Upon motion of the Williamsport Board of Health, at its December meeting yesterday afternoon, the use of health certificates was deferred for a period of 90 days or longer pending installation of an X-ray machine by the Lycoming County Tuberculosis Society, which will cooperate with the city in annually examining 1,000 local food and meat dealers.

The certificates, renewable every six months will be issued to local dealers only after the health officer receives a physician’s statement that the X-ray examination revealed no sign of illness. The report will be valid for one year with the regular certificates still to be issued semi-annually as soon as the new program becomes effective.

An amendment to the city’s health ordinance, adopted in March 1944, will be recommended for council approval in the near future to make mandatory the X-ray examination assuring the sanitary handling of all food in the municipality.

The new machine purchase, of which was announced several months ago by the county society, will be available sometime after the first of the year and will be used for widespread X-raying.

The local society will work hand in hand with the health department to carry out their program, making the machine available to local food dealers at any time in the day.

The health department’s action will advance the city’s health standards and place them far above the state’s new program now directing all eating and drinking establishments to display health certificates and to remove pets from their places of business. Both measures are included in the city’s 1944 ordinance.

Compiled by Lou Hunsinger Jr.