Page images
PDF
EPUB

topics should be given. In this way it is believed much good can be accomplished, and without extra expense to the State. Two such public meetings were held during the present year-one at Delaware and the other at Springfield.

An abstract of the meetings of the Board and some of the papers presented at its public sessions are given in another part of this report.

LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH.

Constant endeavor has been made to secure the establishment of a board of health in each city and village of over five hundred inhabitants, in accordance with the provisions of an act of 1888, and to foster and perfect such organizations when established.

Every city in the State now has a board of health, and all villages of over 500 inhabitants have boards, with the exception of forty-two. It was with great difficulty that this number of boards were established.

The law calling for the creation of such boards, while mandatory, contains no provisions for its enforcement, and where members of council, through ignorance or prejudice, persistently refuse to establish a board of health, the matter cannot be pushed by the State Board. The outbreak of some epidemic disease and the consequent public demand that something be done at once, has in several instances led to the formation of boards of health in places where before it had been impossible to secure such an organization.

The experience of other States has established beyond question, that effective sanitary work for an entire State can best be accomplished by having a local board of health in each city, village and township, all working harmoniously together under the general direction of the State Board. As remarked by the New York Board of Health, "A central head at the capital, with all these organizations in connection with it, is so in keeping with the genius of our government, and so far-reaching in its sphere of activity as to be hardly susceptible of structural improvement."

A perfect organization of this kind will always be prepared, not only to act promptly and concertedly in suppressing exotic epidemic diseases which may gain entrance to our State, but to regulate and control the many conditions adverse to health, which are constant factors of advancing civilization.

The State Board, by being in constant communication with local boards, will be able to learn promptly of outbreaks of dangerous contagious diseases in any part of the State, and to notify adjacent communities of their danger therefrom. Through such organizations it can also make

collections of facts regarding preventable diseases, which can be returned to these boards in shape to be used in their better prevention.

The present law limiting such boards to cities of five hundred inhabitants and over, gives but 306 boards for the entire State.

Numerous letters have been received from residents of villages of less than the requisite number of inhabitants, complaining of being debarred from the benefits of a board of health, and justly claiming that it is clearly as necessary to have a legalized authority to look after the health of a village as of a city.

We would respectfully suggest to the next General Assembly that no more important step in the interest of public health could be taken than the establishment of a board of health in each city, village and township of the State.

This would give over eighteen hundred local health organizations, which, properly cöordinated, would represent a force somewhat commensurate with the interests they would be called upon to serve.

On a subsequent page will be found reports from local boards of health, showing the character of work performed by them during the year; also, the sanitary improvements they have been instrumental in bringing about in their respective towns.

EMERGENCY FUND.

The people along the Ohio Valley were greatly alarmed over the pollution of the Ohio River, as a result of the Johnstown flood.

Acting under the advice of the Governor, a manifesto was published, warning the people to boil all water from the Ohio River before using it for drinking or culinary purposes, and a representative was sent to confer and act with the Pennsylvania State Board of Health in averting the danger from such pollution.

The experience of the Pennsylvania Board in this great and sudden calamity should teach other States that sudden perils may arise at any time, demanding the immediate expenditure of large sums of money.

In order that there should be no dangerous delays at such times, a contingent emergency fund should be placed at the disposal of the State Board of Health, to be used subject to the approval of the Governor. We respectfully suggest that this be done.

PUBLICATIONS.

The Weekly Health Bulletin and Monthly Sanitary Record have been published regularly and distributed among local boards of health, correspondents and others. Through local boards of health and in other ways,

a large number of pamphlets relating to contagious diseases have, also, been distributed in different communities.

The good effects of a better knowledge of Sanitation, which the Board has labored to spread among the people, is already apparent in the increasing demand for the enforcement of sanitary measures.

The necessity for a State Board of Health is becoming more and more felt by the public, as witnessed by the number of questions relating to the public health which are being submitted to the Board for advice or adjudication.

We feel, at the close of our fourth years' work, more assured than ever before, that material progress is being made in uniting the forces of sanitary reform against the progress of preventable diseases, and while the good work has been but fairly begun, we may take pleasure in the thought that much sickness and many lives have already been saved.

Secretary's Report.

ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD AT ITS MEETINGS DURING THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1889.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE JANUARY MEETING.

COLUMBUS, OHIO, January 16, 1889.

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P. M., by the President, Dr. S. P. Wise.

Present: Dr. D. H. Beckwith, Dr. H. J. Sharp, Dr. Thomas C. Hoover, Dr. W. H. Cretcher, and Prof. E. T. Nelson.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The Secretary presented his quarterly report, of which the following is an abstract:

SECRETARY'S QUARTERLY REPORT.

Mr. President and Gentlemen:

Your Secretary would respectfully submit the following report of work for the past quarter:

The Annual Report of the Board was prepared, and, after approval by the President, was submitted to the Governor on December 22, 1888.

I am assured by the Supervisor of Public Printing that the printing of the report will not be delayed as it was last year.

The correspondence incident to the formation of local boards of health has been quite voluminous, a large number of questions relating to their establishment and operation having been received and answered. Since May last, when the notice of the amended law relating to the establishment of local boards of health was sent out, one hundred and twenty-six new boards have been established. This is a greater number of health boards than existed prior to that time. Most of these boards have adopted the Rules and Regulations recommended by the State Board, and many of them are already doing good work. The board of health of Bedford and Huron report that scarlet-fever and diphtheria are

quarantined in the same manner that cases of small-pox would be. Indeed the success of some of the new boards in enforcing strict sanitary measures leads one to ask if we have not waited too long for the education of the masses.

[The Secretary's report of cheese-poisoning at Cambridge is omitted, it having been included in the general report on this subject published in the last annual report of the Board.]

[ocr errors]

SMALL-POX AT NEW WASHINGTON.

On December 26, 1888, a card was received from Dr. Thos. F. Keller, of New Washington, Crawford county, reporting one case of small-pox. I immediately telegraphed him, asking if exposed persons had been vaccinated and isolated, and if vaccine virus was needed.

He answered: Virus ordered but not received. Can you send some. A supply of virus was sent by return mail, with instruction to vaccinate all exposed persons, and to telegraph me of the first appearance of a second case.

The following history of the outbreak was learned:

Peter Huber, a farmer living about two miles from New Washington, thought he was suffering from cancer, and went to Rome, N. Y., on November 29, to have it "poulticed out." He was in Rome about three hours; his cancer, which was probably a cystic tumor, was quickly removed by the knife, and he returned home without eating or sleeping in Rome. Thirteen days after his return he was taken sick, and in a few days his physician, Dr. Keller, pronounced his disease small-pox.

Mr. Huber's family consisted of himself, wife and two children, aged six and eight years, and a farm boy of sixteen. These were all vaccinated as soon as the diagnosis was established and virus could be had-several days after exposure, however.

Mr. Riedel, living in New Washington, was secured as nurse.

December 31, a telegram was received reporting another case in the family-Mrs. Huber-and asking us to send a nurse.

Two days later the two children were reported down with small-pox, and urgent demand was made for a male and female nurse. After considerable search these were found, but in the meantime nurses had been secured nearer home.

Mr. Riedel, who was acting as nurse, got word that his wife was ill, and after a change of clothing and a bath, he came to his home in New Washington. He and his family, however, were strictly confined to their home, Dr. Keller carrying food, etc., to them. The family were all vaccinated.

« PreviousContinue »