CHAPTER LXXXVI 



OFFICIAL PREVENTION 



ON health officers, boards of health, rests a deep 

 responsibility. They are the guardians of health. 

 It is their duty to see that the causes which pre- 

 dispose to, and induce, disease have no existence. 

 Their duty, therefore, to prevent nuisances, un- 

 cleanness, unsanitary conditions. In so doing, 

 they prevent disease. 



Theirs to see that no water containing disease 

 germs is used for domestic purposes; that no milk 

 tainted with disease germs is used for food. 



Theirs to see that all meats and other foods, 

 baby foods or adult foods, prepared with chem- 

 ical poisons, with the view to keep them, are ban- 

 ished from the earth. 



Theirs to see, that all so-called patent medicines, 

 soothing syrups, syrup of figs, castorias, and other 

 poisonous decoctions, are banished from the light 

 of civilization. 



Theirs to see that, in every case of contagious or 

 infectious disease, the house in which it occurs is 

 posted and quarantined; and, when the disease 

 ends, disinfected. 



Theirs to guard all ports with quarantine against 

 the importation of disease. 



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