New-York tribune., 1873-05-03
SANITARY SCIENCE.

RE BImT WITH PRIME REFERENCE TO HEALTH.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIRE TIIBUNEl
CINCINNATI May 2.-The session of the American
Board Of Public Health attracts larger attendance
of citizens to-day. Among the papers read yesterday
was one on Sanitary Statistics, presented by Mr.
John NJ. Toner; report on Uniform System of
Registration OF Diseases and Causes of Death paper
by Charles r. Russell. NJ d. of New-York. This was
read by Secretary Jones. There was an an active
discussion called forth by the above papers In the
afternoon Report the Necessity Of National
Sanitary Bureau a paper by c. e. Cox, Nj. d., of
Washington, elected much discussion followed by
a aresoution presented by Mr. A. VI. Belle, that the
establishment Of a Sanitary Bureau similar to the
Bureaus of Agriculture and Education is desirable.
The last paper yesterday afternoon was by Dr.
Jarvis Dorchester, Massachusetts, on the Effect OF
War on the Number of Births. review OF Report
on Epizo0tic by the New-York Board of Health from
its Origin to its Latest Manifestations was made by
Dr. +. II. Jones.
The first paper read to-day was o Report on Areas
Of Sanitary Administration and the Practical Ap-
plcation of General Laws and Local Ordinances on
Public Health prepared by Elisha Harris M. d., OF
New-York The second paper was on the General
Causes of Disease by William Clendenin of Cincin-
nati This was followed by Report on Quarantine
and the Official Method of Sanitary Control of Con-
tarious and Infectious DiseasesIprepared by the
Chairman, Henry Hartshorne Md, of Philadelphia.
This afternoons proceedings opened with reading
communication from W. MaTSden of Quebec, sub
hitting plan of quarantine and arguing that
cholera is portable disease. A vote was passed ac
reptiug the invitation of the Mayor of Providence
10 hold the next annual meeting of the Association
in that city The Report of the Committee on
Quarantine was discussed and recommitted In the
evening the Association attended banquet given
bv DR. John A. Murphy of Cincinnati, at his resi-
dence
The following is the substance Of some of the i'm
portant papers:
REGISTERING CAUSES OF DEATH.
Charles p. Russell read a report d" a uniform system
sfRegisraon of Causes Of Death throughout the United
states" would appear almost superfuous TO adduce
any argument in support Of the establishment OF uni
form system OF death registration throughout the United
states the advantages being obvious 1t only re-
mains 20 submit few considerations upon the important
aucstion What shall be this plan which propose 10
,r 70 our brethren Of every state for their unqualified
adoptoni I'm the first and principal group OF the clasSh
ration are comprised the most formidable diseases with
winch sanitary science has 10 grappe, and the iuvest
CATION OF which, with reference TO their pre-
CentiOD, modification, annihiiatiOn, has within a
lew years become the subject OF perhaps the
most mOmcntouS importance to the human race, in
both physical ana moral sense. 1nesS are snie tpl
lemc endemic parasitic. nOculated and epZoouc dis
srdcIs, well a. those resulting from the deprivation
OF susCuance and from abuse of drinka being classed
nnder the general dessnaton LymCtlc. III was sinl-
ncnty proper affections Of this character should be
together, NAlCh
serve separate them clearly from one another as
from those different class. The resemblance IN their
ouenCe than diversity IN their individual traits. IL
has been olOquenty marked that these diseases dis
other they have formed epochs in chronology and as
Medium has shown, have influenced not only the fan OF
cities such a. Athens and Florence, but OF empires"
The army Of Scnuachcrlh while besieCng Jerusalem,
lost 600 men single night under the deadly breath
Of the Destroying Angel-probaby 10y the swift and in
visible stroke of tho pest!ence Besides the zynouc
diseases never haltiug and not much controlled
by external circumstances, VIZ; sporadic as
eases ordinary maladies OF everyday occurrence,
These prevail universally, are sometimes due To heredl-
ary taEt sometimes apparently spontaneous or trace
able to variety Of exciting causes more or IeSS IN
sdous Int they are not usually regarded as capable OF
direct propagation. However, as was noticed as far
back the Plague OF Athens described oy Ihucyddes
they not untrequenty laIuciPaS ia lle nuCl9atols ol
with temporary pecuharities The chief and most gem
orally fatal OF these are the constitutional disorders m
marasmus and hydroceIAa4us' and the diatheuc' as
IKE fnaI class of Farr's nosoogy embraces all deaths
due % violent causes the consequences Of physical or
rhcmca forces. whether applied accidentally. suicd-
a,iy or homlcidally and as rule comprising cases
ueccsty subject 10 judicial scrutiny Deaths result
iuc from military couiIct or from execution are like
wise included in this group Dr.. Farr remarks
that rom political point OF view violent
deaths are OF great importance as they cut
of especially the most valuable and efficient members
Of the community ana ne thelGIoIG very Pb PlQe[{ Ie
CARDS them as class 70 DC lartlclary Glsi slsuea
nom adj In large cities the statistics OF such
deaths form Of the most interesting and instructive
fessonaI, the political or the moral inquirer An add-
ACCIDENT viz; deaths due 90 surgical operations other
than chose found imperative after casualties, such as
ptomy DC. IN OF these instances death results
directly from surgical iutelteTence and although in
others the operation may have been performed 10 avert
rifrcr iTurucu or presumptive death, 81 eXpe
i- tit ro treserle uniformity and 10 obtain nater
ais Tor valuable and hitherto neglected branch
statistics, an o such cases should be embraced III tho
sIsf..iclI tables are needed from many different
localities, and the Association should re- recommend
TO an organizations Of persons haUug super
vision of Death returns in cities, towns, or
,Ia,cs of fbe United states. the adoption early
tlay hoe expcdeut cav january J. 1870 of FdIr's
easfcati0u Of causes of death with the slight mod
incauOus named. As 10 the preparation OF mortuaTy
slscs t s OF course necessary that the ages Of de-
rodent. v each disease should be expressed in some
manler 70 would, however, be super1iuOus labor 10
ATTEMPT this the successive years OF existence except
I'M c1rIv childhood. when the asCertaued ratios
tallty are cA and the probable duration Of life vastly
different within brief periods. Each year before nye
years the speaker thought, should be enumerated and
every month of the first year OF life should be separately
expressed After hve years u VIII sunce loi correct
generalization 20 combine The age, III quiuquennia Pc
Ious. lhe ISt.ioHs Vl tAl ~ , "
those OF the Hvlng frequently gwen Dy census ehdbIe
us 10 ascertain the general laws or national NOR
figures The celebrated Swedish table formed by
Dr Price from abstracts Of the members OF the living
aud dead in Sweden during q years, the ages being
arranged QmnQucnndly ater the MIN yeaI OF me- The
Northampton, M0npeleT' aud DeparcleuA tables were
Sex aad cause Of death must also be taken into account
IN the preparation OF the tables, and there should De
area Of iuvestga CATION. 1t would enable us TO form
steady basis upon which medical experience may be
safely built aud would tend % throw light upon the
Of disease many Of which when duly recognized
may capable OF prevention, removal, or dmiuution.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF HEALTH LAWS.
Elisha Harris NJ. d.. OF New York, presented q report
on "Hcalth Laws aud Sanitary Administration in the
limited States with special reference TO Areas OF Ad-
1pin,tration." the United States, the permanent
value and success OF methods Of sanitary government
VIII depend upon the degree in which the people are
generally enlightened concerned, and made responsible
Every state Government, by its Legislature, owes to