The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-26
Demonstration Plan Expected
to Make City Model in Re-
gard to Public Health Work
City Commission Has TAX
en- Over Support Of Project
Budget Shows Increase

Fargo, N. D., Sept. 26.-tH1-Op-
Grafton of the child health clinic,
launched here nearly five wears ago
by the commonwealth fund of New
York, has been a complete success.
according 20 information received
here from the fund offices.
This is the first Of four demon-
STATIONS carried o in various cities
of the country, tc be completed and
it's success is expected to make this
city a model, with regard to public
health work, for other cities of its
size in the nation
A report received here from head
quarters Of the commonwealth fund
in New York gives the history of
the Fargo experiment and its re-
suits. The report, in brief, follows:
Five years ago tomorrow the fund
offered to subsidize, in a small mid
western city, complete public
health program looking to the i'm
provement of the health of mothers
and children and Fargo was chosen
/ out Of 20 applicants as a center for
this demonstration. Since January
/, 1928, a staff employed by the
Fund has been helping local authori-
ties to develop aid tie together the
work of the health commissioner, the
public schools, the Red Cross and
| the tuberculosis Association, with
the cooperation of physicians and
dentists, in such a way that the
child's health is safeguarded from
birth through the school years.
| (,:A., a. Tov~r Den~en,
"The city commission and board
of educa..on have now voted to car
ry on all the essentials Of this pro-
gram and finance it out Of local tax
funds. During 1923 Fargo, city
Of approximately $4,000 population,
will have a full-time health officer,
with full-time dairy and food in
spector and clerk; part-time
school physician; six public health
nurses; and full-time health edu-
Gator who supervisee health teach.
ing in the sch lis.
| "The support Of school dentist
| is temporarily shared by the school
board and Re- Cross. This staff,
unusually complete for a city of
this size, has been built up during
the last five years. In 1922, before
the demonstration, there were only
a part-time CITY physician, an in
spector, and two nurses doing spe-
cial and limited work.
"The total community budget for
public health the fiscal year 1927
% will be $4,000. This, which in
cludcs the main. ,Eancc of a city
isolation hospital, is nearly double
the budget for similar pur- oses in
1922, which was $20,663. The per
capita outlay for public health has
risen from IS cents in 1922 to $1.4O
in 1923.
GAS soon as tie permanent or
ganizaiion is complete, the demon
stration will Withdraw E an active
participaA .on in health work in
Fargo. (. skeleton staff will be
maintained until the end Of the five
year period, December 81 1927, to
give advice nd assistance as neeaed.
"Thc plan now in force in Fargo
has been officially approved by the
county medical society and involves
close cooperation tween private
physicians, dentists and the public
health workers. While thu school
board and the health commission II
divide the cost Of the nurs g they
will work as unit unde direction
of the health officer and each nurse,
within her separate district, will
give all types Of nursing service.
"Public health services j. Fargo
begin with TIE expectant mother
who is regularly visited by nurse
working under Il direction of the
family physician VIII HIS charge of