Were Noah Webster, who was one of the pioneer members of New Havens first Board of Health in 1806, to walk down Chapel Street today, he would be confounded, astonished and amazed at the changes the city has undergone since his time. The compiler of the massive Dictionary of the English Language would be at his wits end to coin new words and definitions for the mechanical marvels bewildering his sight and hearing. The spectacular physical achievements of New Haven would set his brain awhirling, but it would be the less obvious changes from his day to ours, those changes involving civic well-being and community health, which, when brought to his attention, would undoubtedly give him most pleasure.

Here are some of the notable changes he would find in the New Haven of 1938:

Smallpox and yellow fever, twin plagues that in his day ravaged New Haven, eradicated.

The great contagions, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and many others which annually killed hundreds of adults and young children, so far under control that in 1937 all of these diseases together killed but four New Haven residents.

The average span of life extended more than twenty years beyond the expectancy of his day.

The maternal and infant mortality rates driven downward to low figures undreamed of 130 years ago.

New Haven, instead of the artificial reservoir of filth, the hotbed of atmospheric poison, as he described the cities of his generation, developed into one of the prize-winning, health-minded cities of America.

MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY

Slow, steady, conservative growth, but growth based upon vision and planning, has marked the development of New Havens Health Department, first under the old Board of Health which continued until 1873, and afterward under the Health Department as organized by provisions of the City Charter. Milestones stand out all along the way as New Haven advanced toward her present-day modern Health Department, staffed by trained workers, and so conducted and coordinated with other official and unofficial health agencies that repeated recognition has come in the form of first awards and honorable mentions in the Health Conservation Contests sponsored annually by the United States Chamber of Commerce and the American Public Health Association.

Much of New Havens present freedom from disease has come as a direct result of many years of continuous effort. New Haveners of 1938 are reaping the health benefits made possible by the faithful and diligent labors and careful planning of men and women of this vision who brought our people closer to the goal of better health.

Throughout the years, New Haven has been fortunate in the choice of those who have planned for and protected the public health. From the days of Roger Sherman, first mayor of New Haven, to the present time, our chief executives have shown, for the most part, the admirable, enthusiastic and intelligent interest in public health that has been manifest by our present mayor, the Honorable John W. Murphy. Health commissioners and health officers of the highest caliber have planned and directed the policies of the New Haven Health Department throughout its long history. Names such as Noah Webster, Simeon Baldwin, David Daggett, William Hillhouse, Elisha Munson, Charles A. Ingersoll, stand out in the early years of the old Board of Health. Dr. C. A. Lindsley, Dr. Frank W. Wright and those other trained public health leaders who have at various times during its history headed our Health Department, have worked with commissioners, staff members and a general public whole-heartedly in support of our citys inspiring health program.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY

Today, the scope of the activities of the Health Department is broad not only in respect to its own services but in its cooperation with other official (governmental) and non-official (voluntary) health agencies. The Health Department attempts to act as the hub of health activities serving the residents of New Haven with the usual functions delegated to it, as well as a clearing house for many other health activities not usually known to the average person.

The Department is headed by the mayor, who acts ex-officio, and a Board of Health Commissioners appointed by him. The commissioners serve for periods of five years and only one expiration occurs annually.

The health officer is the executive of the Department. Direct services to the community are extended to the community by the various bureaus and divisions.

ADMINISTRATION

This bureau is headed by the health officer. The details of bookkeeping, issuing of licenses, and other functions are in charge of the clerk, who is also secretary of the Board of Health Commissioners. All complaints and official business is carried on through this bureau. Aided by a part-time public information assistant, the health officer carries on health education work through the various media such as the press, radio, bulletins, meetings, campaigns, exhibits, speakers bureau, etc.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL

Under a director, assisted by a full-time physician and four nurses, this bureau investigates all communicable disease cases reported and takes steps necessary for prevention of spreading. It provides necessary hospitalization in the New Haven Hospital Isolation Pavilion for cases that need this care and are unable to pay, as well as ordering hospitalization when a case may be a menace to public health. In the less serious cases it furnishes medical care and nursing care in the home. VENEREAL

DISEASE CONTROL

This division is in charge of a part-time director and two other part-time physicians. TWO nurses and a male attendant assist in the operation of this service and a clinic is maintained at 196 William Street for patients who are unable to pay physicians for treatment. Special case investigation is carried on and there is close cooperation with the New Haven Social Hygiene Society which has offices in the Health Department.

TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL

This bureau is under the directorship of a physician trained in the public health aspects of tuberculosis. It receives reports of all cases of the disease occurring in the city. Immediate care or hospitalization of the case is furnished until the patient goes to a sanatorium. Contacts are visited and arrangements made for the necessary examinations and tests. A general follow-up system for all these cases is carried out. The nursing service is provided by arrangement with the Visiting Nurse Association.

LABORATORIES

A graduate bacteriologist directs this bureau and is assisted by a staff of five, including three bacteriologists. Tests for the detection of disease are made. Blood, secretions and excretions are examined. Both bacteriological and serological procedures are used. Milk is constantly checked by all modern methods and water from both public and private sources is examined routinely. Biologics are distributed for the State Health Department.

CHILD HYGIENE

There are three divisions in this bureau. The school medical division employs two full-time physicians who carry on the major part of the immunization program which protects children from diphtheria and smallpox. They also conduct examinations of school children.

The dental division is carried on by four dentists and one dental hygienist working in the schools of the city.

In conjunction with the Visiting Nurse Association, fourteen weekly Child Health Conferences are conducted in various parts of New Haven, where children up to school age are given protective health service.

NURSING

The school and welfare nurses of the Health Department constitute a separate bureau under a director. The school nurses are assigned to various schools, conduct inspections, check up on children returning to school after absences, make home visits for purposes of investigation, and do a certain amount of emergency nursing. Welfare nurses deliver to all mothers of newborn babies copies of birth certificates and advise mothers as to the importance of regular medical care during the first part of life. Follow-up visits are made when needed, and routinely when the baby is six months old.

INSPECTION

The bureau of inspection has a great variety of activities in carrying out the sanitary protection for the city. The four milk inspectors are assigned to farm and pasteurizing plant duties and also collect samples for examination. The food inspectors are assigned to inspect public eating places, grocery stores, markets, bakeries, soda fountains, slaughterhouses, sausage factories, poultry markets, etc. Sanitary inspectors investigate complaints of alleged nuisances, etc., and routinely inspect tenement houses, public buildinqs, barber shops, comfort stations, etc., as well as being responsible for the enforcement of the various sanitary laws of the city.