Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-31
URGES TEAM WORK
AMONG HEALTH
OFFICERS OF STATE

Health officials and physicians,
having SO much in common, should
work together for the promotion of
public health. according to DR.. II. L..
Lombard. district health officer of the
Pressure Isle. in speaking before yes
terday mornings session of the fifth
annual joint conference of Health
Officers and Nurses held in the Hall
Of Representatives at the State
House.
The session, opening at o'clock.
was the final one of the conference
and was well attended by health
workers. physicians and nurses from
all over the state. and proved as pro-
fltable and instructive as the session
Of tn, previous day.
DIR. Lombard took as his theme
THE Relationship of District Health
officer and Local Health officer with
Physicians" In continuance he
said:
BY true friendship and service. he
asserted, the health official should
secure better cooperation on the part
OF the doctor and ii the latter can
be made to feel that the official Is
constantly giving him service he Will
generally try to reciprocate.
The aids which the health official
can give the physician. DIR. Lombard
went on, are many and diversified.
Free laboratory service. free CONSUL
tation service can always be at the
physicians command. The health Of
ficial can advise people to employ
physicians for health examinations.
for remedying correctable defects
and he can urge them to summon the
physician at the earliest symptom OF
disease. He can employ the physi-
clan on n part time basis in such
health activities a" school examina-
lions and clinics.
Nv means OF such service. the
health official will improve the cause
Of public health far more than re-
sorting to legal measures. The oth-
cial who resorts to the law with de-
linuuent physicians may succeed In
compelling the individual physician
to comply with the law. but he has
injured the cause of public health:
He has sacrificed his greater duty OF
promoting health to his lesser duty
Of law enforcement.
In other words, the physician who
Is in sympathy with the health Off
Ger can be a most valuable ally. BY
commenting the health work he
greatly strengthens the position Of
the health official. When health leg
islation is desired. the physician S
support is invaluable. The physician
and the health officer working to-
sether, can accomplish great deal;
working against one another. they
are both injured.
To obtain the cooperation of all the
people interested in public health
should be the aim of the health OFF,
cial. To keep the health machine
running smoothly and enc'enty
shoull be his task. II he accomplish
es this. results of lasting character
will be shown.
Urges More Rural Work
DR.. H. l.. jackson. full time health
officer of Motbov Health Union, Old
town. was the first speaker OF the
morning and took as his subject,
The Full Time Health Officer in a
Town Health Union"
He tod Of the many problems he
had encountered in his work as
heath officer and the remedies he
used to solve them. Particularly did
he speak of the need OF more rurai
health work, asserting that rurai
Maine needs the support or rural
workers and believing that the state
should do more rural misslohar!
work in the small communities. Dr:
jackson was emphatic in the belief
that the laboratory of the state de-
partuent of health should be sup
ported financially and called upon
those present at the session to urge
legislative action in this respect.
Food Law enforcement EASIER !.
A. NJ. G. Soule. Chief of DIVISION OF
inspection, Department OF Agrlcui-
ture. openend his remarks with the
sssertion that the enforcement OF
the pure food laws has been made
easier BY the appointment of health
cfncials. Mr.. Soule spoke on FOOD