TABLE III-Concluded SUMMER CAMPS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE (July 1, 1924—June 30, 1926) William Law- Ctr. Tuftonboro 30 State St., Boston, 40 B 2 wells rence Winaukee Mass. Ctr. Harbor ... 976 E. 10th St., New 100 B Well-lake* TOURIST CAMPS. The State Board of Health is giving considerable attention to the sanitation of automobile tourist camps and wayside lodging houses. The number of these, however, is rapidly increasing, it having reached the point where the average roadside gas station is a potential camp site. A considerable problem is here entailed and it is believed to involve a situation calling for special legislation, inasmuch as regulation is essential and there is no existent law conferring such powers upon any official state body. During the biennial period covered by this report 363 such places were inspected by the Board, this work being carried out in connection with the inspection of roadside refreshment stands (covered by the Sanitary Food Law) and the juvenile camp work. The work in connection with the latter has demanded nearly the full time of the two men available for this sort of activity, the amount of detail being materially increased during the 1926 season due to the new policy of inspection and control of camp milk supplies. The handicap here, as elsewhere, is that the average tourist camp is a gasoline station first and a tourist camp only incidental thereto. That is, the operator depends for his compensation upon profits from sales of supplies and, having charged no fee, he naturally feels that he is under no obligation to provide any "frills." The discriminating tourist will, however, avoid these free camps. In the case of both the camps and wayside lodging houses there has sprung up a system which tends to mislead the public and which is based upon a shrewd scheme for exploiting such places. This takes the form of the sale to such a place of an annual franchise, which involves the display of a brightly painted sign, purporting to convey to the traveling public the impression that such place has been inspected by some one and found to comply with certain criteria. In some instances such is actually the case, but in others it means an imposition both upon the operator and the public. Many of the larger tourist camps, operated as a business and on a fee basis, are equipped with running hot and cold water, flush toilets and bungalows, and are for the most part very good camps, there having been of late considerable improvement. On the contrary, it has been found that as a rule the places having but a few campers (15-50 per season) are the ones that have poor sanitary conditions. Many of these places would not operate were they required to obtain a license and to so equip and conduct their business as to conform to reasonable regulation. It is well to point out, however, that the enactment of a law establishing a licensing system and empowering the State Board of Health to adopt and enforce rules for sanitary conduct is but a part of the need. Such work cannot be carried out properly without adequate provision for enforcement, including the necessary office machinery, as well as field agents and means of transportation, and at this time such is distinctly inadequate for the efficient handling of the seasonable enforcement work with which this division stands already charged by law. REPORT ON FOODS AND DRUGS For the Fiscal Period Ending June 30, 1926 By Charles D. Howard The following matter embodies a report concerning inspections and examinations as made under the Food and Drug and various other laws, exclusive of those relating to water supply, sewerage, camps, etc., as enforced by this Division, also the results of various examinations as made for other departments or as a matter of public policy. The statutes here concerned include: (1) general food and drug law, (2) sanitary food law, (3) milk laws, (4) ice cream law, (5) maple products and cider vinegar law, (6) cold storage law, (7) wood alcohol law, (8) poisons in fabrics law, (9) inflammable polish law, (10) beverage licensing and registration law, (11) household chemical law, (12) medical referee law as applying to chemical examinations in medico-legal matters and to the analysis of intoxicating liquors under the state legal department Incidental to carrying out the work involved by the above as well as that involved by water supply control, camp inspection and other sanitary matters, office routine and consultations are quite sufficient to consume the entire time of the chief of this division, so that the finding of opportunity for the performing of such analytical work (not inconsiderable) as cannot be delegated to an assistant is becoming an increasingly difficult matter, necessitating the application of practically constant overtime service. In most other states (in all, where anything approaching the volume of work here attempted is performed) these matters are divided between two or more experienced heads. 134 It is apparent that, with the constantly increasing demands, the time is not far distant when a similar arrangement in this department will become imperative, either this or the provision of larger salaries so as to hold the services of competent, adequately trained, and-what is particularly essential—experienced assistants, men who have become thoroughly familiar with the local situation and with the work involved. Under the present situation, resignations are far too frequent to permit of uninterrupted and effective service, and in the event of a resignation it means resort to the graduating class of a college and repetition of the training process on fresh material. The following summary serves to indicate the activites of the Division in this connection: |