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2. Ton WINNETKA TALK March 24, 1928 Explains Functions of Our Local Department of Health A great majority of residents of the village have very little accurate knowledge of what the village govern- ment does, and what services it per- forms. Many of our residents "have moved out to Winnetka comparative- ly recently, and are, to a large extent, unacquainted with the village govern- ment. It is our belief that the people of the community will be interested in knowing more of the details of the village activities. With this thought in mind, we have prepared a series of articles on the work of the different departments of the village govern- ment, and with the co-operation of the WINNETKA TALK, expect to pub- lish them from time to time. It is our hope they will prove interesting and serve to stimulate interest in village affairs. The articles will cover the subject of police, fire protection, mun- icipal water and light plant, health department, public works department and other matters. -- Henry F. Tenney, president. WINNETKA'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT By Henry F. Tenney (Winnetka Village President) At no time has interest in public health been so intense as now. Never before has public opinion demanded so insistently that communicable disease be controlled, that pure water be provided, that sewage be properly | disposed of, that foods be pure and that children be given their right to be free from disease and correctable defects. This public opinion is placing an increasing responsibility upon the municipality for healthful conditions. It is all the result of the demonstra- tion during the last two decades that typhoid fever can be shoved into the background; that tuberculosis can be deprived of one-half of its prey of human lives; that one-half of the babies who never would have seen their first birthday, if the old condi- tions persisted, may toddle into child- hood competing in the baby shows, and, finally, that we all may look forward to ten years more of life than the previous generation. Freedom from disease and the right to a long and happy life is becoming recognized as a fundamental liberty. With the foregoing considerations in mind, the Village council has con- sidered it of fundamental importance that an efficient Health department be || of the maintained. About a year, after a most careful study of the situation and consultation with numerous authorities, it was decided that Winnetka should support a health department headed by a full-time health officer, specially trained in public health. Dr. Howard A. Orvis was engaged for the work and is now serving as health officer of Winnetka and Kenilworth, on a full- time basis. Distinct Department The Health department functions as one of the administrative departments Village, under the general supervision of the Village Manager, responsible to the Health committee of the Village council for guidance in matters of public policy. The council also acts as a Board of Health, as required by state law, in the enactment of rules and regulations pertaining to public health. The cost of operating the Health department is $7,620 per year or about 65 cents per capita. as compared with one dollar per capita for Evanston, 85 cents in Oak Park and 91 cents for all U. S. cities in 1925. How is the Health department of Winnetka meeting its responsibilities? To simplify the explanation of the work, let us consider it under various headings. Communicable disease is often considered the main responsi- bility of health departments. The first important step in control of this factor is the reporting of cases. This, of course, depends upon the co-operation of the familv physician and the par- ents. We have been fortunate in having a most heartv co-operation in this respect. We helieve that very few cases of reportable disease in our village are not recorded. The assist- ance of the school authorities is of areat value to us in this respect. The health officer checks up school ab- sences with his reported cases and of course excludes from school any who may be contacts and might come down with a disease and expose others. This control of contacts is one of the im- portant factors and should be followed out accurately. During the past eleven months the department has bad in its files for check-up 517 such cases. Of this number 209 or 40% developed the disease to which they were exposed. These as requested by the department Let COLOR beautify your STUCCO home! Cameron 348 Linden Avenue 10% Phone Wilmette 2963 Exterior and Interior DECORATOR WILMETTE DISCOUNT on your first job if you men- tion this advertisement 806-810 Grove St. 514 DAVIS ST. BARRY"S REMOVAL SALE Every piece of merchandise will be REDUCED IN PRICE. We will move May 1st to our new home, SAVE ON ALL FLOOR COVERINGS NOW "UNIV. 5712 were under isolation and did not farther spread their respective diseases. No Severe Epidemics The past eleven months have been characterized by no severe epidemics although minor contagion has at times assumed mild epidemic form. Measles, chickenpo x, whooping cough and mumps have existed in this way with sporadic cases of scarlet fever, typhoid fever, infantile paralysis and erysipelas. The number of cases of these diseases from April 1, 1927 to March 1, 1928 are as follows: Measles German Measles 3 Chickenpox ...157 'Whooping Mumps Scarlet Fever Typhoid Fever ..2 Infantile Par. ..1 Cough Erysipelas Rabies has been a factor of consid- erable concern to the health department during the last few months, and muz- zling or immunization against rabies is now required. We are at the crest of a wave of rabies which has been sweep- ing the state from south to north for the past two years. There have been six caseg of the disease among the dogs confined in the pound. These dogs had possibly infected nine people who have taken the Pasteur treatment. This con- dition remains a problem which will be with us for several months. TUndoubt- edly it would have been greater but for the immunization of a large number of dogs by their owners at the suggestion of the village. Sanitation Condition Ideal Under the heading "Sanitation," the two great factors of water and sewage disposal are of first importance. Win- netka pumps and filters its own water supply and maintains a well equipped laboratory for contrel of the quality of water, with a technician in charge. In considering the health factor in- volved, the health officer reports an ex- tremely high standard of efficiency of operation at the water plant. The daily check not only on the finished water but also the raw water and the effluents of each filter gives an exact knowledge of conditions at all times. The reports show a safe water constantly and the plant is recognized by the Sanitary Dis- trict as one of the most efficient on Lake Michigan. = Sewerage connections are universal in the village and with the disposal about to be put in operation in the new plant of the Sanitary District at Niles Center, we will have this phase of the work like- wise approaching an ideal condition. The control of our milk supply is ob- tained by an ordinance requiring pas- teurization of all milk except that com- ing up to the special standard requirc- ments of certified milk. Milk depots are inspected and samples of milk are taken about twice a month for labora- tory examinations. Any sample which does not come up to standard is brought to the attention of the dairy responsible and a check sample is taken to see if correction has been made. During the eleven months of the closing fiscal year there have been 187 such samples ex- amined, 15 of these showing unsatisfac- tory conditions, which were corrected by order of the health department. Careful Check on Foods Food establishments in Winnetka are likewise inspected every three to six weeks. For this purpose the health of- ficer has designed a score card on which he allots points for two phases of oper- ation. These are equipment and methods. The proprietor is given a copy of the score card which shows the exact crit- icism made. There have been 326 such inspections made with 10 receiving be- low 80 per cent of a perfect score. This work has resulted in a marked improve- ment in the sanitary conditions of our food selling establishments. : School hygiene is, of course, a joint responsibility with the Department of Education. Tt is necessary for control of communicable disease that there be a close cooperation between the Depart- ment of Education and the Health De- partment. Most epidemics are among children of school age and it is at school that infections are frequently trans- mitted from one to another. Also it of- fers the best battle front on which to combat infection. If we know the health of the child population daily we know our situation in regard to infection. The closest cooperation has been received from our school authorities during the past year. i Our school nurses each morning get our list of reported diseases before go- ing to the schools. Then during their daily inspections they are given a list of absent children. This list is checked up for cause of absence and any con- tagious or suspicious cases they note and report to the Health department. In this way we know the health condition of the child population daily. Examine Sehool Children In addition to this work there are many minor and a few maior injuries to he cared for in the schools. The im- mediate disinfection and dressing of minor injuries is a highly imnortant service, The schoo! nurses treat 1200 to 1500 such wounds yearly besides a large number cared for by the teachers. The more serious injuries are taken to physicians for treatment and have in- cluded lacerations, eye injuries, frac- tures, dog bites and concussion. The children of the schools receive an annual physical examination by Dr. Levick or Dr. Orvis. There is a height and weight record kept, also one of pos- ture and physical development by Mr. Clark and his staff of the Physical Edu- cation department. Any defects needing correction are brought to the attention of the parents with recommendations that they be placed in the care of their family physician. There have been 1715 such examina- tions made during the present school year. Infant welfare usually is considered to begin with prenatal hygiene and to end with the preschool child. The prenatal and obstetric phases of the work are not of sufficient magnitude to require organized clinical oversight. Miss Queen of the Health Department and Miss Garretson of the Relief and Aid Society care for these cases as' op- portunity is presented. Three such cases have been cared for during the past year. The welfare of the infant is looked after through a well baby clinic estab- lished in the health department this year. The purpose of this clinic is to give advice to mothers in infant ecare, feeding and habit formation. Tt is en- tirely advisory and any case needing treatment is referred to the family physician. Charts are kept on file of each infant showing history, feeding record, weight and growth. These clinics are held weekly each Thursday at 1:30. Dr. George F. Munns is the attending pediatritian. The entire enrollment is 64 with an average clinic attendance of eleven babies Laboratory Service An important function in connection with communicable disease control is laboratory service. This is carried on for us by the laboratories at the Evans- ton hospital and the State Department of Health. We have had 37 specimens diagnosed for us by this service during the present year. The health department also has in stock for free distribution dinhther'a an- titoxin, tetanus antitoxin, and immuniza- tion treatments for diphtheria, typhoid fever and scarlet fever and small poX. In the line of health instruction there is a class of home nursing carried on at Skokie school for one hour each school day by Miss Queen. This instruction covers sick room hygiene, first aid, nu- trition, personal hygiene and infant care. This course is given credit in regular school work as an elective. It is attended by 24 girls in two groups, each for a period of twelve weeks. 4 The general health conditions of the Village as compared with towns of similar population have been =ood. This is to he expected, however, due to the high standards of livin maintained here, excellent housing. mainly of the type of isolated single dwelline and the complete absgnce of industrial areas. The almost universal desire of parents tn cooperate with the Deparment of Health in such restrictions as have been necessary. has been of the greatest as- sistance in maintaining a low record of serious infectious diseases. In no other municipal department is the cooperation of the home. the physician, the school authorities and social aeencies of as ereat importance. 2nd with such co- operation as is now beinc eiven in Win- netka, our health conditions are bound to be most satisfactory. N. T. Freshman Girls to Entertain Mothers at Tea A tea will be given bv the Freshmen oirls of New Trier High school for their mothers following the Stvle Show, which is to be held under the auspices of the Domestic Science de- partment of the school on Thursdav, March 29, at 2:15 o'clock. Judging by the plans that are now completed for the tea, the affair, it is said, promises to be an entire success. All of the en- tertainment will be furnished by fresh- men. There will be several musical numbers and a short sketch directed bv Miss Ball. Other entertainment will also be provided and refreshments will be served. It is expected that a large number of girls and mothers will be present. Mrs. George Richards of Essex road, Kenilworth, who _ underwent a serious operation at the Evanston hos- pital two weeks ago, returned home on Wednesday. After two or three weeks of further recuperation at home, she will take up a new interest in the wav of active work. She will ioin the forces of the H. O. Stone Real Estate company.