The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-28
STATE HEALTH
HEADS ASKED
COOPERATE
DR.. Whittcmore Tells Duties
of Officials in Address at
Conference
SESSION ENDS TODAY
Organization Is Formed and
Officers Elected at Meet
ing Last Night

ing Last Night
Health officers from all parts of
North Dakota gathered here in their
first annual conference, called by
DR.. A. A. Whittemore, state health
head, were asked by that officer to
cooperate with each other, the field
representatives of the departments
and the civic and women's clubs of
their district, for the advancement
of the public health.
Speaking on "What Should Be Ex-
pected from the, County Board of
Health and it's Health Officers" DR..
Whittemore declared that medicine
SHOULD be divided into two great
classes: corrective and preventa-
tive"
Public health is concerned prn-
cpally with the preventative divi-
sion," he said. "And n, public
heath authority should ever, or very
Seldom assume any Of the preroga-
tives of these in the field of treat
lnent." The health officers, he add
ed, should turn all cases over to the
family doctor that 60 beyond the
investigatory and preventative du-
ties of the health department.
DR.. Whittemore detailed, for the
health supervisors present, the laws
regarding public health and the con-
stitution Of public health boards.
These boards are composed of the
county attorney, the county superin-
tendent of schools and doctor Of
medicine appointed by the county
commission. This appointed men,
ber is the secretary and executive
head of the county health depart
Ment.
.'He should be faithful to his duty,
tion and community interests-in
other words, good CITIZEN" the
heal... officer said.
"The time which we have a right
to expect the health officer to de-
vote to the health work of the county
depends entirely upon the amount
the commissioners are willing to
pay for it. A doctor should not be
expected to give any more time
than county commissioner should
according to the compensation re-
ceived, but every good citizen should
feel 1T his duty to give something of
himself to the state and commun-
ity."
DR.. Whittemore outlined salaries,
approximate periods of work that
should be expected from this health
officer, powers and duties Of the Of
ficer and his reports, inspections
and other duties.
The state public health laboratory.
part of the school of medicine at the
state University, was explained to
the health authorities by DR.. H. E..
nnh nf hn III, i$,,. .Okc col
of medicine.
He declared that the services Of
the state laboratory "are a part of
public health work and are primarily
for the advantage of all health Of
ficers and doctors of the state, but
through these they are for every
citizen" Through this indirect SER
vice to the public, the laboratory
has been and will continue to be a
larger factor in reducing both the
number of cases of disease and the
death rate from such diseases as
typhoid, diphtheria, tuberculosis, in
fantile paralysis and venereal dis
cases."
In it's first year, 1sO7-os, the lab
oratory performed 1926 examina-
tions, and its work steadily increased
until in 1861 it did over $4,000
examinations and ever since thct
time it has averaged 10000 examina-
tions per year. he said.
The laboratory head explained that
the Bismarck, Fargo. and Minot
branches of the state laboratory and
the laboratory itself "are not COM
peting agencies; each has its own
field. Our object in having branch
es is to make the service more
prompt and efficient. Time is an
important element in diphtheria par
ticularly. and an early and prompt
report is desirable"
In March. 1925, the main labora-
tory did 7l3 examinations; the Bis
marck branch 292; Fargo 519; Minot
667. total Of >2191, the laboratory
head said.
"In addition to the examinations,
the laboratory and branches pre-
pare and send out outfits, contain
ers, etc., including media for diph-
liberia cultures" DR.. French said.
Every doctor in North Dakota
should be in contact with this state
laboratory. DR.. French said. 1--WE
people,"
He said that the state laboratory
and it's branches welcome Inquiries
"oVOAS "0tST oORUlISS ana
hygienic production of milk, from
any citizen of the state," and that
1--WE would like to extend the ser.
vice" to include regular examine
tion of the water and milk supplies
of neighboring cities, similar TO- that
we give to cities in which the labor
atory and it's branches are situated.
Mr.. French also. outlined for the
health officers the various tests
ard kinds of tests made by the state !
DR.. M. D. westley, Cooperstown.
chairman Of the executive commit
tee Of the Griggs county Red Cross
chspter. said to the health officers
that school children should be exam
ined bv a county nurse at least once
g year. Speaking on "A Suggested
Health Program for Counties" he
declared that Americans should eat
more xwhole wheat bread, oatmeal.
apples, oranges, cabbsge, carrots.
cream, butter and milk.
DR.. Westley declared that "aN
school children should have the priv
ileRe Of an examination at least
once . year by the county nurse.
There should be permanent records
kent ON these Axam IN aktnwa uvh.,.