Evening star., 1932-04-19
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. G. NJ.

I. G. NJ.
PUBLIC HEALTH IN NEW YORK
STATE. Report of the New York
State Health Commission Albany:
State Once Building.
About two years ago Gov. Franklin
Roosevelt appointed the commission
which, since that time, has been en-
gagged in making health survey Of the
Empire State. In conjunction with the
survey itself, definite research has been
made by the commission. Facts have
been gathered. Plans and a program of
action, all bearing upon the subject.
/ have been formulated and are already
functioning measurably for the in
creased wellbeing Of the States as a
whole.
At the head of this officially organ
! lied body stands President Livingston
Farrand of Cornell University. Assist
ing is State Health Commissioner
Thomas Parran, jr.
Public health should be the States
! paramount interest and the success or
failure Of any government must be
measured by the wellbeing of its citi-
zens" Such the official announcement
CT the Governor of the State of New
York.
Public health is component part of
! conservation as a whole, an essential
and vital part
General health depends upon the sum
Of individual health.
Prevention of disease Is fast becom-
the main approach of science to the
subject of medical consideration and
treatment. Therefore the profession of
II o'cine, sanitation, hygiere, public
| education and genuine social philan-
thropy are uniting their forces in posi-
, tive recognition of prevention as the
/ bulWark of competent, healthy, progress
sive and happy communities.
| The volume in hand embodies, broad
! ly. report and recommendation. The
second drawn directly from the first
anG of a character as well to meet con-
d1tions Of certainly a decade to come.
Moreover, in treatment and scope it
is calculated to serve as model, or clear
suggestion, to other States all over the
country where similar needs and prob
lens exist. New York stands as q pio-
reer In q fully organized and projected
program Of conservation in respect TO
its citizenry.
tuberculosis, high death rate among
children, feeble children, unnecessary
suffering and danger to mothers in
hildbirth-these, the outstanding
causes Of concern, according to the re-
port Of the commission. The unequal
distribution Of disease throughout the
State, another point of pause and ac-
ton. Investigation proved that the
| ha siR nf atirh tna011a lify IA
indifference, lack of neighborhooc
spirit. So, something like the old town
meeting in politics arose and COM
| munity effort began to be encouraged
local pride, emulation with other dis
tricts in ways Of health, cleanliness
| premises cleared Of lumber, blossoming
back yards, competition between this
town and that one across the river for
the best" this, that or the other. The
| objective, better living conditions. dis
guised under the inherent rivalries by
way Of which the human gets ahead.
A valuable report. A pioneer Of tre-
mendous import. Moreover, this is a
readable study, not merely to officials
and social workers. To the average
to the you and the met Is an inter
esting and suggestive book.
Just word about the family doc
tor" as these commissioners travelling
about New York have found him to be
You remember perfectly what he used
to be-nct so much of a doctor, but,
nevertheless, q comfortable fellow to
have around, giving a pellet or pill now
ana then to lift the mind and convey
the notion OF cure. A step nearer than
the preacher, and not so terrifying
Well, that doctor has gone. Yes, a
| FAMILY doctor" has taken his place
An alert, trained. intelligent man, pro-
fessionally speaking. A wise man,
understanding and more besides. The
book Is worth the layman's reading,
just for that new doctor. But there is
much besides. And, after all, 1t Is an
official document designed for Official
| schooling and action. Admirably does
| 1t appear to fit that design.
This copy Of Public Health In New
York State" will move over to the desk
OF our doctor in The Star clinic, where
it is bound to serve a useful purpose in
the theme that is everybody's business,
every professional mans immediate and
active concern.
I CONSERVATION IN THE DEPART
MENT OF THE INTERIOR. By
Ray Lyman Wilbur. Secretary, and
William Atherton Du Puy. executive
assistant. Washington: United States
Government Printing once.
Water, oil, natural gas, public lands,
national parks, the Indians, children
the United States itself as a single do
main-theSe are the great themes that
herd into this volume under the benefi-
cence of conservation, that young giant
OF national security, Of national ex-
iStence even.
Description, exposition and argument
carry forward, in Is chapters, the top
les already named. Hundreds of illus
trationS serve further to illuminate the
text. A scientific spirit of exactitude
dominates the whole. Clarity Of de-
scription and discussion round this sum
OF information upon the single point of
the study ITSELF
That point is argument for a deeper
/ understanding Of the great subject of
conversation and, such understanding
secured, for q useful cooperation be-
tween State and Federal powers and
agencies. Conservation of effort be-
tween the two might properly be called
the title Of this pivotal point of the
treatment as whole.
Yes, the book is, literally. a report
But mere is invitation. Not repulse, such
as the mere name report irnnlies
Here are is chapters of adventure ro-
nance even, having to do with man
working to thwart and tame wild ma
ture. Man, dauntless, ingenious. uncon-
querable, watering desert places with
once vagrant and needless streams.
mindful only Of the. rendezvous with
the sea. Diverting them to the service
OF man in fertile fields, in water power.
In waterways for commerce. An amaz-
INF story that turns plain enterp, Use
into romantic achievement.
And each of these subjects-puolic
lands, national parks, the saving to use-
1ulness those natural products, oil ard
natural gas, all become the record of
mans triumph over the prodigaIitv of
nature, over its unconcern for man
himself.
Conservation Of the child brinxs out
the story of the United States Eureau
OF Education. Thirty million children