The New York herald., 1878-11-20


violation of sanitary rules in each of these
particulars are given without reserve in respect
to all the visited towns, except New Orleans.
In regard this city, and indeed to all places visited,
the chairman and Colonel Hardee will each make yer
association the fullest information possible.
Sergeant ,of the United States Signal
Service. in New Orleans has prepared for us series
exercised over the spread and mortality of yell
low fever by meteorological changes. We re-
spcctfuly offer these charts for your
sderation and examination and consider them
worth the earnest attention OF the sanitarian.
There. is. however one defective point about them
which should 10 kept In view during their exanna-
tion. This is that the medical practitioners Of New
them to report infections and epidemic diseases;
that the daily report of cases by the Board oJ
Health is neither full nor accurate as to date Of at.
tacks. This irincclracy like most others IN medical
statistics tends to lose itself in the leIth Of time
and great numbers Of included in the scope of
the charts.
OPENING OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RE-
MARKS By GOVERNOR HALrIDAY-DR. ELISHA
HARRIS SCIENTIFIC ADDRESS SPEECHES by
SURGEON GENERAL wooDwoRTH, DIR. BEAus
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 19 1873.
The opening session Of the sixth annual Convention
of the American Public Health Association held
here tonight at Mozart Hail. About one hundred
members were present, the remaining space in the
hall being filled by members Of the medical fraternity
from other States and OF this city, well many
non medical citizens. Several ladies were also
present. The gentlemen composing the Conven-
ton are representative men from all sections
OF the Union, most Of them being eminent in the
medical profession and in sanitary matters At half
past seven O'Clock DR.. Elisha Harris, of New York.
president Of the association, called the Convention to
order and introduced the Rev. Dr. Peterkn of the ST.
James Epscopal Church. in this city, who opened the
proceedings with eloquent and fervent prayer. DR..
Harris then presented Governor Halliday of vir-
ginia as the presiding oicer Of the Convention for
the evening. r. es fts r
GOVERNOR HALLrpAYs REMAINS
Governor Hallidays appearance on the stage was
greeted with rounds Of applause. He proceeded to
address the association. extending the members on
the part Of the people of Richmond and the State
the Old Dominion. The Governor said there never
has been . time when the health OF body
cessfuily with the aims and objects Of life.
He alluded to the Convention audience of spe-
cia culture and spoke Of tns sssosati9n as one Of
OF perpetual application and goes throughout every
department of life and penetrates every pursuit.
The public health has vast deal to do with the
public morals. and immortality is the most fatal blow
that can be struck at the public health. One Of the
great and benencent objects Of this association is
to investigate and II possible to find remedies
| This alone would justify such Convention as he
now saw before and around him To % ascertain the
plague that bit yesterday swept with its bloody
scyshc the fsifest portion Of land is noble work
Govelnor said; d;--.Bdt, ssnt|emen, beyond tho the
Coming from every section; Of common country.
bringing yonr learning and culture. your experience
and earnestness you vii imDios that gent,eness and
when you go to your homes, wherever they be- you
viii carry with you that feeling of fellowship that is
Here in this city, which was lately the
heart Of convulsion hero. where honest, fearless
suffering OF warfare was endured that will be
known till the great future when al hearts will be
be ho n
angel; here YOU have. como together from North,
south Ess and Ss snn s % D1
less renowned than war. and how by the divine
Of onf n % ns nas our ~ pm6S S.1 one
Governor Halliday was frequently interrupted by sp-
plause.
Virginia followed Governor Halliday, introducing
the president of the association. Dr. Elisha Harris Of
the leading feature of the evenings exercises. In
doing this he paid high tribute to Ik Harris
KLIsHA HARRIS ADDRESS.
DR.. Elisha Harris, Of New York, after proposing
some changes in the constitution of the associaton
to meet the exgencies that arise now, and which
scarcely thought Of ut the time Of organization,
made the following remarks :-"The deplorable cpl
demic which has decimated the great valley during
the past season and brought wang and terror on
nearly one hundred cities and hamets now, in the
last days OF its prevalence leaves the public health
authorities and especially this association the duty
OF studying its history, penetrating Its causes,
l and Of reaching practical ways and sneuns
by which h.. the rsvages, ava ,or Of this destroyer
After thirty years Of study and observation part of
tho time having oacial public care of the sick from
and tho varying phenomena of meteorological and
other circumstances which mark successive cpl
aS
indicates that the public health service OF the civilized
world will soon find it practicable to define the
tal factors that enter into its propagation.
In this last in every previous visitation OF this
scourge the words Of Sir William Lyon are a. true as
when he described the epidemic in Lisbon dis
ease in of its most appalling forms. held sway
and art stood helpless by. We offer no theory,
utter no dogms we expect no miracle; but VIC do be-
terry of this Destroyer and this National Public
Health Association convencs to-day in the capital city
Of the mother Of States to examine, sft and anayze
the recent body Of evidence which we have begun to
accumulate, and concerning which and the
duties that lie beyond this anxious beginning OF
our effort to know the worst and to know
the whole upon these momentous questions.
All the State and municipal authorities of the regions
liable to be visited by yellow fever gathered with
us in council. 1t matters not 10 any Of us if any
previous theory or practce concerning the means OF
stamping out this subtle pcsfence were superseded
by moro definite and practical vcrdicts of such
grand court Of hygiene this 1t matters not to
II II should be shown that yellow fever seemed he
personally contagious certainly seemed to be true
OH the fine steamboat John ID. Porter and its in
fectcd bargcs; It matters not IN Grenada. or vicks-
claimed that the yellow fever OF domestic origin,
but venture to believe that every gentleman
worthy of membership in the association has come
to this national sanitary conference fully prepared
to examine all things and hold fa1t to that which Ii
true. and invoke for all the deliberations scrupu-
lous adherence to this first duty.
SCIENCE MUST CONQUER DIsEAsE
"In the anguish of the pestcnce IL not surprs
ing that the people cried out to God for mercy and
for help; was equally natural there should be
joicng ~ the scourgc has withdrawn The sympathy
of the good and the gifts of the afucnt have been
poured out; the golden bonds OF enduring fraternity
Of the States have thus been svinced hut II IL the
mission OF hygiene and OF preventive medicine
IL is the privilege of science-wh recognizing
these gentle sentiments. now to gather up the
knowledge and research which has been accumulated.
Next will como the duty To appealin uncertain
several States and indeed of the rcmotcst common
wcaths that be invaded by yellow fever, cholera
any pcstlencc portable by land or water to agree