The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-11-27
The National Health Convention.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

OPENING or THE PUBLIC HEALTH CoSvEN-
IIoN-A LARGE ATTENDANCE.
RICHMOND, Nov. l9.-At the opening OF
the sixth annual session of the Public
Health Association, at which 100 members
were present, besides many members OF the
medical fraternity from abroad and local
physicians and citizens, the proceedings
were opened with prayer by Rev. DR..
Peterkn.
Or. Harris introduced Governor Holiday
as the presiding officer OF the evening.
The Governor extended, in behalf Of the
city. cordial welcome, and said there
never has been "a time when the health 81
body and mind was not needed 10 wrestlC
sue e-sfullY with the aims and objects of
life. He alluded 10 the convention as an
audience OF special culture, and spoke of the
association as one of vital i'm pOrtauCe To
public health. 1t is, he said, OF perpetual
application, aud goes throughout every de-
paltment OF life and penetrates every
| pursuit. Puuhc hcaIth has vast deal Is
| do with public IN erals and immortality Is
| the most fatal blow thar can be struck &C
| puOic health. One OF the great and brneh-
cent objects OF this association is 20 iuves-
| ugate the causes, ana, IL possible, find
remedies. This alone would Justify such "a
convention As the present. To provide "a
remedy for the dreadful plague that but
yesterday swept the tairest portion of our
land is "A noble work, worthy OF such men.
Here you have come together from North,
south, East and West, as one brotherhood,
to show by your words and deeds how peace
hath its victories less renowned than war,
and how We can, by the divine instincts OF
our nature, make our republic one and what
she ought TO be, the mother of a mighty
race.
Prof. Cabell, of the University of Virgin
ia, followed Governor Holiday, introduce
ing the President of the Association, DR..
Elisha Harris, of New York, whose annual
address had been announced as the leading
feature of the evenings exercises. He paid
an eloquent tribute 10 DR.. Harris as "a life
long and seli-deVotee TO the sanitary studies
and Endorsed the testimony OF "a most
competent judge. who had described DIT.
Harris as leading sanitary authority i'm all
that relates to vital statistics and the lessons
they deduce.
DR.. Harris. after a brief introduction in
which he recognized the laudable object
contemplated by this movement, suggested
the following notifications practicable:
l. That each State Board OF Health should
be entitled to one seat in the Executive
Committee of the association; that such
member, being elected by his association,
hold Office for one year.
2. That members of state Boards of Heath
be ex-onicio members of the association.
3, That member of the executive COM
mitee annually elected by the association
should equal the total mum Der Of members
eX-otiicio. This committee to be heuCefOrth
designated Counsel of the American Pub
lie Health Association"
4. That for the purpose OF shaping eE-
pert investigation and scientific reporting
OF the same, and Tor further encouraging
researches, there should be appropriate
committees in ali sections differing from the
plan designed ia the original construction
OF the standing committee.
D. Maintenance in each State and Terri
tory Of a system OF periodical reports
weekly, monthly, yearly--ot all epidemic
and other prevalent diseases, supervised by
the state Board OF Health, resident mem
| bers of the association designated for the
purpose; all studies aud reports TO be
method of yielding, couquerable result.
6. Studios of meteorological and atmOs-
! pheric cOndit lOns, with reference to cpl
technology and health.
z. Maintenance OF "A committee for study
| Of, and consultation in regard 20 biological
and anthropOlogcal Investigations, includ-
| ing contributions from census and other
national and State systems Of registering.
s. Introduction OF "A clause in the COusti-
tuition of this association to provide tor
| editorial and supervising duty in the publ-
cation and diffusion OF sanitary infOrma-
ton.
o. A formal recognition of both national
and international obligations in the work
of this association by means of correspOn-
dence with state national and intern atiOnal
sanitary authorities, and especially to con-
duce TO researches that are already in pro-
gress in Europe in regard to pestilential
diseases and their c0ntagion.
After a brief recitation Of the nature and
extent OF the epidemics, DR.. Harris dis
claimed any intention of offering a theory
or expecting work of miracles, expressing
the belief, however, that scientific tnvesti-
cation can assert mastery over the scOurge
an opinion in which the recent body of
evidence now accumulatmg confirmed him
The gentlemen present had come TO investi-
gate and judge on the evidence presented
as to the cause of the disease, without re-
gard TO previous theories whatever their
nature. tie predicted a frank expression of
views aud alluded to the fact that the move
ment was approved by sanitariOus jurists
and legislators, whose object was to deter
mine State and city obligations As applied
TO the suppression of causes Of pestileuce,
whenever human race is in such a situation
as to lose its strength, courage, liberty, wis
dom and lofty emotion.
The plague-cholera or fever--comos not
committing havoc perpetually, but turning
men to destruction, and then suddenly as
lost father speaks to his family, and a
slight epidemic to a city, Sd pestilence
speaks to nations, in order that greater
calamities than untimely death of popula-
ton may be avoided.
SECOND DAY