Problems of the State Department of Public Health During the War

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The Illinois State Health Department has probably not been generally regarded as vitally connected with war activities. As a matter of fact, however, it has been instrumental in minimizing the evils of poor sanitation and the spread of contagious diseases, by cooperating with the United States Public Health Service in preparing an army of the highest physical and moral efficiency. In addition to contributing toward the efficient mobilization of troops, this department has raised the standards of living of both the rural and civic population. Improvement in public health administration stands out prominently as one of the results of the world war. The establishment of national army camps near cities and small towns has forced these communities to recognize the necessity of protecting not only the health and lives of their citizens but also those of large numbers of soldiers and sailors. Military camps of some 40,000 or 50,000 men planted suddenly near towns of 15,000 to 50,000 population, together with thousands of workmen engaged in camp and in town work, as well as transient visitors, made the burden on the health organizations too great for efficient local handling. The establishment of camps was not new business for the military authorities; but in the light of modern knowledge of sanitary science, it was recognized that it was not enough to safeguard the camp proper. The entire community which was directly or indirectly connected with the cantonments, must be included also. Of what use is it to protect the soldier from impure water in the camp, if the nearby town has a contaminated water supply which is furnished him when he is away on a pass? The problem of camp sanitation, naturally was to be solved by the military sanitarians; but the case of the surrounding countrybelonged to the public. Early in the war the United States Public Health Service established extra cantonment zones which included