The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-12-26

| formulated any systematic scneme, or ue-
vised any specific plan by which the whole
machinery of medical observation could be
coupled together at once and put in harm0-
NOUS motion. Although | have thought
considerably upon this subject, and may be
regarded as an enthusiast; yet, in my most
sanguinc expectations, have not dared to
hope for anything like clock-work, for
many years to come. Innovations are in
troduced slowly. and innOvatOrs are fire.
quently regarded as visionary dreamers-
The wheels of society move in grooves,
and progressive i'm provements are often the
results o jolts and connections which throw
| the car out OF the track. These papers re-
lating to the public health would find read
ers more attentive, If one-third of the citi-
zens of Jackson had died of yellow Fever
last summer!
Keeping in view that the grand object OF
the organization Of Boards of Health il to
prevent disease and to preserve the public
health, the importance OF number Of
faithful, scientific observers, charged with
the duty of studying the laws of health.
aud the causes of disease are at once sug-
gested. without them nothing can b.
done. They are indispensable. But un-
aided by mem bers of the community In
which they live, their powers for usefulness
are very materially limited. In a former
communication | produced statistics to
show that by means OF compulsory vaccina-
ton, small pox had been banished from
Ireland. In that case the civil authorities
came to the help of scientific observers and
a great practical good was accomplished.
II il very important that we should know
that vaccination will prevent small pox,
but that fact is OF but little Importance IL
we do not vaccinate! Hence we find that
in order TO receive the full benefit of any
suggestion or discovery which may be made
by a medical observer, these suggestions
must be backed by the power to enforce
them.
Looking then to the State Government as
the source of all power in the matter in the
very inception Of plan of Hygienic study,
we must, in the nature of things, com mence
with the organization of a State Board of
Health. Whether we proceed upwards to
the formation of National Board of Health, !
or downwards to the organization of county |
aud municipal Boards, we must commence |
operations under a. State Board, organized |
under State laws. When fully organized |
and ready for business, provision Of law
should require the organization OF Boards of |
Health in every county, city, town and viii
lage in the State. A State Board standing
by itself would BE- like head without a body
ornamental, perhaps, but comparatively
worthless. We have such State Board in
Mississippi now, and will soon issue a very
ereditable report of its years labor. But
when we come to contemplate the full scope
~ if5 - Io1 81,
power, we m ust confess that the report pre-
sents meagre results. But, Notwithstanding
all the disadvantages, the report presents
evidence of a most hopeful promise OF much
good to be accomplished when fully
equipped aud empowered.
Under the direction of the State Board of
Health perfect system of registration of
births, marriages and deaths, with the causes
Of death, should be kept in every county by
the Clerk of the Circuit Court. That officer f,
already keeps a marriage record, and it I
would be an easy matter when supplied with {
the proper blank forms, to make a record
of births and deaths, and the at close of the +
year to send them to the Secretary OF the o
State Board of Health for compilation. a
midwives or parents should be
required to report births and deaths to the G,
Clerk. Thus in ono ia BILE we could have the d
vital and mOrtuary statistics Of the whole -
State. Such a table would be exceedingly o.
Useful to the political economist, and to e,
physicians il would be almost invaluable. ri
f every State should annually pr blish such .
table, the emgrant, Ignorant Of the char "
cter of a State for health, might turn to fu
he proper table and get at a glance the in ~
Ormation he seeks. The Secretary of the -
tate b 'ard of Health should be the chief of %,
his bureau of statistics. Gu
One of the duties of the Board OF Super p
isors of every 90 unity, and the Boards OF y
Aldermen in every town in the State, should
g to look after the public health, and each f.
GARD should elect a health officer whose IN
uty it should be to study and report upon al
he peculiarties of diseases IN his particular th
,cality. He should be a skillful physician, ~
nd in connection with his duties as Health
fiicer of the county he might be physician ar
} the Jail or poor house, and (as In the State ~
{ Massac husetts) the Coroner of the coun- of
2. He should keep all the common instru- ar
tents for meteorological observation. such Dc
a thermometer, barometer, rain guage ="
nd wind vane, making daily records OF bl
leir indications. WI
Proper blank forms should be furnished to III
lie Health officers OF the counties. who -
Iouid be required to make an animal report sa
their operations during the year TO the an
acrPtary of the State Board of Health: | IN,
I'd he should be required to make special
,ports of extraordinary events, such as the sci
revalence of epidemics, etc. Ii
The Secretary Of the State Board Of Health To
lOuld be the chief Of the Vaccine Bureau
the State, and whether compulsory vac TIN
nnation shall be provided for by law or an
1t, he should be required to keep constant nj
on hand proper supply OF approved ab
rus He should supply the Health Oficers wf
the counties and towns, and in their an wa
Ial reports, they should state the number m,
cases of smallpox in their respective co
untiesi the number vaccinated during we
e year, and all other important facts con- za
.cted with that duty. tn,
Thus we will have set to work a number be
medical observers in the State whose la orc
RS will be crowned with great results.
srhaps in this field OF Investigation we
ay not always find exactly what we are
Oking tor, but new facts OF some kind m
lll be developed every year. The Alche- r
lists did not find 1.-THE elixir OF lite" nor Dr.
metal that would convert everything
TO gold, but in the course of their re
arches they found ont the truths upon
lich the beautiful science OF chemistry is
sed. no
Physicians here and there may be found son
shrink from the duties of Health officer Ia
Ie daily routine of observing the rise sci
d fall of a thermometer, and the capers dol
a weather vane may be tedious for 1877
lille, but let scme incident occur to 1877
Duse the attention. such as the breaking iizC
Of Typhoid Pneumonia during the po'
eyalence of the wind from a certain the
arter, and subsistence of the disease haC
On change of the wind, and the obser- age
r will have couple of Condolences call
itch will be well calculated to put him to TO ,
mixing! In little while he Will become pull
ID OF his course OF study-wilI acquire a
te for research, and may in time become nv,
medical philosopher: Thus gotten up