New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-28
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.


early day.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
TBB PROPOSED BUREAU OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
RATION RATHER THAN CONFLICT WITH LOCAL
SANITARY BOARDS CONTEMPLATED.
The importance to the life and health OF the
people Of State OF having central bureau Of nforma-
ton sanitary subjects suggested at the sessions
OF the American Sanitary Science Convention, which
met in Cincinnati last year. and the value OF the hint as
regards NewYork State has been recognized by the In
production into the Assembly OF bill entitled An act
TO create State Board of Health for the protection OF
health and to the spread Of diseases in the State
OF New-York" This bill has Just been favorably re-
ferred TO the Committee Of the Whole, and may coon
become law Its provisions are very general and con-
fer great powers. The substance of the bill Ia as
follows
The Governor Of the State is authorized TO appoint
within 20 days after the passage Of the act coDpe-
and experienced sauitarians. who must be ply
the AttorneyGeneral, the State CONTROLLER ana the
State Engineer viii constitute the Board. The Secre-
ry of the Board shah he It's executive officer and to
receive salary of not more than 1900 per year The
other members OF the Board are orecve no salary Inc
Board. thus constituted will take cognizance or tine
health aud life the people of the State
They % make inquiries III respect 10 the causes or
sources OF mortality the effects of localities, employ
ments and other conditions upon the public health IL
relating deaths, disease and health as may be usefdi
in the discharge OF its duties aud contribute 70 me pro-
motion health the security OF life III the state III
sIa be the duty OF ali the health officers and Boards Of
Health Throughout c State TO communicate to he;Board
sOpss Of s GS r a. ss Be- Fac e board
required keep records OF lie acts and proceedings as
In it's possession he sent the local health autnor-
ties OF city, village or town IN tue state %nh may
useful suggestions as lts experience may supply
Tue State BOARD Will also gather information iron pn
tic dspensares, hospitals, asyums, lnruares, PRISONS
and schools, aud from all public institutions, places OF
resort &c. points which may be desirable III eOnneo
viii advise the officers of State, county, or
local government In regard to sanitary drain
age aud the location drainage, ventilation,
and sanitary provisions OF public institution, build
ing or public place 1t will be its duV 10 give all
formation concerning any threatened danger the
lie health TO the Health Orer OF The port OF Now-IofA
and to the Commissioners Of Quarantine and all other
sanitary authorities in the STATE that all may co
operate as for as possible In prescribing be spread OF
kept, controlled under any pubic au-
hor saa be open TO tue or Inspection d
enter, examine, ana survey all grounds erectous,
vehicles, structures, apartments buildings ana places
The Board VIII, in addition have tue general super
VISION of the state system or registration OF births
marriages and deaths. and is TO prepare the orms and
methods of preserving them ana TO insure me hlthiu
registration Of the The Board shall meet -! Al
bay least every three months, and shall report ~ ~
before the fret Monday III December OF each year 10
Governor upon the vital statistics and The sanitary
condition ana prospects OF the State. and make sug-
gcsuoDs as to legislation on sanitaI! spDleets;
Tue BILL Will be seen from the synOpsis given, IL
very sweeping, ana prepared by hummer OF emil
the legal advice of Dorman Il. Eaton, drew the
act creating the metropolitan BoaTi OF Health. II gives
the state Board power Interfere IN all affecting
either health lite The total expenditure under the
Gct arc limited TO 5000 per annum.
A prominent member OF the Board OF Health, who Ia
authority on sanitary subjects, was questioned by
TRIBUNE reporter yesterday IN relation to the bill lie
said that both the metropolitan Board OF Health aud the
present Board had received from every portion Of the
State letters from physicians and citizens asking for in
formation and advice local health matters. Tuis
habit lie becoming prevalent, and the preyentIble
sources Of mortality have become matters OF
great public concern TO the question In
relation to immediate measures of relief
when epidemic has begun to show Itself,
demands and receives increased attention. what Is
every bodys business is nObOdy's business and fatal
epldemics of dysentery, typhoid fever, and especially
smallpox sweephrough villages and towns, destroying
many lives That vaccination Ia the proper preventive
Of smallpox well known but the seeds % this disease
widely disseminated and produce very fatal results
as for instance Pattsburg. on Lake Cbamplain dur
ing this very Winter. In village near ihls city
there prevailed last year iucurabe dysenlery which
proved mystery the physicians or the neighborhood
aud which widespread in it's ravages. After many
lives had lost sanltlrlan arriving at the
case. Inquiry showed mat the disease which nad Uted
medical s was due TO tne poisoning OF the "aier by
after a drogth. Instances Ike TINS Soulu
be multiplied inc question OF lhe uIa'nago
ls n very important Obe. Defective drainage lr
destructive because there Is no ono TO
%yest tne cause ana take measures for the Abatement
of the evil TIe smaller the community the greater the
danger because local health authorities act more
slowly in the IL becomes 10 have
central bureau, Cout ct, but ~ cooperate win
authorities aud 10 direct the iatt. nc history
OF disease must be s.u.Icd Jutn
i'm TO vital statistics, the
state had for many years laws IN relation 10 the
registration OF births, marriages aud Deaths but tbey
have been entirely neglected except IN New-fOrk
Clty, Brooklyn, and few Otner places, which
have special laws on the subject Uoder tue
state Board orgaUlzatOn OF proper sySJem OF reg
Istraou under existing laws ana sucn as may be found
10 be necessary viii b. provided for Again the various
asyuins, prisons, and places OF puDnc assemblage WIZ
be subj ct Inspection aud also Structure which
pubic health manner. source OF dis
ease which Is often lost sgt OF is The establishment OF
private cemeteries by speCuatOra throughout the Sate
Tus Is important question Of puDIc uedth ana Nl
Ne taken coguizdnco OF BY the S.ate Board.