The Nome nugget., 1940-07-15
SPECIAL MEETING OF HEALTH COUNCIL

meeting of the Nome Health Council. Special guests for the evening were Dr. Courtney Smith, Assistant Commissioner of Health in Alaska and pr. Carl E. Buck, Field Director of the American Public Health Associa- ton of New York. pr. Buck came to the Territory at the request of Dr. Council and that of Surgeon General Parran to make a study of health conditions and health facilities with the view of mak- ing recommendations for neces- sary health legislation.
 After the reading of the min utes of the previous meeting by the secretary, Lorene Hagen, Dr. Smith expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet the peo- pie in Nome. He stated that he hoped those present would give their opinions of the public health problems and needs of Nome and the Territory in gen. eral.
 Dr. Buck spoke saying that he wished the meeting to be kept in formal and that everyone would feel free to ask questions and give information about things in this community with which he was not familiar. He pointed out that information and recommend ations for he present progress of public heath protection both in the Territory and in local living, and recommendations for need ed health legislation was want ed.
 Some of the public health needs mentioned by those attend ing the meeting were improved sanitary conditions, proper care and isolation of cases of tuber- cuosis outside the home, malnu- triton among the lower econom- ic group and the probability of dental carries being caused by the lack of a balanced diet. Although in many places eXpectant moth CTS become negligent in seeking regular medical care before and after the child is born, Nome does very well. Child Heath Con- ferenceS which afford medical supervision of we'll infants and preschool children are well at tended. Syphilis was mentioned as a public health problem and Dr. Morcom stated that the ra- tio of Syphilis in the white pop ulation here is very low altho it shows more among the native group.
 All known cases are being treat ed regularly, Dr. Buck said that tuberculosis is a problem of real concern. It is not solely a prob lem of finances as it is the fact that there is no place to put the patients-a lack of hospital beds.
 The program for legislation which has been prepared con Sists of terms to place the Terri toria Department of Health on legal basis giving it authority to act and funds to take care of its principal business. The rules and regulations of the Department would then have to be enforced and would be so arranged that they would appy to the whole Territory and that the local or dinances of any town could be more strict but not less so than the Territorial laws.
 Another provision is to provide for a hospital of about TOO beds, built on a pavilion plan, to care for tuberculosis patients, crippled children, and mental cases. This would take care of all the cases that at the present time We are forced to send to the States. With hospital of sufficient size, the proper specialists could be had. Several locations have been sug- gested, Haines, Anchorage, and the Matanuska Valley.
 Dr. Buck informed the Health Council that revised editions of the proposed legisation will be sent as soon as they are complet- ed. He asked that the Health Council as one of their projects ,,ool1o oil oi+iznnc Of Nome fanni1-