LOCAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION The units of local administration vary in different states, from counties to townships, cities and towns, the latter opera ting upon their charter authorizations. Authority is usually vested in a board of health, whose composition may be either of laymen or physicians, either elected or appointed. Their authority is delegated from the state. In operation it is usual to find that the administration of these local units is inefficient as well as inadequate. Consequently definite policies for the improvement of the public health or local sanitation based upon actual local needs are not formulated, and little or nothing is done to eradicate or reduce the preventable diseases of local importance. This difficulty is usually due to a popular apathy arising through ignorance of the importance of health matters and what may be done to remedy the evils. Consequently the local health administration is frequently in the hands of incom petent laymen or part time physicians, whose only qualifications are based upon proper political affiliations. At present, de
fective local health organization and administration is the weakest spot in public health protection.
The following may be suggested as remedies for this state of affairs: (a) Popular education, i.e., public health propaganda. Despite such efforts the public conscience can sometimes only be stimulated to the point where improvement is demanded as a result of a disastrous epidemic.
(b) Whole time public health officials with special pro fessional or technical qualifications for the work. Success in this field requires the possession of an abundance of tact and diplomacy. Properly qualified whole time men should receive adequate remuneration.
(c) Adequate ordinance or regulations wisely and effectively enforced.