The Ohio Public Health Journal OHIO STATE BOARD OF HEALTH . Water Analyses and What They Mean.. Occupational Diseases, Emery R. Hayhurst, A. M., M. D., Ohio State Communicable Disease - Prevalence During December... EDITORIAL SECTION GOOD AIR AND FACTORY PRODUCTION. In the past few years, the theory that impure air depended upon the presence of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide has been practically disproven. It is now a well known fact that if temperature and relative humidity are maintained in their proper relation, and if a certain amount of circulation or motion of the air is provided for, air conditions are at their best for comfort regardless of the presence of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide. This is especially true of factory workers, their output being practically controlled by the air conditions under which they work. Some months ago we had occasion to investigate a number of prostrations in a factory room in one of the munition plants in the state, which were attributed at that time to the high temperature and relative humidity carried by the company. The plant was equipped with a modern ventilating system the temperature and humidity being under their control. Recommendations were made at that time that certain changes be made in their ventilating system and a lower temperature and relative humidity be maintained, and we have recently been informed that since these recommendations have been carried out they have had no complaints from their employees and their production has increased ten per cent. Employers are beginning to realize that their production depends, in a large measure, upon the health and contentment of their employees, and that a few dollars spent with this object in view "will return before many days." COUNTY ORGANIZATION OF HEALTH OFFICERS. In last month's Journal was noted the suggestion of one of our health officers that the municipal health officer's jurisdiction should be extended to include all territory within his city school district to prevent cases of infectious diseases in the adjoining townships introducing the infection into the city. The law would have to be changed to effect this extension of authority. Doubtless the results sought under such a provision can be brought about to a large extent by co-operation between all the local health officers within a given area. This latter plan is to be tried in Clark county. Dr. E. B. Starr, Director of Health of Springfield, recently traced a large number of smallpox exposures in that city to two cases which occurred in two of the neighboring townships. He accordingly invited the health officers of the county to a conference in Springfield on December 2d. A member of the state health department staff also attended the conference and took part in the discussion of uniform methods of handling communicable diseases and a system of notification of cases and exposures in order to prevent the spread of such outbreaks. A second conference was held January 16 and a permanent organization formed. Such local organizations might well be formed in all parts of the state. Obviously, meetings of local health officers with each other for the discussion of their problems will result in more effective health administration at all times, while in times when an epidemic threatens their importance and value cannot be over-estimated. Since the above was written a similar organization has been formed by the health officers of Logan county, following the visit of the state health exhibit to Bellefontaine and a conference of health officers held during the exhibit. LIGHTENING THE BURDEN OF QUARANTINE. Last month we printed an editorial on the spirit in which persons quarantined should submit to this restraint when necessary. That there is opportunity for the quarantining agency to display an equally fine spirit and show its appreciation of the inconvenience and temporary discomfort to which those in quarantine are subjected, is shown by the following greeting sent by the Toledo health department to 150 persons who were under quarantine on Christmas day in that city: "Dear Shut In: This is the Christmas season and you are quarantined. In behalf of the public, for whose benefit you are shut in and whom we served, the division of health wishes you a Merry Chrismas and the happiest kind of a New Year. We thank you for the kindly spirit in which you co-operate with us for the public welfare. Yours for Toledo's health." * CONCENTRATING ON THE CHILD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS. The Michigan State Board of Health recently made a tuberculosis survey of the state which brought out many startling facts of great importance to anti-tuberculosis and public health workers everywhere. Thirty-eight counties in the state were visited and clinics held at which physical examinations were given to all persons who appeared. Lectures were given and literature distributed, while a visiting nurse went about in the homes during the stay of the party in the county, and the public generally was instructed on the prevention and treatment of the disease. Of the persons examined 1,114 of school age were found to be afflicted with tuberculosis. These findings confirm the experience of other anti-tuberculosis workers who have found that children are most susceptible to the disease. Many contract it in childhood but grow strong enough to prevent its development and eventually overcome it, but in others it lies dormant for many years until the strain and stress of after years or other illness or excesses break down the individual's resistance and permit it to flare up and eventually claim another victim. Hence the importance of curing the present generation of children, and to this end all of the agencies which we now have should be employed and extended to the farthest possible extent. Medical inspection in the schools, public health nursing services in the town and country, open air schools, and the teaching of the fundamental facts about the disease to the school children should be provided for in all parts of the state. More communities are coming to realize this each year. Until a more general interest is aroused, however, in the campaign against the white plague and a clearer realization had that the child is the most favorable point of attack in the fight against this scourge, the greatest progress will not be made. PROTECTION OF MILK SUPPLIES. New York Court Decides That Milk Dealers May Be Required to Submit to Widal Test. The commissioner of public safety and the health officer of the city of Rochester, N. Y., required that all applicants for licenses to sell milk should submit to a blood test to determine whether or not they were possible carriers of the typhoid bacillus. An applicant for renewal of such a license refused to permit the test to be made and applied to the courts for a mandamus to compel the commissioner of public safety to renew his license. The court refused to compel the renewal of the license. In the opinon Judge Rodenbeck said: * It is important of milk and cream should be kept clean, pure, and wholesome and should not be contaminated with impurities or infected with disease: and it is the duty of the health authorities to see that this is accomplished by the establishment of such reasonable regulations as may be necessary to meet existing conditions or to ward off impending dangers to the public health, and in imposing a blood test as a condition to a license to sell milk and cream in the city the commissioner of public safety and the health officer acted within the scope of their authority, and applicants for such a license should cooperate with the public authorities and assist rather than oppose reasonable efforts to provide pure and wholesome milk and cream for the people of the city. The requirement of a blood test of an applicant for a license is just a step, and a small one, in the direction of the protection of the public health, but every reasonable effort made in this direction should be encouraged so long as it does not unreasonably infringe upon the rights of the individual.-U. S. Public Health Reports. * * to the whole community that the supply |