Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-23
RICHMOND, VA eoa
The Health Association Urges Or
4 ganizatiOn Of Efficient State
Boards Of Health.
0Reers Eleeted---The Next Annual Meet
ing to be Held 10 Nashville.

RICHMOND, November 2-At to-
davis session Of the Public Health
Association it was decided to hold the
next meeting at Nashville, The fol-
loving officers were elected for the en-
suing year: President. Professor }. l..
Cabell, University. va first vice
president. J. 5. Billings, United States
army; second vice president, Samuel
Chopin. VI. d.. treasurer, DR.. Henry
B. Baker, Michigan executive eOR-
mittee. DR.. c. B. White. New Or
leans: Dr. ]. Turner, Z. 5. n; Dr.
Ezra VI. Hunt. New Jersey; DR.. j,
ID. Plunkett Nashville; Dr. G. F.
Fasomg Mississippi; DE-. G. y. HeW-
TT Lynn; seerAarg. E r Zones. Of
New York Il holds another term.
A resolution vas adopted appointing
q COMMITTEES TO nrge upon congress the
immediate publication Of a catalogue
IN the Medical sud sanitary library.
nov under the direction Of Surgeon
General WoOdWertha
The committee on resolutions re-
ported that Il deems It Inexpedient
and unEise to commit the association
atthis period Of public agitation Of
kindred topics. to any definite form Of
organization of the public health ser
wee. The committee thinks the OBJ
jects sought can best be obtained by
the appointment Of a suitable commit
tee on legislation BY the association,
which shall be empowered TO secure
the legislation necessary TO the mgani-
zatiou Of an adequate public health
service to be connected with the gem
eral government. The committee
suggested that in the Organization Of
the legislative committees, each State
represented in the association should
have a member. aud that the chiet
medical director Of the army and navy.
of the marine hospital service, and Of
commissioner of education or sucl
officer in their respective services a
they may designate, shall be members
together with the president of thi.
association. The report was adopted
The committee on resolutions als'
reported resolutions, which wer,
adopted, that in the deliberate judg
ment Of this association, it is the dutl
of every State to establish and ade
quately maintain an efficient Stat
board Of health, and to as great al
extent as practicable contribute t,
the protection Of the public hsaltl
within its own commonwealth, and t.
that Of the whole country. That tn.
power and duties of State boards 0
health should be SO well defined b.
law, and so fully provided for in Stat
administrations that the s~anitaryin
terests and protection of all places il
the State should be insured. Discus
sion Of yellow feyers, its origin, porta
bility, contagious and infectious char
aeter, modes of prevention, etc., wa
continued.
"A resolution was adopted recon
mending that statements Of certail
specified facts relating to the healt.
Of people be collected in the comm
census. unEnttE
The following committee was az
pointed to collect data upon which I
base the appeal to the medical pro
fession in the United States for funC
for the relief of the widows and O
phans Of physicians who died viii.
serving in the epidemic; DIR. Charl,
w. Hewitt, Reading, MINI. DIR. |
w. Mitchell, Memphis: DR.. Wi
johnson, jackson, Miss. DR.. Charli
b. White, New Orleans DR.. Stephe
Smith and DIR. l.. H. Steiner. Ere,
erick City, Nd, and DR.. Charles ]
Neal, Dayton, Ohio.
The following propositions we
voted on separately, and adopted
First-The yellow fever Of 1878 ",
a specific disease, not Indigenous to
originating spontaneously in the Tn
ted States and its appearance in tn
country during that year was due
specific causes.
Second-A quarantine establish,
with such rigor and precision as
produce absolute non-intercourse VI
prevent Importation of specific caus
Of yellow fever.
Third-Iti is the duty Of the gener
government to adm the establishme
Of a practical and proper quarantil
by all means in its power.
Fourth-It is the duty Of the gen
raj government to appoint a commit
of experts to make a thorough inve
tigation Of the causes Of the yello
fever and the best method of proven
ing its Introduction into this cOuntr
and to make such appropriation as w
permit Of securing the services of ii
best men and Of the best means Il
earring out such Investigation.
Fifth-That it is the duty of 81
general government 10 invite foreil
nations TO cooperate with it in Il
establishment Of uniform and eHeI