ï~~ -Mel ig6uAdoC,) 'sn Aq pepoeoid eq Aew pue Ajed PJ!Lfl e Aq eup!pbAJ o Aaiwq~ jeUO }eN 0411o JOUO!391lO3 amp WOJJ pe~do3 SRM e6ed siq~ uo eeweq -T, T 34 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT OF STATE BOARU OF HEALTH 35 To thrust the drug victim into jail or other confinement, simply cutting off abruptly his supply of drugs is both an inhuman and run scientific method of treatment. Cases thus cured are few and far be tween and the suffering is not only cruel, but useless. Within recent years well defined methods of curing the drug craving have been carefully worked out and have succeeded in a large number of cases. One of these consists in the gradual withdrawal of the drug under proper medical treatment, with nourishing food, exercise and other factors for the upbuilding of the patient. The other is.the rapid withdrawal method. While experience has shown that much better results are obtained by treating the drug victim as a patient; tot as a criminal, the illegal seller of drugs should be prosecuted to the limit of the law. his profits are deliberately built up from wrecked lives. It is not always easy to obtain evidence against drug peddlers. A very.practical method is employed by the police of some cities after the arrest of a drug victim. The addict is locked in a cell, deprived of his drug, but told that he will be taken to a hospital for treatment as soon as he reveals the identity of the person who had supplied him with drugs. He knows, or is told that part of the treatment includes a dose of the drug he craves. Sooner or later he will give the required information. Whatever else may be said of this method, it produces results. VITAL STATISTICS.' One of the most important steps for the protection of the health of the people of Oklahoma was the passing by the 1917 legislature at the instance - of the Commissioner of Public Hea-lth of a model vital statistics registration law. This law is identical with that drawn up by the federal government as the model law for the states. It provides for the full and accurate collection and registration of all births and deaths throughout the State of Oklahoma. The law provides for the appointment of a competent registrar of vital statistics, with the needed assistants and equipment. Every systematic effort to improve sanitary and hygienic conditions in a state or nation must have full and accurate vital statistics for its fundamental basis. Without them a health department is working in the dark. With recent advances in science, hygiene and medicine, research work of enormous value is possible, both in.preventing disease and in eliminating or decreasing existing ills. But such work is almost possible from a practical viewpoint unless the progress of disease can be sown and traced and this information is available only through the edium of. accurate statistics. They are the foundation of all progress this direction. Vital statistics are not' desired, as the public somerues seems to think, in order to make. up tables of interest only to hysicians and health experts. They are needed as a great factor in userving public health. Under the model vital statistics law, Okla>ma will have the benefit of this factor and the State Board of Health ill be greatly aided in its efforts to better health conditions throughout e state. FOR THE FUTURE. The work of a Health Department, especially in a young and growag state like Oklahoma, is never done. Always new problems are resenting theniselves; always fresh emergencies must be met. General ealth conditions are excellent in this state, but only through constant are and supervision can they thus be kept. As the state increases in opulation the water supply problem will tend to grow more and more erious. It is essential that every community have a pure water supply, mt this is only possible through the expenditure of effort, money and areful forethought, and this is only one of the many problems which aust be met. It is not enough to meet the emergency of the day. Our ities must look to the future. Always, Oklahoma has built for the future. When the first sett;lers came in at the opening, it was not conditions as they then were which attracted them. Before their eyes was the vision of the great end prosperous state of today, as before the eyes of the citizens of today;hould be the visioni of the greater state of tongorrow. Unless, all signs fail, Oklahoma is only started on her wonderful career of development. Short-sighted will be our vision we look forward simply to a development consisting of a greater abundance of material things. Oil will flow in greater volume, coal, iron, zinc; cement, the riches of the earth are certain to be produced. in greater quantities than ever within the next few years. But it should be also remembered that the greatest asset any community can have is good health. Good health means efficiency, the sane development of mind and 'body, greater human happiness. 0