Smyrna times., 1946-10-10
PUBLIC HEALTH
MEETING HELD
Meeting of Delaware Public
Health Asso. Held in Legis-
lative Hall, Dover
GOV. BACON ATTENDS

Physicians, nurses and lay men,
bers of the Delaware Public Health
Association, meeting Friday in
Legislative Hall, Dover, to consider
the "cost of illness" to the indi-
vidual and to society, are hearing
speakers from a wide range of au-
thority. Gov. Walter w. Bacon
opened session in the morning with
a welcome to members of the pub
lie health association and the pub
lie. DIR. A. Parker Kitchens, pres
ident, introduced Governor Bacon
and was also one of the first speak
ers heard by the forum. Governor
Bacon expressed the states appre-
citation to the health workers of
Delaware for what they have ac-
complished in public health, and
spoke of his great confidence of
what they would do in the future
in meeting the many problems yet
to be solved. He said he felt the
State Welfare Center at Fort Du-
Pont is a great step forward, and
asked for support from the group
for the program inaugurated there.
DR.. Kitchens quoted the old adage
when the horse has been stolen the
fool closes the stable door," and
said that local communities must
find their own public health prob
lens and their own solution. In
other words, he said, keep their
own stable doors closed" One of
the functions of a health depart
ment is to find the circumstances
that interfere with good health, he
said. Among the problems he cited
was the need for good school lunch
programs, and adequate time de-
voted to nutrition in the schools.
Contribution of Statistics
DR.. Albert E. Bailey of the U. s..
Public Health Service spoke on the
contribution of vital statistics to
the investment in public health. He
pointed out that, although the ten
dency in the past has been to think
of vital statistics solely in terms of
the registration of births, deaths,
and marriages, actually, the pro-
across the nation is expanding to
keep pace with the developments
in the whole field of public health.
An indication of this, he said, is:
Transfer of the national office of
vital statistics to the U. S. Public
Health Service; special surveys be-
ing undertaken by the national
council of vital records; studies in
linking vital and health records, SO
that needs may be determined. In
closing DR.. Bailey made it clear
that programs of public health
were very definitely a public In
vestment and that vital statistics
play part in assuring the returns
of public money invested.
Other Speakers
Col. Francis B. Elder, American
Public Health official, spoke of the
responsibility of public health maxi
ing "'every man a fountain OF
value to himself and to society In
sofar as better health can play a
part" He pointed out the definite
evidence of what public health has
done, in such programs as tuber-
culosis, typhoid fever, and in in
FAINT deaths, the advances in medi-
cal treatment which have contrib
uted greatly he said. In the tu-
ture results will be less spectacu-
lar, Colonel Elder said, adding that
"who have the knowhow, the tools
provided, we keep our minds alert
to new developments and our eyes
focused on new objectives" He
urged workers to remember that
health work should include both
personal and community health.
Other speakers for the all-day con-
ference included DR.. G. H. Gehr-
mann, medical director of the Du-
Pont Company; Col. H. Edmund
Mental Hygiene Society; DR.. John
F. Hynes, DR.. C. j. Prickett and H.
D. Fish.