The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-24
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

ulSKly Important ouDJeClS DiSCuSScu--A uc
Contagious Nature Of the Deadly Diphtheria
Poison Proven by a Mass of Indisputable
Testimony.
sanitary council, under the auspices of the
State Board of Health convened in the State
Capitol at st. Paul on the 10th inst, for a
two days session The council was composed
Of most of the leading alopathic physicians Of
of St Paul and Minneapolis, with a number
from other sections and some leading clergy
men and othe- citizens, and the proceedings
were under tue general direction of Dr.. Hewitt
of Red Wing, president of the state board of
health. and other officers of that organization.
Gov Pillsbury called the council to order,
and the proceedings were opened by prayer by
the Rev. DR.. Thomas. The governor then vel
coined the gentlemen of the council in short
address, and then introduced Right Rev. Bishop
Ireland Of the Catholic church, who read ali
able paper on t"The Relations of Clergymen to
Public Hygiene" As to the practical work
which clergymen can do toward the promotion
points:
First-The clergymen will do well to explain
to his flock, the Importance for them of the rules
of hygiene and their duty to study and observe
them.
second-He should see that the rules are duly
troll churches and school houses
Ihird-In instances of death from contagious
diseases, he should prevent public funerals.
Fourth-1n his visits to his Pensioners, es-
pecially the poor, he ought to call their attention
to TINS subject Of hygiene and notice whatever
dwellings. word from him in the right di-
rectiOn will work wonders
Fifth-As 1eaedr of thought, and one who
by his profession is obliged to labor for the
good of others. he should be first among those
who labor by the formation of boards of health
public health. Such organizations do good, es-
pecially in smaller communities, villages and
country settlements.
The subject Of Bishop Ireland's paper was
discussed by Rev. DR.. Thomas, Rev. DIR. Breed,
Rev. DR.: Dana, Rev. Mr.. Barnes, and also by
the medical gentlemen, in which it was agreed
that physicians and clergymen should work to-
gether to inculcate correct sanitary ideas among
the people
Dr. Hewitt read a paper on volunteer
sanitary associations, showing how the
citizens of our cities, towns and vii
lagos may, by organization, aid in the diff
fusion OF sanitary knowledge, study the santa
their protection from preventable disease, and
stimulate and aid the work of boards of health.
Ibis was discussed at some length by doctors
and clergymen Bishop Ireland thought it ad-
visible tOadOpt resolutions regarding the forma-
ton OF voluntary sanitary associations in small
places There were always few intelligent
men in community who would take interest in
such movements. After some discussion he
offered the following, which was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That the council urge upon COM
munities the organization of voluntary sanitary
associations, to cooperate with the local and
state boards of health.
Ex-Gov Gilman presided al the evening ses-
sion, and Ex-Gov. Davis read q thoughtful pa
per an "Hygeine of Crime" in which he said
that among the questions pressing for solution
are few more practical in their character than
this one, which demands from lawyer and
physician their best efforts to ascertain the
boundary line which divides wicked and pun
ishable trangressions from those acts which are
as truly the rusults of disease % the struggles
of mad man in his bonds
Mr.. }: Il. Noyes, superintendent of the Insti-
tuition at Faribault for the deaf, dumb and
blind, gave some facts showing the remarkable
health OF the inmates, and attributing the same
to regular habits, abundant and wholesome food,
pure water, plenty Of sleep in comfortable, well
ventilated, sunny rooms. and daily exercise III
Peter Riheldoner, Of the State Reform
School, stated some remarkable fits in re-
gard to the health of that institution, there hav
ing been but two deaths since it's estab lishment,
and scarcely any sickness, and attributing the
cause to careful sanitary regulations.
DIR: z. T.. Boardman, read IA paper on cottage
hospitals for the insane, which was fully dis
cussed. A number Of interesting facts and fig
ures were brought out, the general drift of
which seemed to be adverse to the cottage plan.
On Thursday Ex-Gov Marshall called the
sanitary council to order, and the exercises were
opened with prayer by Rev. D. R. Breed After
some discussion in regard to tho powers and