The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-08

4AICAlOdtkOIlO 1uSO 4AASIAb AIV1Ll
versity, who had directed 9TH,
Expenditure Of $4,000 to $4,000
more for the health department
program each year was suggested
by DR.. Hiscock. Among his recon-
mendations were: financial support
from the city for the Visiting Nurse
Association, q full-time health Off
Ger, q full-time other doctor In the
health office, q trained food inepec.
tor, more thorough inspection Of
sanitation In low-rent homes, and
trained nurse IN charge Of health
department nursing.
New Pipe Line
Construction Of an additional pipe
line from Wigwan reservoir and
erection Of sewage disposal plant
were recommended by M. A. Pond,
Yale engineer. The lack Of these
may bring serious danger to pub
lie health he warned. Other re-
commentators by Mr.. Pond in
cluded: an industrial hygiene pro-
gram supervised by the health de-
partment, better washing facilities
In the schools, q program 10 pro-
vide eventually for the sole Of only
pasteurized milk, and more careful
inspection Of restaurants.
DR.. j. n. watkins, another Of
those taking part in the survey, said
that Waterbury's standing in q num-
Der Of cases Of serious disease Is
good. He compared local figures
with those Of other cities, stating
that this city has a tendency to-
ward higher percentage Of cases
Of lober pneumonia, and in ma
ternity and infant cases needing
special care. The tuberculosis prob
lem Is one Of seriousness, he said.
Per Capita Expense
DR.. Franklin Foot, OF the state
health department, said that. Wa
terbury's per capita expenditure for
public health Is only IS cents q year
far lower than that Of comparable
cities. The sum spent In waterbury
Is proportionately the lowest OF any
Of the states sizeable cities, he said.
The survey was conducted by In
structors and graduate students Of
the Yale. School Of Public Health
under direction Of DR.. Hiscock. The
cost to the city was only $2l5. The
state health department and the
city health department offered their
cooperation.
DR.. Hiscock praised the work Of
the city health ofiicer, DR.. Edward
j. Godfrey, but declared he should
be placed on full-time basis, at q
SUFFICIENT salary.
DR.. Hiscock listed 10 assets and
10 liabilities OF Waterbury In re-
gard to public health.
Assets, Liabilities
He listed as assets:
A comparatively high economic
status Of most Of the residents, a
favorable age distribution; high
standards among the medical and
dental professions, good water serv-
ice, reasonably good housing facil.
tiles, an efficient Visiting Nurse As.
ISOLATION, o trained health ofncer
an active mental hygiene associa-
ton, and increasing public inter-
est in public affairs.
The city's health liabilities he
listed as follows:
Lack of provision for o full
time health ofiicer on tenure Of
office basis; lack Of sufiicient an.
alysis Of vital statistics, lack Of
trained nurse supervision Of the
departments nurses, need Of more
public health nurses, both in the
department and the Visiting Nurse
Association, lack Of trained sani.
tary inspectors - for schools and
tenements; need Of more schoo
health services and better sani-
tation in the schools; deficiency ir
the program for tuberculosis con.
troll; more trained personnel ir
the health department, both q.
to nurses and inspectors, increased
budget appropriations for thu
health department, need Of In.
creased mental hygiene work, ant
lack Of contribution by the city
government to the work Of thu
Mental Hygiene Association.