The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-10

Hartford, Dec. 10--Of major frn- jortance in the protection and preservation of the public health of residents of Connecticut are the activities of the bureau of pre- ventable diseases of the state de- pertinent of health, the functions of which have been among the foremost in the states persistent combat against dfsease since the first board of health was created in 1878. -f.t g,t
 In the second annual report of the original state board of health the following responsibilities were emphasized '.The official health board should labor certainly in at least four directions first, to do that which the free individual cannot do in his private capacity, to protect himself from unwhoie- some conditions which arise from his neighbors; second, to sec that the conditions which produce or spread zymotic diseases are sup pressed or controlled; third. to educate the public in sanitary mat ters, adives it of real dangers and quiet fear as to imaginary ones; fourth, to protect the poor from those dangers to health, which they are particularly subjected to-"
 Sanitation Alone Exempt
 With the exception of sanitation activities these functions are today duties of the bureau of 'preventable diseases which Is under the direc- ton of pr Willard Knowlton. The problem of disease prevention, l. ~kn r., changing one and one which will continue to change. For instance, diseases like cholera and yellow fever are no longer problems in Connecticut. and dIbohic plague never has been mIAi of . problem in this part of America. Such diseases as smallpox, typhoid fever. diphtheria and tuberculosis are but nc l, diseases. like epidemic en- rever and psittacosis have recently portant diseases like cancer. heart disease, apopiexy and Bright's dis ease have greatly increased during the past half century and the death rate for one of the minor diseases. diabetes, is now almost five times as high as 1t was fifty years ago in spite of the. recent discovery of insulin., .f
 When the state department of health was instituted, more than fifty years ago, Pastcur had just solved the mystery. of epidemics by demonstrating the bacterial cause of communicable disease. Only q few specific organisms causing disease had been discovered at the time but these few were rays of light that gave promise of a bright or day for the protection of man. kind from the ravages of disease and the havoc of epidemics. In those early days, the germ theory of disease was new con- ception in the scientific world and was not fully understood. Even the best medical men of the day still entertained many erroneous rio- tons carried over from the old era and some of the theories concerning bacteria, nutrition and other subjects pertinent to health are laughabie in the light of today's progress. Many ideas, which now appear 1udicrous, rep resented the best thought of the best minds fifty years ago. It would seem that more adequate knowl- edge was needed in order to. make Eeadway in disease control, Yet. from the time the state board of health began its first work in com batting the communicable diseases, then called zymotic diseases, they began to decline and in most in- stances have continued O decline up to the present day. Early in the history of the department much emphasis was placed upon. proper sewage disposal and the protection of water supplies to prevent the spread of wnter-bornei disease. ,''
 Manifold Duties fs
 The bureau of preventa ble dis. eases. which in this modern day guards against the outbreak and spread of disease in the conmuni- ties of Connecticut, has varied and manifold duties. It collects, and tabulates data concerning the in- cidence' of all Ireportable diseases In Connecticut. The data obtained in this manner are carefully stu- died for the purpose of ascertaining what lines of activity are likely to be most effective in disease preven- tion. .e i,% .3a stj.
 The bureau keeps constantly in