Some  of  the  newer  health  laws  impose  certain  duties  of  in-
itiating work  upon  the  health  officers.  For  example,  the  New
York  State  health  laws  require  health  officers  "to  make  an  annual
sanitary  survey  and  maintain  a  continuous  sanitary  supervision
over  the  territory  within  their  jurisdiction."

The  most  evident  duty  of  a  health  officer  is  to  suppress  epi-
demics, and  to  this  duty  he  is  spurred  on  by  the  complaints  of
the  public.  But  a  modem  health  officer  is  expected  to  prevent
epidemics  from  developing.  He  is  expected  to  save  the  lives  of
babies,  to  prolong  the  lives  of  adults,  and  to  promote  the  health
and  comfort  of  everybody  in  the  community.  He  must  rouse
those  who,  through  ignorance  or  self-satisfaction,  do  not  wish  to
be  disturbed.    This  work  will  be  accomplished  not  by  spas-


28  THE  HEALTH   OFFICER

modic  eflFort,  but  by  a  continuous,  well-balanced  activity,  foimded
on  knowledge  and  backed  by  conviction.  The  successful  health
officer  is  a  prophet  in  the  old  meaning  of  the  word,  signifying  one
who  speaks  forth.  He  is  a  leader  in  sanitary  progress  in  his  com-
munity. He  seeks  to  improve  social  conditions  which  foster
physical  defects  and  sickness.  He  is  also  a  physician  to  the
strong  and  the  well,  and  seeks  to  maintain  a  high  standard  of
health  and  efficiency  in  a  community.  The  next  great  develop-
ment in  medical  practice  will  be  the  treatment  of  the  well,  and
in  this  movement  the  leaders  will  be  the  health  officers.
The  Health  Officer  an  Educator. — ^A  health  officer  is  de-
pendent on  the  response  of  the  people  to  his  appeals  and  on  the
support  of  the  public  when  he  undertakes  new  lines  of  work.
