HEALTH ACTIVITIES OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, certain papers that have been used by the committee will be printed as a hearing. Hon. JAMES R. MANN, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: I beg leave to send you herewith comments on the various sections of H. R. 24875, which I referred to in my personal note of June 4. Respectfully yours, COMMENTS ON H. R. 24875. WALTER WYMAN. Section 1: This section changes the name of the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service to the public health service. Its present name is misleading as giving undue prominence to the administration of the marine hospitals. The service originated in 1798 for the care of sick and disabled seamen. In 1871 it was reorganized and placed under the charge of a supervising Surgeon-General and a regular corps of medical officers established. From that time until 1902 it was called upon to perform so many functions connected with the public health that in 1902 it was given its present name by Congress. The original bill at that time gave the changed name as the United States Health Service, but in the Senate the old name was retained in conjunction with the new to indicate the origin of the service and with the understanding that ultimately the words "marine hospital" would be eliminated from the name. The present name, in addition to being cumbersome, does not sufficiently emphasize its most important function. It is de facto and de jure a public-health service, and should be designated by a name more truly indicating its field of operations. Section 2: This section provides for special investigations into the prevalence of diseases, the conditions influencing the same, and methods of prevention. Under the act of 1901, providing for a new hygienic laboratory, authority is given for laboratory investigations of contagious and infectious diseases and matters relating to the public health, but field investigations of the kind above specified are not authorized by law, although in aid of state and local authorities and in the interest of interstate commerce such investigations are frequently necessary. The closing paragraph of this section will permit the detail of officers to cooperate with the state health officers in their investigations and in their administration of public health measures. This paragraph does not contemplate nor permit other assistance than that of an advisory character, and its intent is to permit service officers, on request of state authorities, to convey information regarding certain administrative details as observed in one State for the benefit of the others, and to otherwise assist in the correlation of the work of the States and the bureau. Section 3: The intent of this section is to authorize the publication of popular bulletins relating to public health matters, such as are indicated in section 2, and to make popular exhibits from time to time showing the practical application of the information printed in the bulletins or supplementing the same. Section 4: The intent of this section is to provide facilities for state and municipal health officers to perfect themselves in the administration of state and local health affairs. |