CHAPTER XLII 

 PUBLIC HYGIENE AND SANITATION 



707. Boards of Health. In every community a Board 

 of Health is established to have the oversight and control 

 of matters in which the property or acts of one person may 

 affect the health of others. For example, the Board has 

 jurisdiction over sewage, water supply, contagious diseases, 

 obnoxious trades, and nuisances. In many cases its duties 

 are strictly denned by law, but in others, such as serious 

 epidemics of contagious diseases, its powers are almost 

 unlimited. 



A Health Board consists of a number of persons who are appointed 

 according to the laws of the several states. Usually each township or 

 county and each village and city has a local board, and over the local 

 boards is some central authority. Each local board makes its own rules 

 in accordance with the general laws of the state. Usually a physician 

 is appointed by the local board as health officer, and has direct con- 

 trol over the enforcement of the health regulations. He investigates 

 complaints about any property or person alleged to be injuring the 

 health of the neighbors, and causes any unsanitary conditions to be 

 remedied. The health officer is a teacher who instructs the public in 

 the elements of modern sanitation and requires his instructions to be 

 carried out. Owing to the strictness and efficiency of the inspections of 

 the various boards and to the educational value of their work, contagious 

 diseases and offensive nuisances are now becoming rare. 



708. Garbage. A subject that often comes before a 

 health officer is the disposal of household garbage and 

 slops. In large cities the garbage is collected by the city 



405 



