Show U S PUBLIC GERSE tile annual repart of the ura E general ot of tile the united states public health service records tile r mount of work in ill tile alie I 1 history of that organization since the passage of tho the law in 1912 1 the puolan i health functions of the service have materially broadened thereby increase ha greatly its usefulness to tile the am aa people throughout the report the economic importance of disease prevention is made apparent to the reader perhaps the most important achievement of the year was the discovery that pellagra Is a deprivation disease resulting from a faulty diet containing an excess of carbohydrates carbo hydrates while the final experiments which led to this discovery have only recently been completed the conclusion itself la Is the culmination of investigations extending over a period of seven years the work has consisted of epidemiological field studies actual feeding experiments conducted at numerous places in georgia and mississippi and experimental peri mental research at spartanburg south carolina and other places A new national quarantine station was opened at galveston texas and the con control arol of the doston boston station was transferred transferred to the public health service A great rest reduction in im migra tion has been observed during the year with a corresponding increase in the number of aliens certified at the port of new york the percentage has risen from previous to the development of the european conflict to since that ume time this increase largely being due to the tact fact that the decreased immigration more tf time melcan can be ba devoted to the examination the number of cases treated at marine hospitals and relief stations exceeded of which were hospital patients a considerable increase over previous s years the coast auard cutters cutter androscoggin was fitted out boutas as a hospital ship and now affords relief to deep sea fishermen on the tha banks ot of newfoundland orr on the occurrence of bf plague at new orleans the first outbreak upon the gulf seaboard the state and local health authorities Te requested quested tile the public health service to take charge of the situation extensive rat proofing and other anti plague measures were undertaken resulting in the eradication of the disease from among human beings and the practical extermination of the rodent infection great reduction in the incidence of malaria was obtained in localities where surveys were conducted drainage projects rice culture studios and the conditions surrounding the impounding water tor for power purposes ies were investigated in order to eradicate as far as possible the disease in fit these areas scientific investigations of malaria maaria i infection infection showed that in the lt it etude of this country the most important 1 a gent agent in carrying the infection thru the wint r season is Is man and not the ahe infected hibernating anopheles mosquitoes as was previously supposed from the standpoint of prevention this is a discovery of considerable value studies of occupational diseases and industrial hygiene were instituted at several places during the year A survey of the industries of cincinnati way was made to determine the causo cause of the prevalence of tuberculosis among industrial workers the Invest investigation igal relating to the migration of pars persons suffering from tuberculosis were completed upon the request of the health authorities ties of five states the organization and operations of the respective boards of health were studied and recommendations advanced for improvement pro in the powers and duties of t these bodies tho the health organization of several cities were likewise investigated trachoma was combated in the appalachian pala chian li mountains fountains where it Is most prevalent over cases being irea treated ted surveys in certain states during the year showed that the disease la Is not an uncommon infection i rural sanitation work was conduct ed in six different states and every here resulted in the reduction of typhoid and other communicable commini cable diseases public health laboratories for the prevention of the interstate spread of disease were established at chicago seattle and numerous numer ors other railway centers additional duties have been imposed upon the service ly extension ot of relief benefits to uie the newly organized coast guard and the physical examination of seamen applying for the rating of able seamen for this reason and because of the greatly increased health functions of the service an increase in the commissioned personnel is recommended an additional building tor for the hygienic laboratory and the establishment of a national for the proper seg raa i on and care of cases of 0 leprosy me also recommended |