Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/683

 A MODEL MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT 659

missioner down. Indeed, one who has come in personal contact with Dr. Lederle must inevitably be impressed with his unfailing courtesy and his willingness to hear all complaints as well as to receive suggestions. To this civility and tact must be ascribed much of his success as a leader of men.

Certain other reforms accomplished the last year are worthy of mention, particularly some of the work of the Division of Contagious Diseases.

4. The new system of vaccinating by squads, and its effective results in stamping out the smallpox epidemic of 1902.

5. The medical inspection, once a week, of every child in all the public, parochial, and industrial schools in the city; also the corps of trained school nurses, to assist the regular inspect- ors and encourage the children who have been excluded to return to school as soon as possible ; and the new eye hospital estab- lished by the department for the treatment of cases of trachoma.

6. The work of the "Summer Corps" of physicians in the poorer tenement-house districts, and the splendid results achieved. It should, however, be mentioned in this connection that part of the credit for the steady reduction in the infant mortality during recent years is undoubtedly due to other causes, notably the cleaner streets. Still, the war of the "Summer Corps" is worthy of much praise.

7. The war against tuberculosis in co-operation with private societies and doctors.

8. The reforms in the hospital service.

9. The good work of the chemical laboratory, especially in the detection of impure drugs, and of the bacteriological labo- ratory in its research work and the manufacture of vaccine and antitoxin.

10. Improved work in the different boroughs, especially Brooklyn. This had been accomplished by the further central- izing of the system, by the transfer of trained men from Man- hattan to assist in the reorganization of the other boroughs, and by requiring the assistant sanitary superintendents to report regularly to the commissioner.

11. The building of proper fireproof vaults for the storage