Armstrong – Table of Contents

collection of data in anticipation of the new assignment. On July 21, 1919 the Surgeon
General sent additional orders to Armstrong (5):
“Having completed your course of instruction at the Bureau, you are directed to proceed
to Columbus, Ohio for the purpose of assisting the Health Officer of Ohio in establishing
an endemic index for the reportable diseases.
“In the establishment of this system you are authorized to travel whenever necessary to
points within the state and whenever practicable to proceed to such points as may be
necessary to assist in the prevention and control of communicable diseases. You will be
allowed a per diem of $4 in lieu of subsistence as provided by Section 13 of Public Act
161 approved August 1, 1914 for a period of not to exceed three months from the date of
arrival at Columbus, after which time you will be allowed a per diem of $4 in lieu of
subsistence when absent from Columbus in the performance of official duty.
Respectfully”.
On arrival in Columbus, Ohio, Armstrong reported to the new State Health Officer, Dr.
Finley. Armstrong described Dr. Finley as a very good, competent health officer to whom
the State government gave wide latitude to enforce strict public health measures and to
establish whatever facilities (e.g. safe water supplies) that would best serve to ensure the
health of the citizens of Ohio. Rigid adherence to these principles apparently conflicted
with the interests of the officials who appointed the health officers, and they refused to
appoint Dr. Finley to a second term of office (8). Armstrong had a good relationship with
Dr. Finley who gave him the chance to engage in several career-advancing field study
opportunities. These studies resulted in Armstrong’s earliest publications that he believed