On Publications-F. H. Gerrish, M. D., J. O. Webster, M. D., and A. G. Young, M. D.

On Disposal of Excreta-F. H. Gerrish, M. D.

On Ventilation-O. A. Horr, M. D., E. C. Jordan, C. E., and A. G. Young, M. D.

On Summer Resorts-E. C. Jordan, C. E., and A. G. Young, M. D.

On Sewerage and Drainage-E. C. Jordan, C. E., and Prof. F. C. Robinson.

On Water and Water Supplies-Prof. F. C. Robinson, and A. G. Young, M. D.

On School Houses and School Hygiene-J. O. Webster, M. D., and A. G. Young, M. D.

VACCINATION OF OPERATIVES IN PAPER MILLS.

The law passed by the last legislature entitled "An Act to provide against the danger of the spread of small-pox from paper mills," which was printed in the last annual report, and which we reproduce in this connection, did not go into effect early enough to be put into practical operation last spring. In the fall, however, the local boards of health in those towns in which paper mills using rags are located-Westbrook, Poland, Topsham and Gardinerattended to their duty as provided in the law, and found the owners, agents and superintendents willing to co-operate in the work. In the following are given the special report on this subject made by each of these local boards of health to the State Board, in answer to a circular of enquiry sent from this office.

[FORM 18.]

REPORT OF THE LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH OF

CINATION OF OPERATIVES IN PAPER MILLS.

-ON THE VAC

1. Please give the names of the paper mills in your town that use rags in the manufacture of paper.

2. Did the owners, agents or superintendents last fall comply with section 3 of the act?

3. Did your local board of health comply with the requirements of section 4 of the act?

4. Please give the number of persons whom you found employed in and about each paper mill.

5. How many persons were found who had never been vaccinated? 6. How many were found fully protected by a recent vaccination? 7. How many were found insufficiently protected by vaccination? 8 How many were vaccinated in accordance with your order? 9. Did all persons found imperfectly vaccinated comply with your requests as regards vaccination?

10. If not, what action was taken by your board and by the owners or agents of the paper mills?

WESTBROOK.

1. Cumberland and Presumpscot Mills.

2. The owners and agents complied with section 3 of the act. 3. Our local board of health attended to the duty as specified under section 4.

4. We found 219 persons employed.

5. Three persons were found who had never been vaccinated.

6. The number of persons found fully protected by recent vaccination was 195.

7. Twenty-one persons were found insufficiently protected by vaccination.

8. Twenty of these were vaccinated in accordance with our orders. 9. One person only failed to be vaccinated in compliance with our requests.

10. The attention of Mr. Warren, the agent, was called to the fact that one man employed by him declined to be vaccinated, but nothing has been done.

The examinations by this board included all persons employed in the rag-room, all drivers of teams that haul rags, all engaged in the cutter rooms, and all persons working in the mills that boarded in houses with persons who might come in contact with infected rags or persons.

Yours truly,

H. K. GRIGGS.

Secretary Local Board of Health, Westbrook.

[In reply to a letter from this office Mr. Jno. E. Warren, Agent of the Cumberland and Presumpscot Mills, writes that the retention of the unvaccinated man was an oversight, and that he has given him notice to quit, and assures us that there was no intention of evading the law. In this connection it is due Mr. Warren and the owners of the mills to say that they have always shown a ready willingness and desire to co-operate with the State Board and the local boards of health in the prevention of infection.-Secretary State Board of Health.]

POLAND.

1. The Poland Paper Company have five mills in Poland, but only one of them handles rags; I think it is called the Androscoggin Mill.

2. Section 3 of the act was complied with by the owners.

3. Our local board of health complied with the requirements of

section 4 of the act.

4. I cannot give the number of persons found employed in the mill.

5. None are reported as never having been vaccinated.

6. Probably all the older workmen were found protected by recent vaccination as there was an outbreak of small-pox a few years ago.

7. Twenty-one persons were found insufficiently protected by vaccination.

8. Twenty-one persons were vaccinated in accordance with the orders of the board.

9. All persons found imperfectly vaccinated complied with our requests as regards vaccination.

10. No action was needed, as the heads of the different departments set the example by promptly complying with the request of the board and the example was readily followed by all.

These questions are answered as fully as I am able from the papers left me by Dr. Corliss, formerly the secretary of the local board of health, but who now has removed from the town. From my own personal knowledge I believe the auswers are corect as far as they are given. Respectfully,

S. L. LITTLEfield,

Chairman of the Local Board of Health, Poland.

TOPSHAM.

1. Bowdoin Paper Manufacturing Co.

2. The owners and superintendents of the mill fulfilled the requirements of section 3 of the Act.

3. The local board of health attended to their duties as specified in section 4.

4. Eighty-seven persons were found employed in the mill. 5. Sixty-five were found who had never been vaccinated.

6. Twenty-two were found sufficiently protected by vaccination. 7. Sixty-five were found insufficiently protected by vaccination. 8. Sixty-five persons were vaccinated in accordance with our orders.

We have complied strictly with the law and by prompt attention everything was satisfactory to our board.

Yours truly,

JAS. C. PURINGTON,

Secretary of the Local Board of Health, Topsham.

GARDINER.

1. Copsecook Mills owned by J. D. Warren & Co.

2 and 3. The requirements of section 3 of the Act w re complied with by the owners and superintendent of the mills, and section 4 by the local board of health.

4. At the time our visit was made we found fifty employes which is about the usual number employed.

5. No persons were found who had never been vaccinated.

6. All of the employes were found protected by recent vaccination.

7 and 8. None o the operatives were found to require revaccination.

The reason why everything was found in so good condition as regards danger from contagion was that three years ago a case of small-pox originated from the rag-room, at which time all precautions possible were taken to prevent its spread. Great credit is due to Mr. Henri E. Merriam, the superintendent of the mills, for the great care he always takes to prevent any possible contagion from the rags used.

Yours truly,

E. E. LEWIS,

Secretary Local Board of Health, Gardiner.

Chapter 213, Laws of 1889.

An act to provide against the danger of the spread of Small-Pox from Paper Mills.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows:

SECT. 1. No owner, agent or superintendent of any paper mill where domestic or foreign rags are used in the manufacture of paper shall hire or admit any person to work in or about said mill who has not been successfully vaccinated or revaccinated within two years, or to the satisfaction of the local board of health.

SECT. 2. No person shall work in or about any paper mill where rags are used, who has not been successfully vaccinated or revaccinated within two years, or to the satisfaction of the local board of health.

SECT. 3. The owner, agent, or superintendent in every paper mill where rags are used shall every year in the months of February and September, make out and deliver to the local board of health, a list containing the names, ages, kind of work, and places of residence of all persons employed in or about said mill.

SECT. 4. In the months of March and October, annually, each and every person who is employed in a paper mill, shall be examined by the local board of health as to whether he or she is successfully and sufficiently protected by vaccination and the local board of health shall in all cases be the judges of the sufficiency of the protection by vaccination.

SECT. 5. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than fifty dollars.

SECT. 6. It shall be the duty of the local boards of health within their respective jurisdictions and of the State board of health, to enforce this act as far as comes within their power, and when said State board of health knows or has reason to believe that any penalty or forfeiture has been incurred by reason of neglect to comply with said act, it shall, at its discretion, give notice thereof, in writing, to the county attorney of the county in which said penalty or forfeiture has occurred, and upon receipt of such notice the county attorney shall prosecute the defaulting person or persons.

[Approved Feb. 23, 1889.]