Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-08
MONTPELIER VT, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1876.

national government refused to furnish any infor-
nation Of that kind.
Mr.. ABEII Of West Haven insisted that there
is great decrease In the number of the claims
from soldiers requiring information from the Ad-
iuiant Generals office and there must he great
decrease in the abors Of the office. lie was in
iaNur Of the amendment proposed by Mr. swain,
Mr., SHELDON Of Rutland said he had spent
considerable time IN the Adiutant Generals office
since he came 10 Montpelier, aud he found that
his labors were very great, and we're not decIeas-
Ing but were Increasing ON account NJ the refusal
Of the general government to furnish any inior-
nation 10 the soldiers The salary Of this officer
is much less than In any other state, and he was
opposed TO the amendment.
Mr. FRENCH Of Woodstock inquired " the
Adjntant General charged any fees for certificates
inrnished TO soldiers
Mr.. FRANKLIN OF Newfane replied that it ap-
peared TO the committee that he did not
Mr. FRENCH said he had understood that fees
were charged for certificates, but he would not
question the information given by the committee
lie bad understood from military men that the
salary was altogether too large
The question being on the amendment proposed
by Dir. swain, II was agreed To.
Mr. SWAIN then moved 70 further amend so
~ TO hx the salary Of the Quartermaster- tieuera
at five hundred dollars. instead Of six hundred dol
lars as in the bill, and the amendment was
agfecd TO-
MIR FRENCH Of Woodstock moved to further
amend by adding q section 10 repeal that part Of
section 4, which allows salary 10 the Assistant
Acknowledgement; which was agreed to
The bin WAS then ordered to third reading.
BUS, tfc., Introduced and Referred--By Mr.
SPRAGlL Of Brandon, a petition In favor OF the
enactment Of judicious law 10 protect fish and
game, which was read and referred to committee
on game aud fisheries.
Hep0rts-- Prom committee on agriculture, in
iayor Of H. III, concerning dogs, aud for the pro
lection OF sheep and other animals; with propos-
ais Of amendment repeating the taxation on dogs,
which was agreed to; third reading ordered.
From select committee, in favor Of II. 70 lay
ing tax on the county Of lamoille viii pro-
pusal of amendment, reducing tax 10 four cents
which was agreed To, the bill WAS then third
time and passed
Joint Resoiution-Relating 10 temporary adj
joummeut, having been returned from the SEN
ate with proposals Of amendment, the amend
ments were considered By the House and agreed
to.
The Speaker laid before the House q cun.muni-
cation from the Governor rs follows
TO he Speaker Of the House Of R,prcs uiatires'-
have the honor to transmit herewith to the House
Of Representatives, for the use Of the Genertl
Assembly, n communication from committee
appointed by the stare Medical Society 10 me
moralze the legislature concerning tie appoint
ment of u commission 10 examine the laws OF the
state relating to the public health aud suggest
such revision a. shall seem necessary for the bet
ter protection of the sanitary and hygene inter,
ests Of the people, The matter commends itsell
U
will give the subject careful attention and cousd
crate action. HORACE FAIRBANKS.
The communication is as follows:
TO His FycelancyUc G0rcnor and he Hop0rd
BE LEGISLATURE OF he State Of TeTmont.-lhe un'
dersigned were appointed hy the Vermont stat,
Medical Society, as n committee, To memorailAt
the Legislature Of the state with reference to the
appointment, by His EEcellency the Governor, oi
a commission consisting of three suitable person.
who should be charged with the duty OF eNamin
ing and considering the laws OF the state relating
70 the public health, and suggesting such revision
Of or amendments thereto, or such additional
legislation upon sanitary matters, rs they shal
deem most conducive to the sanitary and hygie-
mic interest Of the people OF the state
In accordance with the duty thus imposed npor
l us we respectfully present the following eunsd
erations.
| During the past few year the attention OF the
medical profession has been specially directed e
| the causes and the prevention OF disease. The
progress in this direction has been so rapid ano
! thorough that II is now well understood among
medical men that the approach of certain disease'
| can be anticipated and prevented, by careful san
! itary supervision and proper quarantine Tegula
ton and that several of the contagious and infec
| tions diseases can be arrested in their progress
mitigated in their severity, and lessened in thei
duration and mortality, less by the administration
of drugs, than by the judicious application OF san
itary science in avoiding the causes, and destroy
! ing in their incubation the germs which Originate
| and perpetuate them. Notably in the list of sucl
diseases are cholera, small pox, typhoid fever, con
sumption, diphtheria, from which large mum bers Q
our population annually die. A practical know
edge of the principles OF sanitary science. and
proper dissemination Of hygienc regulation
among the people, enforced by such enactment
OF the legislature as will render them effectiv
and efficient, will in the opinion Of your memoir
alists, greatly reduce the mortality from all dis
eases OF a contagious nature.
And farther, the duty of the state TO proteC
the lives and the health of its citizens is admit
ted. By enactments and penalties, the life OF tn
citizen is carefully guarded as to be compar
lively secure The state also recognizes the dut
OF guarding against pestilence and contagion, b
laws which abate nuisances, and which requlr
pIecaution when contagious diseases are alread
present. But in the opinion of your memoTia
lists, those laws are not fully abreast with the ao
vance of sanitary science, They need revision
and amendment, and possibly some new legisla
tion to give them proper efficiency Moreover
the people should be instructed how TO use tn
"ounce of prevention so as 10 avoid the "poun
Of cure
Your memolialists therefore respectfully as
the state Legislature, who are the cnstodians c
all legal powers, and the guardians of the publ
welfare To authorize a commission that shall in
part this instruction and suggest the enactment
necessary TO make it practical and efficient.
Respectfully submitted,
l.. G. BUTLER,