The two field nurses assigned to investigation of tuberculosis cases covered, during the month, a total of 125 individuals, of which number sixty-one were admissions or discharges from tuberculosis hospitals, forty-eight were of discharged tuberculous soldiers, and sixteen were other cases of tuberculosis of which the division had some knowledge. DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING Summary of Activities in March, 1918 Investigations by representatives of the division dealt with seventeen existing water supplies and purification plants, five proposed water supplies, six existing sewerage systems and disposal plants and five proposed sewerage improvements and sewage treatment plants. A sanitary survey of the district surrounding the Wilbur Wright aviation field in Greene County was made. Plans of proposed sewer improvements were received from Robinson Clay Products Co.. New Philadelphia; Butler County Infirmary: Washington County Infirmary; Sandy Lake, Portage County; Ridge Township School, Van Wert County; Rotary Tire and Rubber Co., Muskingum County; Urichsville-Dennison; Union County Infirmary; Liberty Union School, Basil, Fairfield County; Liberty Subdivision, West Park; Newcomerstown; hotel, Bloomville. Water supply plans were received from Canal Winchester, Struthers, Hamilton, Chardon, Dennison, Chagrin Falls and Wadsworth. Reports were submitted to the Commissioner of Health regarding extension of time for installation of a new water supply for Wooster. proposed auxiliary water supplies for Hamilton and Lebanon, proposed sewage disposal for Ridge Township School, Van Wert County, and proposed outfall sewer and temporary sewage disposal for Newcomers town. Conferences were held with city officials, engineers and other interested parties regarding superintendence of the Youngstown water purification plant, West Fifty-eighth Street sewage disposal plant in Cleveland, Euclid-Shore Haven sewage disposal, proposed sewerage at South Newburg, pollution of Mad River at Springfield, existing water supply at Newark, water supply for Struthers, proposed use of storm. sewer for sanitary purposes at West Park, operation of the Cleveland water purification plant, proposed outfall sewer and temporary sewage disposal for Newcomerstown, proposed water purification plant for Ra venna, proposed improved water supply for Newark and proposed water supply for Chardon. Approval was given for Ordinance 159 of the Batavia council, which complies with the third condition of the approval of sanitary sewer plans for Batavia, granted September 21, 1916. Certificates of approval of railroad water supplies were granted in fifteen cases and refused in one. DIVISION OF PLUMBING INSPECTION Summary of Activities in March, 1918 Forty-eight inspections were made during March, in sixteen industrial plants, nine schools, six public and semi-public institutions, three university buildings, three churches, two county and municipal buildings, two stores, two apartment buildings, one railroad station, one railroad freight house, one office building, one nurses' home and one case of nuisance. Certificates of approval were issued for a rubber factory at East Palestine, a laboratory at Ohio State University and a school at Taylors. Plans were examined for four schools, one store and apartment building, one university building, one armory and one warehouse. Eight conferences were held. DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE Summary of Activities in March, 1918 There were reported to the division during the month forty-nine cases of occupational diseases, including machinists' boils, lead poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning, the diagnoses being investigated in forty-five instances. In addition, 599 cases of tuberculosis among industrial workers were included in physicians' reports during this time. Complaints were received in regard to the existence of poisonous dusts and gases in various establishments, including automobile factories, glass works, dental supply factories, and rubber works. A part of these have been disposed of, while others are still pending. A number of requests for advice in regard to the elimination of health hazards have also been taken care of. A 350-page directory of Ohio industries, to which we have added. an index, has been completed from material furnished by the Industrial Commission. Material for the pamphlet describing the effects of wood dust on health has been prepared; also, a guide in military hygiene and sanitation for distribution to each cadet in the local aviation school. Extensive experimental investigations have been continued in regard to the avoidance of oil infections among machinists and also the air conditioning of small premises. Twenty lectures and eight written examinations have been given in the local aviation school. A number of abstracts of current industrial hygiene literature have been prepared and published in the American Journal of Public Health, and the reference library of the division kept up-to-date. A number of miscellaneous conferences have been held during the month. SOCIAL WORKERS DEAL WITH HEALTH MATTERS The medical and public health side of social work will be emphasized at the forty-fifth annual session of the National Conference of Social Work, to be held in Kansas City, Mo., May 15 to 22. Among the topics on the program, which indicate this, are: Care of Convalescents, Medical Inspection of Schools, Public Health Nursing, Hospital Social Service, Nutrition, Health Centers, A National Program of Infant Welfare, National Salvage of the Handicapped, Preparing the Soldier Incapacitated by Nervous or Mental Diseases for Return to Civil Life, Results and Significance of Mental Hygiene Work in the Army. NO IDEAL CLIMATE FOR TUBERCULOSIS VICTIMS Conclusions of interest to students of the tuberculosis problem are set forth in Public Health Reports by John W. Trask, assistant surgeon general of the United States Public Health Service. He declares that no section of the country has a climate that is favorable all of the year and few have one that is favorable most of the year. All of the essentials of a cure fresh air, outdoor life, suitable food, rest, medical care and nursing attention - can usually be found at the sufferer's door. Climate can be controlled by avoiding crowded and overheated rooms and by ventilation of sleeping rooms. HEALTH OFFICERS' ROUNDTABLE Columbus Lowers Typhoid Rate In his annual report for the year 1917, Health Officer Louis Kahn of Columbus notes that the capital city's typhoid mortality rate for the year was the lowest on record, being 7.7 per 100,000. There were 68 deaths from measles during the year, according to the report. Of these, 33 are said to have been among recruits at Columbus Barracks during the first three months of the year, when many young men from the South were sent into the colder climate of the North. Investigating Arsphenamine The OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH JOURNAL has received from G. W. McCoy, director of the hygienic laboratory of the United States Public Health Service the following request: In view of the reports in current medical literature of untoward results from the use of arsphenamine and neoarsphenamine, I have to request that you give publicity to the statement that it is requested that samples of any lots of these arsenicals which have shown undue toxicity be forwarded to the Hygienic Laboratory for examination. In sending these samples it should be ascertained that the lot number is the same as that of the ampoules used on patients. The samples sent should, if possible, be accompanied by a brief note stating the approximate body weight and age of the patient, the dose and dilution of the drug given, the symptoms and result; that is, whether fatal or not. Akron Is Districted For purposes of health administration, Akron has been divided, on a basis of population, into four districts with a city physician assigned to each. Springfield Issues Bulletin The Springfield health department has just issued the first number of a "Health Bulletin" addressed particularly to the physicians of the city. The issue is in the form of a four-page leaflet. Past co-operation of the physicians with the health authorities in registering births and reporting communcable diseases is noted, and there are brief discussions of diphtheria, typhoid fever, meningitis, smallpox, lobar pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza and venereal diseases. Favor Full-Time Commissioner The Toledo commission of publicity and efficiency has filed a report, following an investigation, which makes sweeping charges of inefficiency in the administration of the Toledo health department. The report declared that the single remedy necessary for conditions which it discussed in detail was the appointment of a full-time health commissioner. Typhoid Poorly Reported Three deaths from typhoid fever since the first of the year, with only six cases reported, have led Health Officer Landis, of Cincinnati to suspect that cases are not being properly reported. In a recent issue of his department's weekly bulletin he points out that the |