Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-18
SANITARY SCIENCE.
Meeting OF the National II ealth ss0cia-
dion at Indianapolis

INDIANAPoLIs, October 1.-THE American
Public Health Association commenced its
tenth annual session this morning in the
Park Theater, with an attendance of about
40, President r. G. Kedrie, of Lansing,
Mteb., presiding.
DrssAlbert L. Giliou, Of Washington, pre-
sen;ed areport on the proposed establish
msnt oil national museum of hygiene,
showing that it had received eminent official
indorsement and some financial help frem
Congress. -Four thousand volumes OF works
regarded as authorities on hygiene bad been
already secured.
An amendment 10 the constitution pro-
posedby DIR. Anes, of Massachusetts, in 1880,
intended 10 Constitute two classes OF mem
bers, active and associate, was discussed.
The object of the amendment was to admit
10 the benefit OF membership without right
TO vote gentlemen of the cities where the
fary science, but whose interest would not
lead them 10 become permanent members.
The amendment was adopted with only five
votes in opposition.
proposal to give applicants for member
ship the right of appeal TO the association
from an adverse decision of the Executive
Committee was rejected by decisive vote.
AT the close of the opening session papers
were read by DIR. III. 4. Storrs, of Newport,
+ l., on "The Newport (Eiinburg) System
OF Sanitary Projections" by DIR. Thad NJ.
Stevens of Indianapolis, on "The History of
Health in Indians to Date"
At the evening session, after addresses of
welcome had been delivered by Gov. Porter
and Mayor Grubbs, President Kedsie deliv-
cred the annual address. He paid a touch
ing tribute of respect 10 the memory of Dr.
c. H. White, of New Orleans, his predeces-
sor in the presidency of the association, and
eulogiZed his life OF unsel6sh devotion as
a physician and the president of The
Louisiana Board of Health, and as director
of the Auxiliary Sanitary Commission of
New Orleans Reference was made to
the death of DIR. Jenkins, formerly
CINCINNATI, and DIR. Gibbs, of the United
States Navy. After stating the objections
of sanitary associations, the president
spoke of ;he many prejudIces which SANTA
rians have to encounter, and of the neglect
of proper support. He discussed and an
swered the objections, that sanitary effort,
while it prolonged life, did not really
benefit the race, aud quoted statistics to show
that life is better and grander because
of these endeavors to improve the surround
ings of the race. AS the result OF sanitary
science he said the death-rate in England
had been decreased twelve per cent. in urban
and eight and q half per cent. in rural dis
tricts. The number who survive youthful
life by reaching the age of twenty-five years
mad DeeQ lQCTeaStu . O-lO per cent.
the last forty years, while the number of
those who pass from iwenty to thirty-fve
years, has been increased II 2-10 per cent. in
ihe same period. Two hundred years ago
in England, smallpox, when it became
prevalent killed niaety-six out of every
1000, and sixty-six and one-half in Ger
many. Now, the mortality from this cause
is less than one in 1000. Sanitary science
has thus saved ninety-fve deaths in every
kaI
in Germany, and such visitation as the black
death in Europe would never be knswn
sgain until sanitary science became a thing
unknown The number of deaths from ty-
phus has been reduced in England more than
half, and the same is true of any other
disease. Indeed it had, he said, come 10 be
the belief of scientific and thoughtful men
that preveatable sickness unprevented is
crime against society, and that preventable
death qnpreveRied is crime against God.
He regarded the outlook for the progress of
sanitary reform as increasingly favorable
aud giving much ground for hopeful
ness Among the grounds OF encour-
asement he cited the discovery of REM
edies for splenic fever in domestic
animals, the prevention of diseases by The
extension of the method of inocculatlon
tired succ, sfully upon animals 10 the hu-
man race, and The discovery OF the bacillus
hone that .his dread disease, from which
one-sevenih of the deaths in the human
family take place, may yet be found cura-
BILE. Another ground of encouragement wag
that the question of public health was every
where receiving attention, as was evidenced by
| the recent Worlds Sanitary Congress, where
all the civilized nations OF the earth were
represented, and also the general organiz'-
| tion of State boards OF health. In aliuding
TO the discourageRent he spoke Of the in
difference of Congress and the executive to
| the claims and importance of the National
Board of Health, and argued that at the
present time, when yellow -feFfr and small
pox were both liable to become epidemic,
and visit of Asiatic cholera was not among
| the improbabiIitie., was not 6t OCCASION
| for neglecting any sanitary measures that
hitherto had been found beneficial.