Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-13
IMPORTANT MATTERS
Considered by the State Board OF
Health.
The Recent Smallpox Seourge-New Law
Regulating Local Health Boards
g Only One Of Four Appli-
cants Passed.

The State Board of Health convened at
Martinsburg, Wednesday, the 18th inst.
in annual session. There were present at
this meeting the following members Of the
Board: DR.. Geo. B. Mofett, President, Of
Parkersburg; DR.. Lawrence Carr, Charles
ton; DR.. Geo. H. Carpenter, Moorefield;
DR.. G. T. Richardson, Charleston, DR.. James
E. Reeves, the Secretary, Of this city; and
DR.. Vim. N. Late, Bridgeport.
The Secretary read the minutes OF the
previous meeting, which were approved,
and then followed his report OF the bust
ness of his Office during the preceding six
months. Copies of correspondence with
r. A. Harrison, Esq, OF Columbus, o.,
were read, and the action Of the secretary
in relation thereto was fully endorsed.
THE VISITATION OF SMALLPOX
in the counties of Mercer, Mcdowell and
Wyoming was next referred to, and the
action of the local health boards in those
counties in successfully stamping out the
disease was shown to have been one OF the
good and grand results to the whole people
Of West Virginia of the passage Of the
State board of health law. Indeed,
but for the specific powers granted under
the law, and its energetic administration
both by the officers Of the State and county
boards of health, the whole southern por-
ton of the State would have been swept
by smallpox from the starting point in
Mercer at cost both OF life and property
which would have been impossible TO esti-
mate correctly. From the office OF the
Secretary of the State Board the fullest in
structions were sent to the local health
officers in the scourged district for the sue
cessful fight against the smallpox, all OF
which received the commentator OF the
State Board.
ANOTHER MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
was in reference 10 the establishment OF
local or county boards Of health. Under
the law Of 1881 the manner OF their Gre
alton was, first, the nomination OF three
persons by the State Board OF Health
for each county. These nominations so
made were either approved or rejected by
the county courts. Now, under the amend
ed act of 1882, the manner OF eStao-
fishing county boards is exactly reversed:
the county courts nominate and the State
board confirms or rejects, as its wisdom dl-
reefs The term Of office 1.-TWO years. OF the
present county boards expires with this
month, and il will be in order for county
courts to make their nominations for such
officers to the State Board. That due no.
tice shall be given, DR.. Reeves, the secretary,
was instructed to bring the matter, by CIR
| cular letter, 10 the attention OF the coun-
ties, and at the same time urge upon ply
siciaDs full compliance with the law in
relation to the duty with which they are
| charged of promptly reporting to presiding
| officers OF county boards all cases OF acute
contagious and infectious disc tses under
| treatment.
ONLY ONE PASSED.
Four applicants for medical certificates
presented themselves for examination, of
which number DR.. Hoffman, OF keyser,
was the only gentleman whose examina
ton warranted the granting OF authority
to engage in the practice of medicine and
surgery in West Virginia.
The question of the reputability OF sew.
eral medical colleges was next considered.
| and to the list of medical schools whose
diplomas the Board had already refused to
recognize, was added the american Medical
CoiirGe, of st. Louis, Mo.
After auditing sundry bills, and fixing
the next place of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Kanawha county-the Board adjourned.