A report on state public health work based on a survey of State Boards of Health / by Charles V. Chapin.

  • Chapin, Charles V. (Charles Value), 1856-1941.
Date:
[1915]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A report on state public health work based on a survey of State Boards of Health / by Charles V. Chapin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    The prevention of infant mortality is one of the most profitable lines of local health work. Effective means are well known, as are also the means by which the state health department can stimulate local effort. This again is an activity the efficiency of which can be easily meas- ured. The importance of protecting the health of school children is very great. Effective methods are well established. That they are largely under the direction of school officials instead of health officials is due, in part at least, to the apathy of the latter. That the state health depart- ment can do much to stimulate local action is certain, and that in most states it does little, is also certain. The proper protection of urban milk supplies is extremely difficult. We really do not know accurately what are the requisites for a safe milk. The technical difficulties in the way of improving milk are great and the legislative difficulties are often greater. The state health officials undoubtedly can, however, do more than is now being done. Much attention is given to other foods by many health officials, espe- cially to the prevention of adulteration. This is an economic problem, having little if any relation to health, but in some states it may be expedient to entrust it to the health department if it is not allowed to absorb energy which should be devoted to more important matters. The cleanliness of food is an important health matter, but it is as yet uncertain how much real cleanliness can be secured. This is another subject concerning which much observation and experiment are needed before we can be certain of the value of the methods employed. A some- what similar activity is hotel inspection, which sometimes is a function of the health department. The supervision of the health of factory workers and the preven- tion of occupational diseases are most important but their accomplish- ment by the health department is by no means easy. The tendency is to entrust such matters to the factory inspector, who is apt to give sani- tary considerations a very subordinate place. To coordinate the work of the factory inspector, as it is ordinarily understood, and the sanitary supervision of the operatives, is one of the pressing problems. The supervision of the construction of public buildings, especially schoolhouses, is occasionally a function of the state health department, and, particularly as concerns schoolhouses, may be very useful. Some of the older laws made the board of health supervise the management of various state institutions but it is to be feared that it was often per- functory. It is very questionable whether it is desirable to force this duty on the heaUh department. The control of nuisances, especially those arising from slaughter houses and other offensive trades, is frequently taken up by state boards of health and they are also often given authority over all forms of nui- sances. Much of this nuisance work has little relation to the public health but sometimes a central authority is needed and it may as well be the health department as any. The examination and licensing of embalmers, nurses, optometrists, midwives, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, plumbers, and physicians is at times one of the duties of the state health department. Except in the case of midwives and physicians, this has little to do with the public