Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-25
MEDICAL MEN.
LCartinued FROM Rast Psqe.l

voluntary sanitary associations, notably
among which, the american Public Health
Association; the appointment OF numerous
State Boards of Health, and the establish
ment of q National Board Of Health by the
general Government, sufficiently attest the
growth Of public sentiment in favor of rap
idly ACCOMPLISHING statutory enactments by
State Legislatures to encourage and enforce
protection OF the public health.
To recapitulate what has been accom-
plished by American Sanitarians since Mas
sachusetts, in 1869, led the way of a State
board Of health, would make many volumes.
IL is sufficient to state that % States have
Boards Of health and the annual reports
from these Boards constitute q library Of
advanced sanitary knowledge unsurpassed
by that of any other country.
The State Board OF Health.
West Virginia. though one of the younger
States, has taken high ground in sanitary
police. Her model of law for the protec-
lion Of the public health has been pro-
nounced by those competent Of judging its
merits, one of the best patterns in the
United States.
The passage of the Act of 1881. entitled
IAN Act to establish \ State Board Of
Health and regulating the Practice of Med
icine and Surgery" was a happy surprise
to the medical profession in the State. This
Society had again and again resolved to
exert its influence to secure the passage OF
a law having the same objects in view
namely, to protect the public health
and regulate the practice OF medicine; but
the effort as successfully failed for the Oit
reason, What is e~verybody's business is
nobOdy's business" To be successful, re-
quired indefatigable, individual effort, and
an opportune Legislature. Fortunately for
the State, such u conjunction of favorable
influences was discovered and marked the
session of 1881 when, besides several high
minded, progressive physicians represent
ing large andj influential constituencies,
there was in both branches OF the LeSisla-
ture a majority of gentlemen OF real ability;
liberal minded representatives who were
moved by q sincere desire to win every
possible credit for West Virginia. 0fcourse,
as in all representative bodies, the genus
Demagogue was also ably represented.
Pending the discussion OF the Health Bill,
pathetic appeals were made in defense
of the rights of the dear people against the
CLOSE corporation of "a high-handed des-
potism" OF health laws; and to save the
State Treasury from paying tribute to the
goddess Hpgied! Millions of dollars! If
necessary, 10 save the people from unjust
determinations" by Railroad HOn0polRS, but
not a dollar for the preservation Of the
IuDllC GCdlEus-hOb CNGu u VIM W HAS
VEN the introduction Of loathsome con-
tagion into West Virginia.
MedieaI Men I'm the Legislature.
In the Senate. DR.. A. r. Barbee, of Point
Pleasant, an ex-President of this Society,
and now member of the State Board OF
Health, was q tower of strength in securing
the passage Of the Health Bills. Indeed,
il was very fortunate hat we had in that
branch of the Legislature a physician so
appreciative of the honor, dignity and re-
s~ponSibilities of his PROFESSIONALISM an in
dustriOus, capable, earnest advocate as DIR.
Barbee.
In the House OF Delegates, there were
five medical gentlemen who deserve to be
remembered with grateful thanks for their
united and fearless efforts to elevate the
standard of medicine and surgery in West
Virginia. They are DR.. Isaiah Bee, OF Prince
ton; DR.. b. +. Irons, of Pickaway; j.. Il.
Crumrine, of Pennsboro; DR.. ID. Q. Steere,
OF Peasants, and DR.. W. II. Wayt. of Mar
shall. Through their influence the bills
were carried through the House by a large
majority.
Again, all thanks to them,
The Act passed March, ISL, was an eX-
pertinent, and proved so wise and s~alutary
that from every county in the State there
came up in respose and to show the pleas
ure of all classes of the people a demand to
the adjourned session Of 1882 for the es-
Enlistment OF 4 permanent Health Law.
The support provided for executing the act
Of 1881 was conditional and wholly made
quate. In this difficulty, and to tide over
the activities of the Board until the next
meeting of the Legislature, members of the
medical profession in all parts OF the State
contributed an aggregate Ofseveral hundred
dollars TO insure the energetic adminiStra'
49,, 80 Tho Lam Ind ON rOn1 Enu IapE-
son, who takes great interest in the pro-
gresS of Sanitary Science, made an eloquent
appeal in his last message to the LegiSla-
ture, declaring hat the preservation OF
the public health should be one of the
first concerns of government" and he
urged a sufficient appropriation to insure
all the benefits contemplated under the
law. Accordingly, chapter $50 of the
Code of West Virginia concerning the
Public Health was enacted March 10, 1882,
and the future will bring continued pro-
greSS.
In several particulars, the amended Act
of lSS2 is an improvement upon the law
passed in 1881. lSt-The unconditional
appropriation of 81, $4,000 per annum for
the support OF the State Board; 2d-Specitic
provision for payment out of the county
treasury, for service rendered and expenses
incurred by Local Boards; 3d-EXactly re-
yerSing the former n OF appointing
local boards: the County court now simply
dominates and the State Board of Health
may confirm or reject nominations
so made; 4th-Ample powers are
granted local boards to enforce their orders
establishing quarantine in any county, dis
trict or place therein; 5th-"1tinerant ply
s~icians'' are required to pay a. special tax
of $50 per month and fraction of q month
in every county in which they practice and
il is made the duty of sheritfS to collect
this tax. In other words, the amendments
made at the last session of the legislature,
cover in the main, such changes as the State
Board had found desirable and necessary
for the better execution of the law and to
tit it for a permanent place in the new
Code.
Establishment OF County Boards
Local Boards OF Health have been organ.
lied in 50 of the 81 counties composing the
State, and the two yet to hear from will
SCOT fall into line. Daring the year, many
opportunities have been afforded for the
display of the usefulness and economy of
local boards as convenient agents OF the
county courts in Suppressing and literally
stamping cut infectious and contagious dis
eases. In several of the counties, small
pox would have gained lodgment and par
alyZed the business interests ana prosperity
OF whole communities but for the p rompt
and efficient measures employed by medi-
cal officers of Local Boards of Health.
How the state WAS saved From Small
PON.
Last winter. the State Boad Of Health, by
the establishment and rigid enforcement
of quarantine against the cities OF Pitts.
burg and Allegheny. saved West Virginia
from the ravages OF this Observation-Disclosures
Hence the wisdom an value of properly
constituted laws to protect the public
health.
With such encouragement in less than
zone year from the date of the passage of
the law, what advancement may We not
reasonably expect in the near future when
public sentiment shall have been more
highly cultivated by the laborers in the vine
yard of sanitary science? There is much
to encourage hope'ot a speedy aud general
awakening of the people of all classes on
the subject of Good Health. There is a
vast field in West Virginia outside the
frequent scourges Of typhoid fever, diph-
iberia and other infections, contagious,
endemic and epidemic diseases, to engage
the earnest attention of sanitarians and
avarc,sa tho aparu;os Of health hoarjs