(It may be stated here that the patient and the two men spoken of were confined for about two weeks, and no other cases of the disease occurred.) On January 12, a case of small-pox was reported at Harbor, a ward of Ashtabula, located on Lake Erie. Vaccine matter was sent to the attending physicians, but a history of the case has not yet been received. Circulars relating to the prevention of small-pox have been sent for distribution to the various places at which the disease has been reported, and also to adjoining towns, and general vaccination strongly urged. A circular-letter to health officers, calling attention to the present outlook in regard to small-pox, and urging vaccination, has been prepared but not yet sent out. In this letter, which will be submitted at your pleasure, I have advised boards of health to call upon their respective school boards to enforce vaccination of school-children, as the law places such authority in the hands of school boards. It is perhaps possible for the State Board of Health to enforce vaccination of school-children, and I have consequently held this circular-letter for some action of the Board. The demands for vaccine virus have been very numerous, and a word should be said in regard to the virus we are supplying. It is from the farm at Lancaster, Pa., and has recently been used in the vaccination of several thousand children in Columbus. A good many complaints of its inefficiency have come to my knowledge. I have had considerable correspondence with the propagator, Dr. Alexander, regarding this point, and have no doubt many failures have been due to improper handling of the virus after it left his hands. As it is of the utmost importance that we should furnish only absolutely reliable virus, I would like to have this matter discussed by the Board. Two circular letters to health officers have recently been sent out: One enclosing samples of our contagious disease circulars, and offering to send a supply for the use of boards of health, and the other requesting weekly reports of infectious discases, and enclosing blanks for that purpose. The routine work of the office has been continued as heretofore. The correspondence of the office is constantly increasing, and I would suggest that a type-writer-should our appropriation admit-could be used with very great advantage. The finance committee will doubtless report as to the action taken in regard to the appropriation for the coming year. Respectfully submitted. C. O. PROBST, Secretary. The report was received, and, on motion of Prof. Nelson, the Secretary was instructed to prepare his quarterly reports for publication in the annual report of the Board. Dr. Hoover offered the following resolution, and spoke at length of the action of the Illinois Board in enforcing a similar measure: Resolved, That on and after -, 1889, no pupil shall be admitted to any public school in this State without presenting satisfactory evidence of proper and successful vaccination. The resolution called forth a lengthy discussion, and on motion of Prof. Nelson, it was made a special order for 10 A. M. of the following day. The subject of vaccine virus was discussed by different members, and. on motion of Dr. Sharp, the Secretary was instructed to procure virus from a number of different propagators, with a view of testing their comparative merits. Prof. Nelson presented a letter from the President of the Ohio Wesleyan University, inviting the Board to hold its next regular meeting in Delaware, and offering the use of the University Chapel for public sessions. He also presented an invitation from the faculty of the Athens University, inviting the Board to meet in that place, and offering similar provisions for public sessions. On motion, the Board voted to hold its next meeting in Delaware, and the Secretary was instructed to notify the faculty of the O. w. University that their invitation had been accepted with thanks; also, to notify the faculty of the Athens University that their invitation had been thankfully accepted, and that a meeting of the Board would be held there at some subsequent time. A communication was read from Mr. Hunter, of Warren, in regard to a conference of representatives of local boards of health. SECOND SESSION-January 17, 9:15 a. m. Prof. Nelson presented the following amendments to the rules for holding sanitary conventions previously adopted: 1. The State Board of Health shall hold not less than two sanitary conventions each and every year. 2. These conventions shall be held in connection with the regular meetings of the Board, and at such times and places as may be determined upon by previous vote of the Board. 3. The public exercises shall consist of addresses, papers or discussions of important sanitary topics by members of the Board, the secretary and such other persons as may be invited to participate. 4. The primary objects of these conventions shall be First-To acquaint the people of the State with the work of the State Board of Health. Second-To improve the local sanitary condition of the place where the convention may be held. Third-To strengthen the hands of the local boards of health. 5. The Secretary of the State Board of Health shall make all necessary arrangements for such meetings. On motion, the amendments as read, were adopted. There being present at this time a number of representatives of local boards of health who had met for the purpose of discussing some amendments to the laws governing such boards, it was voted to devote the time to this discussion. Mr. Hunter, of Warren, who had prepared the proposed amendments, was invited to address the Board on this subject. The entire day was devoted to this discussion, the Board re-convening at 7:30 P. M. . The resolution of Dr. Hoover, in regard to vaccination of school-children was called up. On motion of its author, the resolution was tabled. The Secretary was instructed to prepare a circular-letter to health officers, and one to boards of education, calling attention to the present danger from small-pox in Ohio, and urging them to co-operate to secure the vaccination of all school-children. Also, to write to the Bishops of Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, requesting them to call the attention of their clergy and teachers to the necessity for vaccination. The Secretary presented a report on the collection of vital statistics, embracing a synopsis of the laws regulating such collection in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Ohio. The Secretary presented letters from a number of State Boards of Health, received in answer to letters making inquiry as to whether attempts had been made to regulate the sale of patent medicines within their respective States. There being no further business, the Board adjourned to meet in Delaware. C. O. PROBST, Secretary. Attest: PROCEEDINGS OF THE APRIL MEETING. DELAWARE, OHIO, April 19, 1889. The April meeting of the Board was held at the Hotel Donavin, in Delaware, on the 19th and 20th of April. Present during the meeting: Drs. Hoover, Beckwith, Sharp, Jones, and Cretcher, and Prof. Nelson. The Secretary called the Board to order at 7:15 P. M., and announced that the President, Dr. Wise, was detained on account of illness. Dr. Hoover was chosen President pro tem. It was voted to adjourn to the chapel of the Ohio Wesleyan University, where the following program, for which arrangements had been previously made, was given: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. INTRODUCTION— E. T. NELSON, M. A. Ph. D., Member of State Board of Health, Delaware. REMARKS THOS. C. HOOVER, M. D., President pro tem. of State Board of Health, Columbus. THE WORK OF STATE BOARDS OF HEALTH C. O. PROBST, M. D., Secretary of State Board of Health, Columbus. SANITATION OF OUR HOMES D. H. BECK WITH, M. D., Member of State Board of Health, Cleveland. THE WATER SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE OF DELAWARE DISCUSSION S. E. ALLEN, M. D., Delaware. H. J. SHARP, M. D., Member of State Board of Health, London. The meeting was well attended by citizens of Delaware and students of the University. The Board re-convened at 8:30 A. M., the following day, Dr. Hoover presiding. SECRETARY'S QUARTERLY REPORT. The Secretary presented the following quarterly report: Mr. President and Members of the Board: Your Secretary begs leave to present the following report of work done since the last meeting of the Board: According to instructions, circular-letters relating to the vaccination of school-children were prepared and sent, one to local boards of health, the other to boards of education. These were as follows: STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, SECRETARY'S OFFICE, SMALL-POX IN OHIO. To the Health Officer and Members of Local Boards of Health: GENTLEMEN: We desire to call your attention to the present danger of small-pox becoming widely prevalent in our State: At this time there are known to us five centers of infection in Ohio, and it is possible other cases exist which have not been reported. Near New Washington, Crawford county, there are five cases, and two have have died of the disease; there is one ease at New Holland, Pickaway county, one at North Solon, Cuyahoga county, one at Oberlin, Lorain county, and one at Ashtabula, Ashtabula county. At Oberlin, before the disease was recognized, over twelve hundred students in the Theological Seminary were at a lecture attended by the patient, and at Ashtabula, children from the patient's house attended school for several days before the facts were made known to the Board of Health. Every precaution is now being taken to prevent the disease spreading from these cases, but, from the number of persons exposed, other cases may be expected. Small-pox is also present in adjoining States, greatly increasing our danger, and we call upon you to take immediate action to enforce proper measures to protect the public health. Vaccination and re-vaccination will give almost complete immunity from small-pox, and you should endeavor to secure vaccination of all unprotected persons within your jurisdiction. Section 2135 of the Revised Statutes provides that "The Board of Health may take measures, and supply agents, and afford inducements and facilities for gratuitous vaccination." You should at once secure a supply of fresh reliable vaccine virus, and offer free vaccination to all who are unable to pay for it. We also call your attention to the following law: "The [School] Board of each district may make and enforce such rules and regulations to secure the vaccination of, and to prevent the spread of small-pox among, the pupils attending or eligible to attend the schools of the district, as in its opinion the safety and interests of the public require; and the boards of health and councils of municipal corporations, and the trustees of townships, shall, on application of the board of education of the district, provide at the public expense, without delay, the means of vaccination to such pupils as are not provided therewith by their parents or guardians." (Section 3986, R. S.) A conference with your Board of Education should be requested, and they should be asked to adopt a rule requiring all children and teachers in your public schools to be vaccinated within as short a time as possible. A building, remote from others, should be secured and fittted up as a pest-house, and all arrangements made to assume immediate charge of small-pox should it occur within your corporate limits. Constant watchfulness should be maintained, and all suspicious cases carefully isolated until the nature of the disease is determined. This office should be immediately notified by telegram of the first appearance of the disease; charges will be paid here. |