The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

THE HEALTH BULLETIN. 173OUR WHOLE TIME COUNTY HEALTH OFFICERSWhat Outsiders Think of Themp. W. CovinWith Rowan and Nash, whose commissionersat a recent meeting madean appropriation for the employmentof a whole time county health officer,we have now twelve counties in theState which belong to the whole timecounty health officer group. Theother ten are Columbus, Sampson,Johnston, Robeson, New Hanover, Durham,Guilford, Forsyth, Rockingham,and Buncombe. It is expected fromtime to time that others of our pro-GTON, M.D.ment: a member of President Wilson'sCabinet writes:Department of Agbiculttjbe,Washington, D. C.Db. p. W. Covington,State Board of Health,Raleigh, N. C.Dear Doctor:—I was glad to getyour letter saying that you are pushinga plan to give each county a fulltimehealth officer. I know of no moreimportant step for any state to takethan this. I think it is time that thegreat mass of people living in theThe shaded counties have a whole-time health officerand an active county health department, while thecounties in white have an inactive county board ofhealth and no whole-time health officer.gressive counties will join this groupwhen more of our county officialsrealize that public health is purchasableand that, within natural limitations,a community can determine itsown death rate,and that the greatestadvertisement any community canhave is that of a low death rate. Thiswill be brought out all the moreforcibly in that now we have the enforcementof the vital statistics law.Soon every community will realizethat its greatest asset is the healthof its citizens and that it is wiseeconomy to spend money in conservingthis.The following is what a few ofOUR leading men think of theWhole Time Health Officer moveruraldistricts be induced to provideadequate local arrangements. Certainlynothing is more important thanthat they should have a thoroughlycompetent man giving his entire timeto the care of the public health. I thinksuch an arrangement will be an investment.It will pay in dollars and cents,and immeasurably in physical comfortand peace of mind. I think every countyin the Union should have a full-time,well paid, competent health officer,with adequate authority, financial supportand assistance.Sincerely yours,D. P. Houston,Secretary.William F. Snow, of California, oneof the most intelligent commissionersof health, says, among other things,in a recent letter to Dr. Rankin: