animals, plants and BAG
terra.
All these impurities if present in