film. The board fully endorsed this work and agreed that every possible effort should be put forth to extend our educational work. The question of reporting outbreaks of epidemic jaundice was taken up. The records show that we have recently had several outbreaks of this disease in various parts of the state, but that so far as can be determined there have been no fatalities. The board did not consider it wise at this time to require physicians and health officers to report individual cases, but health officers should be urged to notify the board of any unusual outbreak so that we can have our epidemiologists make a careful study of this condition. The prevalence of trachoma in the state was then considered. It appears from the reports by the U. S. Public Health Service that trachoma is unusually prevalent among our Indian population. In order to prevent the infection of the white population the board voted to ask the federal government to require a health certificate for all Indians who are about to become citizens. EXPENDITURES OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH AND BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES The proper care of the communicable diseases of the state is and has been a dominant function of the State Board of Health since its organization. One of the prime motives of organizing boards of health in the various districts was for the control of dangerous and pestilential diseases. With the discoveries and advances in the knowledge of the origin and modes of existence of germ life, and with the elaboration of tests for the various bacteria, public health work has taken on added functions, and with the quarantining and placarding of additional diseases to which no attention was formerly paid, the work has become more progressive and time-taking. For the purpose of taking care of the increasing duties the Bureau of Communicable Diseases was established in 1919, and the present arrangement for the control of communicable diseases is as follows: Organization For the Control Of Communicable Diseases State Health Officer Dr. C. A. Harper Acting Director Bureau of Com- Dr. Robt. Olesen, U. S. P. H. S. municable Diseases Epidemiologists Deputy State Health Officers Surgeon Dr. I. F. Thompson-1921 Dr. H. M. Guilford-1921 Dr. Geo. Hoyt, Menomonee Falls Dr. Louis Dorpat, Rhinelander son Dr. V. A. Gudex-1920-Eau Claire Local Health Officers-These number approximately 1,785. The local health officers and deputy state health officers are engaged in other forms of public health work besides communicable diseases. The deputy state health officers are responsible to the State Health Officer for the details of their work. Methods of Procedure A physician attending a case of communicable disease must report it to the local health officer. It is the legal obligation of any person who knows of an unreported case to do the same. It is the duty of the health officer to follow legal requirements in the protection of the community and to report all cases in his district to the State Board of Health. This is done each week upon a franked card furnished by the central office. In case of an unusual outbreak the health officer must inform the State Board of Health promptly by telegram or otherwise. The State Board of Health in turn sends out to each deputy state health officer a weekly detailed report of all cases reported to the central office in that deputy's district. The county nurses receive a like report for their respective counties and are a distinct aid in preventative work. A prevalence of disease in a locality is a signal for a visit from the deputy state health officer and an unusual outbreak may be visited by an epidemiologist. The local health officer can receive help when he needs it. By means of questionnaires and by the aid of the deputy state health officers the State Board of Health is endeavoring to see that each township lives up to the law and has a legally qualified health officer ready for such work as may be placed upon him. Assistant Collaborating Epidemiologists The United States Public Health Service has allowed all health officers in cities and villages of 750 population or over to be made assistant collaborating epidemiologists and thus obtain the franking privilege of the government. Summaries of Communicable Diseases In Tables 1 and 2 are given the number of cases of communicable diseases notified by local health officers and the number of deaths from the same causes reported by the local registrars during the calendar years 1920 and 1921. These figures are made available for each county in the state affording in this way a basis for comparative study. |