The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-05-19
Public Health : Not the Past, But the
Future, That Is Important
Third in a series)


Last week Mr. c. L. Burke of Lavina in writing protest
the returning S13761 federal grants Public
Health Service stated that Ths turnbac
drives the public for charity contributions TB
impossible to understand He further expressed the
opinion that his matter should be thoroughly aired and
sponsbily publicly placed for such returning of funds
Both of Mr. Burkes expressions are timely although at
this late date and the old board of
sed by legislative action there little that can be done about
retrieving $137761 Public which
turned All that be hoped for is that publicity will
prevent similar occurrences in the future CAS- regards the
approximately S62 900 of Federal Security Agency
funds it understanding that these remain to the credit
of the state department of health)
far the other point brought up by Mr. Burke
that similar questions in the minds read
er All during the year we are solicited for funds for B
whipping polio control
heart disease etc. Yet though the need exists and though
considerable elasticity permissible in how such public
health funds according Dr. Byington head of
Denver regional ofce than 900 in TB
funds alone returned for the fveear period 94549
AS regards the of surplus public health funds in
the future, suggestions are highly pertinent.
Montana unlike other states particularly mining and
of the occupaona diseases that workers mining and
smelling operations in particular, exposed to-
Since there be surplus funds, and since
there elasticity in how these funds may why
shouldn't the Board of Health draw for
comprehensive study of such occupaona hazards There
already existence Industrial Hygiene Division which,
provided with sufficient personnel could do service
to the state.
Such occupatonal disease study could why
the high incidence of lung in at least
county where smelling the predominant industry and
could make to the smelling and refining
panes and to the legislature how best to eliminate the
of such disease AS regards workers. the
of much greater those arsenic chro
mates, soot and certain oils used in industry
Simarly, such study could establish why many
poyed East Helena suffer from what company doctors call
gou but what smeer workers claim is lead poisoning Rec
concentrations could also be made for elimination
of arsenic poisoning of dermts kn diseased arthrt
rheumatism directly attributable on-thejob condons-for
elimination of the of occupationa dis
Further, exhaustive study could and should of
the of Sicoa disease which today clutches approx
matey 500 miners Silver Bow county alone which
places tax burden of than 100000 all the
people, to provide subsistence these
who have had their bodies wrecked by single industry
that county.
The above but few suggestions what done
Montana in the field higher public Standards
certainly they sufficient show that there
LITIGATION returning funds the federal treasury long
these occupational hazards continue to exist
sincerely hope the Board of Health when meets
Helena next week. will consideration the
launching of thorough study of the Industrial
y-spawned diseases.-HLB s