and specifications to be first approved by the State Board of Health, or such other authority as the legislature may direct. Third. That the State Board of Health (or some other state authority) shall make at least annual inspections of such institutions, and shall have mandatory powers in all matters relating to the protection against fire, drainage and sewerage, ventilation of buildings, and other matters pertaining to the health and safety of the inmates, and all orders upon these matters shall be executed or carried into effect by the county commissioners or other legal authorities in charge. Fourth. That we believe it to be for the best interests of all county institutions, that the law should be so amended that one county commissioner be elected biennially, so that all members of the board shall not go out of office simultaneously, as often does occur under the present law. We believe the foregoing recommendations to be for the best interests of the state, and we are prepared to support them, and to give our reasons therefor before any legislative committee. JOHN B. SMITH, E. G. EASTMAN, G. P. CONN, JOHN J. BERRY, IRVING A. WATSON, State Board of Health. THE PREVENTION AND RESTRICTION OF EPI DEMIC DISEASES. The last legislature enacted a law to prevent the introduction of epidemic diseases into the state, which confers upon the State Board of Health certain powers which it did not before possess. It places the quarantine authority entirely in the hands of the board. The scope of the law is a wide one, and would seem to be adequate to any exigency that can possibly arise. It empowers the board to declare a quarantine; to make all necessary quarantine regulations; requires local health officers to enforce the regulations; permits the appointment of inspectors; creates an epidemic fund; and, in fact, gives the board practically unrestricted power to deal with epidemic diseases in such manner as it shall deem to be for the best interests of the people of this state. The following is the law: THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. AN ACT TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF EPIDEMIC DISEASES INTO THE STATE. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: SECTION I. The power to establish quarantine in this state shall be vested in the state board of health, and said board, whenever it is regarded necessary to prevent the introduction of cholera, small-pox or other epidemic diseases from another state, or from another country, and to restrict said diseases if introduced, shall have the power to establish quarantine stations at such places as may be deemed necessary, and the said board shall make and enforce such quarantine rules and regulations as it may deem best for the public good, said rules and regulations to be in force when approved by the governor of the state. SECT. II. It shall be the duty of the local health officers, in their respective towns, to enforce all rules and regulations issued by the state board of health; but should it become necessary to establish quarantine stations, for the purpose of detention, isolation, disinfection, etc., the expense of the same, and its maintenance, shall be paid from the epidemic fund of the state. Local boards of health may establish quarantine in their respective towns, but shall report immediately such action to the state board of health; and it shall be the duty of said board, as early as practicable, to ascertain the necessity of such quarantine, and shall either approve and enforce the said quarantine, or declare it raised. SECT. III. Whenever quarantine is declared, all railroad and steamboat corporations, and the owners, consignees, or assignees of any railroad, steamboat, stage, or other vehicle used for the transportation of passengers, baggage, or freight, shall submit to the quarantine rules and regulations established by the state board of health; they shall submit to any examination required by the health authorities, respecting any circumstance or event touching the health of the crew or passengers, and the sanitary condition of vehicles, baggage, or freight; and any person who makes a false declaration respecting the points under examination, or who violates the quarantine rules and regulations, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than two hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not more than six months, or both. SECT. IV. If, in the opinion of the state board of health, it should be necessary to employ inspectors, more effectually to accomplish the object of this act, the said board shall have the power to appoint competent persons for that duty; said inspectors to be paid a reasonable per diem for the time actually employed on said duty, and their necessary expenses, to be paid out of the epidemic fund of the state. SECT. V. The sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby appropriated as an epidemic fund, to be used, if necessary, by the state board of health, with the consent of the governor and council, in case of the invasion, or threatened invasion, of cholera, small-pox, or other epidemic diseases into the state, and for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act; and the governor is hereby authorized to draw his warrant for the same, or such part of the same as may be needed, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. SECT. VI. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect on its passage. Approved March 22, 1893. Under the provisions of Section I of this, the board issued the following regulations, which were approved by the governor of the state May 22, 1893: RULES AND REGULATIONS. Adopted by the State Board of Health, under the Law Passed by the Legislature at the January Session, 1893, Entitled, "AN ACT TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF EPIDEMIC DISEASES INTO THE STATE." ARTICLE I. Every physician practising medicine in this state shall report at once to the local board of health, every case of cholera, small-pox, typhus fever, yellow fever, diphtheria, membranous croup, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and measles, coming under his care or observation. ART. II. Whenever any householder knows or has reason to believe that any person within his family or household has either of the diseases named in Article I, he shall, within twenty-four hours, if no physician is in attendance, give notice thereof to the local board of health of the town or city in which he resides, and such notice shall be given either verbally to one of the health officers, or by a communication addressed to the board of health and duly mailed within the time specified. ART. III. Local boards of health, upon being notified of the existence of any of the diseases named in Article I, shall immediately placard the infected house in a conspicuous manner, and effectually isolate the case (and the family if deemed necessary), in accordance with instructions already issued, or that may be issued, by the state board of health. Upon the appearance of either or any of the first four mentioned diseases, the local board of health shall immediately notify the state board of health by telegraph. Local boards of health may establish temporary quarantine, as provided in section 2 of the law approved March 22, 1893, entitled “An act to prevent the introduction of epidemic diseases into the state." In the event of the appearance of a case of cholera or suspected cholera, the local board of health shall establish at once an absolute quarantine, guarding the infected premises, by officers, day and night until relieved by the state board of health. ART. IV. Upon the appearance of either of the diseases named in Article I, in any town or city in the state, the local board of health shall make an immediate report of the same to the state board of health, upon blanks furnished for that purpose, and shall thereafter make a weekly report as long as the disease continues, in accordance with the requirements of the blanks. ART. V. Maritime quarantine at the port of Portsmouth shall be enforced in accordance with the quarantine rules and regulations of the city of Portsmouth, subject to such rules and regulations as the state board of health may issue under the provisions of the law approved March 22, 1893, entitled, "An act to prevent the introduction of epidemic diseases into the state." ART. VI. Isolation and disinfection must, in all cases, be carried out in accordance with instructions already furnished to local boards of health. ART. VII. Inspectors appointed by the state board of health shall have the right to enter any building, enclosure, railway train, vessel, or other place, that they may deem necessary in the performance of their duties, under the instructions and orders given them by the state board of health, and in accordance with the law of the state. ART. VIII. If, in the judgment of any officer or agent of the state board of health, it should become necessary to issue special rules or orders to meet promptly any condition or emergency, the said officer or agent may issue such rules or orders in writing, and a copy shall be transmitted immediately to the state board of health, to be acted upon as the said board may determine; but pending the decision of the board, said rules or orders shall be operative. ART. IX. The state board of health may at any time issue special rules and regulations for the purpose of more effectually carrying out measures to restrict the importation or spread of infectious and contagious diseases, which rules and regulations shall be considered a part of the quarantine rules and regulations, as provided for under the law entitled "An act to prevent the introduction of epidemic diseases into the state." ART. X. Local boards of health are directed to exercise a watch |