SANITATION v 429 



using it. In smaller communities and in the country 

 where wells are used, it is necessary to guard against 

 contamination of the water from the barn yard, privy, 

 or cess pool. 



The Board of Health. Since cities were first organ- 

 ized people have recognized the need of some kind 

 of protection. Accordingly, laws have been made for 

 governing the people, for protecting property, and in 

 fact for protecting individuals from attack and murder. 



Only recently, however, have we come to recognize 

 the necessity of having laws and regulations for pro- 

 tecting the public health. It is almost as important 

 to prevent your neighbor from giving you the small- 

 pox as it is to prevent him from injuring or possibly 

 killing you in some other way. Nearly every com- 

 munity now has a Board of Health, the duty of which 

 is to protect the health of the people. Persons 

 appointed from the community constitute this board. 

 One of the number, the health officer, is required to 

 see that certain laws are enforced to prevent the spread 

 of contagious diseases. It is his duty to placard houses 

 in w r hich are contagious diseases. Before the quaran- 

 tine is removed he must disinfect the house. 



It is the duty of the health board to inspect all milk ; 

 to prevent the sale of unhealthful milk; to see that all 

 garbage and sewage are properly disposed of; and to 

 provide a pure supply of water. All persons should obey 

 the instructions of the Board of Health. This board 

 needs the assistance of each individual in the community. 



