In this monograph, Dr. Mustard brings out the rapid extension of the field of public health as one of the important trends in modern medicine. Recognizing that public health activity originated as a local responsibility, Dr. Mustard describes the growing interest on the part of the state and federal governments and, in so doing, faces squarely the present trend toward increased federal control through the Public Health Service. He also makes clear that this trend may be ascribed in large part to the lack of efficiency at the local level where, in many communities, either the leadership or the public support was inferior to that available to the Public Health Service. The fact that basic public health services are as yet by no means available to all communities in the country is to Dr. Mustard the immediate challenge to the Public Health Service, and he raises the question whether, until that challenge is met, the time is ripe to consider nation-wide activities in new and highly specialized lines. Turning to organization and activities of state health departments, Dr. Mustard traces their natural development and describes their proper sphere of action. He also very clearly indicates the recently increased responsibility of state administrators as intermediaries between the federal and local authorities in the distribution of funds appropriated as grants-in-aid from the federal to the local governments, and points out the trend toward an increase of such grants in the future. - Preface.