Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-11-20
SANITARY Congress.

KlcuMoHp. Va, Nov. 20.-Ths opening
sassio0 Of tie sixth annual convention Ct tie
American public health association vas hello
Last hight at iticG2rt Hall. About one hundred
members were present. DR.. Elisha Harris, of
New York, president Of the association, called
the Convention 10 order, ard introduced Rev.
DR.. Peterkiu, who opeaed the proceedings with
prayer DR.. Harris then presented Gov Hol
iiday as The presiding officer Of the convention
for the evening. Gov. Holiday extended to
The members cordial welcome. tic said there
never has been time when tho health of body
aud mind was not needed to WreGtlo successful
II with tic aims and OH scts Of lille. He allu-
ded 10 The convention as an audience of special
culture, and spoke Of the association as oIe of
vital importance to tho public health. 1t is, he
said, Of perpetual application and goes through
out every departn entof life, and penetrates every
pursuit. Public health has vast deal to do
With public morals, and immortality il the most
faa bi5w that can be struck at public health.
| Csc of the great ard b2ntG,eut objects of this
association is to Investigate the cluscs and if
possible, find remedies. This alone
| would justify such q coGveution rs he
NV alw before aoi arouod him. 10 as
eGrtaio the cau;a aud 10 provide remedy for
III: tfoadfui plague that but yesterday swept
with lis bloody scyihc ttc iairest portion OF our
i:,rl is :. noble work worthy Of such men. Ia
c;,.cG ior the governor said :-"But, gen
t!@Glcn, beyond The iGiiiIriilate objects Vi tho
society other cudJ will 30 atta.ocd By your
gathctiG1. ConGg from every section Gi Cur
common c3untry, tliGginr sou: learning AID cll
| !ula, your 5X pei aiiC; sGi @arnc7iGCss you Will
muih3 that gali:n:ss and affection which are
the very gcaiGs 0t unity, aud when you 20 to
your hoIucs, wherever they may be, you Will
calfy win yNu that toelug OF fellowship that is
stronger thau political and sectional bonds.
| Here IL tbs BEAUTIFUL city which was lately the
| heart Of clnv!S!Cv; hara where honest, fearless
area and W0man atro!c even unto death; here
| where suEcrlng OF warfare was endured, that
will ua7er bu known ill the great future Whcn
all hr*lts will be revealed here where prayers
were offered that need net be bl0lted even by
tbs tca-s Of the recording angel; more you have
cGmc together fr0n, tho North, South, hast
and Vest 81 one brotherhood to show by youc
YqoY!4 and deeds hOH p1acc hath lis victories,
40 less r.rownc,i than var, and hos Ne cen. by
tic D:aa Instincts Of cur nature. make our
| Repub!ic 0Ge AMI what she ought to DO, the
mother ri 4 might gaon Prof. CabeIl, Of the
University OF Virginia. ini;oIeed Gov. Holiday,
in.rollucrg the president Of the association,
Dr. Elisha Harris, of Mow York, pho a1on.
other ILings rtc2Tmcndr!--
l'hn clalntcnarac 10 each State anl territory
81 . system 81 periodical reports weekly, month,
II, yearly, Of Ill epidemic and other prevalent
G.!%as,s SUPERVISED By State boards Of hosltii,
aud where there ere III such boards by resident
! members ~ thi: aS4Ua;:!tnn designated for the
rufnGs I'll studies aud reports Ia be On a
.AaGhoI 81 Yielding cOaluaiab!c resnlts.
Tho G;u ~ u! meteGr0I0gioa aid atmospheric
conditions with reference to tho epdem00g}
ani ii:&lh.
The niantcnatco uI {, committee for the stud5
Of an consultation 10 regard to biological and
ARCHAEOLOGICAL Investigations, including the
contributions Tram the census ani 0iher nation
Al aud Stat, sYSicu.a OF registering.
lie said Tia epidemic. which mas decimal
Cd ihe great valley during tho past seasoE, and
brought tcrrpr in nearly one hundred citl:s and
hsuyla!s, n0g ia lis las; days leaves The public
,ca!!h al!thGriiiea, AID especially this assOela
ton. the duty Of STUDYING It's history, panetrat
INK is c:uscs, aad q rcachlog The means bj
which the Tayagas OF this destroyer Shall hence
i1rth AMI forever be overcome. After thirty
years Il study and observation on tic part o.
thns., having official public care OF the sick
from yellow faver, may say that uosologlca
distinctions aud the varying phenomena o.
meteorological add other circumstances which
mark successive epidemic, 10 NOT aff,c: the on
essential fact that this is not a pandcuic pest
iaaca Accumulatcl cXperirco Indicates tn.
tho public health scc9ca Of The civilized 'Sjr!c
will soon Cad it practicable to dtliae tho essen
isl ia;.crs that enter toto It's propagation. IL
thislast, as in every previous visitation OF thi:
scourgc, the words of Sir Wan. Lyon are d:
true as wncn he described tho EPIDEMIC 10 Lis
bon: 'Diseaso, iu one CT its most appalins
iorms. held sway, and Art stood helpless By.
s:u.geon-Gencral Woodwork Of the hospts
marine service, then addressed the board, detail
ing tho Judgement in New Orleans Of the disease
ant! i!s progress through the Mississippi valley
asd was followed by DR. s. Steiner, OF Mary
snd. Ur. Bemis president of tho yellow fever
commission, thsn told some affecting stories o.
Tho ra0Nges Of The fever. at tho conclusion {
which the association adjourned until this morn
ing when the report Of the commission appoint
ed to investigate tho yellow foyer epidemic O.
| 4 j., tud