These reports have all been copied into a manuscript volume, and put the board in possession of much valuable information concerning the sanitary condition of the state, enabling it to map out the location of some of its chief epidemics, and to study them in their relations to local unsanitary conditions. The instances are numerous, however, where substantially the following statement is made, which I copy from a report which comes to hand as I write: "There having been no board organized, and not having given the matter any part of my attention, I am entirely unable to fill out the blanks in this sheet with any degree of correctness." This is to be expected to a great extent at first, but in view of the importance of the subject, it is hoped that such observations and memoranda of prevailing diseases, in relation to their history, progress and fatality, will be made as will enable clerks of local health boards to give increasingly intelligent answers to the annual and special inquiries of the board. These clerks are asked to remember that the law makes it their duty to report the required items, whether the boards they represent have ever assembled in the capacity of a health board or not, and they are further asked to remember that, at least until health officers shall have been appointed, the board is dependent upon them for their best judgment of the amount and character of prevailing sickness and of local unsanitary conditions. They will also contribute very much to the knowledge of the board by promptly and voluntarily reporting the outbreak of any diseases considered dangerous to the public health. A number of the clerks of local boards have accompanied their formal reports with letters containing additional information of interest, from two or three of which, I quote as follows: Wood. In this township of three hundred inhabitants, there have been, in the last two years, but four deaths, one from inflammation of the bowels, one from drowning, one from congestion of the lungs and one from diphtheria. The land in this town is high and rolling, the water is pure, and there are no swamps or overflowed lands but what are drained or capable of being drained. This town has been settled twenty-seven years, and in that time the town burying ground contains but thirteen graves. I consider this one of the healthiest countries I ever saw. Respectfully, J. R. DAWES, Clerk of the Board of Health of the town of Wood, Wood county. Washington. We have had but one death in this town during the year. It is many years since we had a case of measles, whooping cough or other of the diseases mentioned in the report. We had the small-pox in 1873-never before or since. I have been here since 1852. I believe a healthier town than ours would be hard to find. We have three wells on these islands, one of which is never used. I should think it would be unsafe to use it, as there are a barn and two privies near to it. The water in the settlement is mostly hauled from the lake, except what is caught in cisterns. A few good wells would be a blessing, but it would be expensive, as there would have to be deep boring done through limestone. We have had no saloons on the islands these thirteen years, which ought to be counted in our favor. Respectfully, ROBERT SEVERS, Clerk of the Board of Health of the town of Washington, Door county. PATCH GROVE.- One evident cause of typhoid fever, in some years very prevalent here, is impure water from wells and even springs which receive impurities from outhouses, stables, pig pens, etc; evident because confined to persons who use such water. The following matters need examination and correction: 1. Throwing bodies of dead animals into streams of water- a quite common method of disposing of the same. 2. Killing and disposing of diseased animals for food, a number of cases having fallen under the observation of the writer hereof. Clerk of the Town of Patch Grove, Grant County. HEALTH PHYSICIANS. At a later date the following circular was prepared and sent to the Health Physicians or other health officer of all Local Health boards. The replies to it have not been numerous but have embraced some reports conveying useful information. A few extracts from these reports will appear among the extracts from special correspondents: OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, To the Health Physician, or the Health Officer of the Local DEAR SIR: By the laws of Wisconsin, the regularly elected officers of every township, village or city in the State, are a legally constituted Board of Health, the chairman and clerk of such township, village or city being ex officio chairman and clerk of such Board. Every such Board has definite relations to the State Board of Health, and is by law required to report to it both by its clerk and by its health officer. The power to appoint physicians as health officers is given to Local Boards, and is recommended in all cases where practicable, because physicians, as a class, can best appreciate all those influences which are sources of danger to the public health. In reply to the requests of several who have been thus appointed, for an outline of their duties and for the general information of all health officers, this circular has been prepared. It is impossible to point out in detail their various duties. To them and to the boards they represent is committed the guardianship of the health and lives of their fellow citizens. Those who are thus honored and confided in, should therefore seek by special study to prepare themselves for this responsibility. They should be students of sanitary science-men of skilled judgment—who are capable of leading both the boards they represent, and the people, in sanitary knowledge, and of giving to them such practical hygienic instruction as will tend to avert disease, or restrict it to its smallest possible limits. As worthy the most careful observation and study of such officers, we recommend such topics as the foods and clothing, the habits and occupation of the people, the construction and ventilation and drainage of their habitations, and of their public buildings and school houses, the location of their wells, or other water supply, with reference to cesspools, privy-vaults, barn-yards, or other sources of soil contamination from filth, the drainage of swamps and low lands, etc.; in short, of everything which can unhealthfully affect the character of air, of water, or of soil, to the purity of which every man has an inherent light. Of necessity, the various unsanitary influences affecting particular localities can be known fully only to those favorably situated for studying those influences. The health officer of every local board of health should therefore seek to inform himself concerning his special locality, and particularly to understand the unsanitary conditions which favor the presence of that large class of diseases which are known to be preventable. Such knowledge will enable him promptly to advise with reference to the probable approach of such diseases, and of the local causes contributing thereto, to the end that such sanitary rules may be promulgated and enforced as will avert the threatened calamity, or, if this be impossible, to check and stay the progress of disease. In many cases of contagious disease, this may be accomplished by the thorough isolation of the first persons sick, and thus destructive epidemics may be averted. In all such cases the local board, under the direction of the health officer, should act with the utmost promptness. Some practical hints in this direction, in reference to small pox, may be found in the first annual report of this board, at page XL, and a circular, with suggestions as to the limitation of scarlet fever, is inclosed herewith. Reference to the power vested in boards of health is made at some length in a circular, which has been sent to the clerk of your Board, to which you are referred. It should be found on file in his office. Such power will be found to be ample, and in case of necessity, almost absolute, and undoubtedly your authority should at times be exercised for the abatement of those nuisances by which the "carelessness, the avarice, or the ignorance" of one endangers the health of many. Upon the right understanding of his duties, the practical application of his sanitary knowledge, and the judicious exercise of his authority will the usefulness of a health officer chiefly depend. This Board respectfully urges upon the officers of Local Boards the importance of the diffusion of sanitary knowledge among the people. The public mind is thirsty for knowledge. The public press is open and willingly spreads health items upon its pages. Let health officers avail themselves of this means of reaching the people. This board will at any time cheerfully indicate to any health officer such works as will give specific knowledge and instruction in regard to the causes of disease and their removal. Section 7 of the act organizing the State Board of Health, reads as follows: Section 7. It shall be the duty of the health physician, and also of the clerk of the local board of health in each township, city and village in this State, at least once in a year, to report to the State Board of Health their proceedings, and such other facts required, on blanks, and in accordance with instructions received from the State Board. They shall also make especial reports whenever required to do so by the State Board of Health. You will therefore see that the Law requires that you shall make report to this office. In this way the experience and research of one may be made to contribute to the good of all. In compliance with this provision, you will please communicate the following information, sending the same to this office, on or before the 20th of September. 1. Your name, occupation and address - (Post Office, Town and County). 2. Name of your Board, the number of its members, the frequency of its stated meetings, and whether or not a record of the same is kept. 3. A brief statement of the diseases which have prevailed in your Township, Village or City for the year ending September 1, 1877, stating the type of such disease (whether mild, severe, malignant, etc.). 4. Particular reference to the existence of any local cause of disease, and whether capable or not of being removed. 5. Please report at length any cases of disease clearly traceable to such local causes. 6. Please state as correctly as possible, the number of deaths from consumption during the past year, and how long the persons dying had been residents of your township. 7. Please report at length, particulars of any case of injury to life or property, from the use of kerosene or other explosive burning fluids. 8. Please give your opinion as to the principal sources of danger to the health of the citizens of your locality. 9. Please state the number of artesian wells within your corporate limits, the depth of each, and the amount and character of the water flowing therefrom. As annual reports will be expected from you and your successors, you are requested to preserve the circulars received from this office, and as these reports are required of you by law, your expenses for postage, stationery, etc., should be borne by your township, village or city treasury. You are cordially invited to free and frequent correspondence with this Board, and particularly requested to keep it informed of the appearance of any disease assuming an epidemic form, or of the appearance of any contagious disease, or disease dangerous to the public health. You will confer a favor if you will ascertain if the clerk of your board has made the report required from him, and in the event of his having failed to do so, of urging the importance of immediate attention thereto. By direction of the Wisconsin State Board of Health. Accompanying this circular is sent you a small package of circulars on the "Treatment of the Drowned," which you are requested to distribute to your physicians, or others, as judiciously as possible. All intelligent action must, of course, be based upon a correct knowledge of facts, and as a stimulating and suggestive help to all health officers, we would advise you to provide yourself with some Sanitary Journal. Of these there are several. The Sanitarian, published by A. N. Bell, M. D., 82 Nassua St., New York, at $3.00 per annum, is a monthly Journal, exclusively devoted to sanitary science, and receives the cordial commendation of this Board. It is manifest, from the meager response to this circular, as well as from the very frequent replies of clerks of local health boards, that but few health physicians have been appointed. The efficient exercise of the functions of a local board of health will, however, be greatly promoted by the appointment of such officers in every city, village and township. The general statutes confer on all legal health boards the power to appoint such officers, and the law organizing this board implies the exercise of this power in providing that health physicians, as well as clerks of local boards of health, shall report to this board. It is eminently desirable that such appointments shall be made |