Portrait of Charles V. Chapin
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ContributionsHis book, The Sources and Modes of Infection, influenced physicians and public health officers across the United States and Europe by demonstrating the central importance of the human carrier who does not have the symptoms of the disease but carries the germs and spreads it. Chapin taught that diseases come from germs, carried by persons or animals and not things, and that they are spread only by contact, food, and animal carriers.(12 )It expressed the concepts which were comping to be known as the “new Public Health”. (13) It provided a rational guide to health officers everywhere for reshaping methods of control of the communicable diseases. His viewpoint was an important factor in turning the public health movement into wider channels and a great new breadth of concern. (14) He disputed medical practices such as isolation doctors wearing caps but not washing their hands. (15) He also disputed that the "slums" of cities were more contaminated with disease because of their social status, it was rather because they were far more densely populated. (16)
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Chapin's Action plan |
Chapin's studies in the bacteriology labs as well as his previous research allowed him to make a public health plan for action. They were:
"1. A thorough investigation of present public health conditions in the United States, with a view to securing more accurate information on all phases of the public health problem than is now available. 2. Education of the public by every possible means in order that the people may understand the enormous advances in scientific medical knowledge during the last generation and the possibility of utilizing such knowledge in the prevention of disease, the reduction of the death-rate and the prolongation of human life. 3. The crystallizing of such educated public sentiment in necessary public health laws, regulations and ordinances, which will render possible a conservation of human life commensurate with our advancing knowledge and which will render such laws effective through the only force available in this country, namely, educated and enlightened public opinion.” (17) |
Lessons taught by Chapin |
Anytime Charles V. Chapin would shake hands he would make it a point to wash his hands immediately after to set an example for sanitation. (18) He was a big supporter of personal hygiene. In order to publicize and make known all concepts of his book, Chapin would use every possible resource:lectures, circulars, the press, schools, physicians and nurses to get his message from the book across.(19)
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