Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-18
TRIBUTE 70 q STATE INSCITU'
TON.
llary'aad Ns,iical Journal.

nary qua .utllCNt JpNftttL.
The State Board Of Health of West
Virginia enjoys the well,deserved dis
tinction of being one of the most etfi-
Gent health organizations in this coun-
Try. The Annual Report of this Board
for the three years of its existence,
ending December 81, 1891, 1882 and
1888, issued by the Secretary,
DIR. James f.. Reeves, of Wheel
ing, is a most interesting and salts
factory document. The Report, pub
lshed in one volume OF 3Ol pages, PIE.
SCENTS a full summary OF the operations
OF the Board from the date of its orga-
nization, with such other interesting
matter ~ TO make 1t volume OF un-
usual value. rhe law establishing The
State Board OF Health and regulating
the practice OF medicine and surgery in
the State is an intelligent and efficient
act Of legislation, and 1t Is, perhaps, IN
great measure, due to this fact that the
State Board has been enabled to con-
duct its operations to such decided,ad.
vantsge. But apart from the value
OF the act under which the
Beard has been called into existence
the operations of the law have been so
faithfully and efficiently enforced that
the Board itself, and especially its etfi-
cient Secretary, is 10 be cOmpliuented
upon the good results it has secured for
the profession IN West Virginia.
Governor Jackson gave the first im-
pulse Ia the proper enforcement OF the
Jaw by appointing rs members OF the
Board two physicians from each Con
gIessiOGal district in the State, whose
character and ability We're of the high
est order. The Board was not handi'
capped by weak appointments, nor by
lUlllical considerations, but the Selec-
lions seem TO have been made with sole
reference to the fitueSs OF the gentle
men commissioned for the duties which
were to devOlve upon them. Each
member of the Board was we'll quail.
fed for its duties, 50 that the Board
as q whole was amply able TO CRAP
pie with the work of reform IL was
called upon to institute. The Board
organized promptly, and within a COM
paratively short time enforced the act
regulating the practice of medicine and
surgery in the State so firmly and
rigidly that quackery was forced to fly
from the State. The registration of
physicians was conducted with fair
moderation and consideration, but with
sufficient tirmBeSs TO guarantee to the
uetpie OF the State well qualified phySl-
c ans and surgeons. The sanitary work
oftl.e Board has been equally credita.
Die. Whilst it does not cover the wide
fed of original Investigation aud eX-
pertinent i'm matters OF sanitary referm,
Which might be looked for from older
and more iberaily supported bodies it
Il UwS the Intention OF the Board
tosStluulate the efficiency and capac-
iiy Of the local organizations through
Cul tie counties, and its ability
10 gTBpple with such problems IN
sanitation as have come under its juris
dietion since the date of its institution.
The sanitary papers published in the
reports of the BOdd come fully up to
the aYerage standard of State Board
literature. These papers cover 3 varie
ty Of subjects which treat of such topics
IS will be most use nj in disseminating
valuable information on domestic and
local hygiene throughout the State.
That part of the report which COM
mehds itself most TO favorable consd-
Grafton ~ the financial statement. The
total receipts from special tax cOlleete
from itineraRt physicians and from ex-
animation of candidates to whom GER
teficates were issued from date Of oTga-
nizatiOn i'm 1851, to December Sist, 1883,
amounted 10 81 1850. The total dis
bursements for this same period Were
S3,@+l.5l, which made the total expense
TO the State above receipts St9G.5l. In
other words the annual cost to the
State for the support of the State Board
of Health, including the salary of the
Secretary, has been less than $500 per
annum.
Let the unprejudiced reader consider
the great benefit the State Board OF
Health has conferred upon the medical
profession and people Of West Virginia
al a the very insignificant cost which
has attended its operations, aud We
think it will he conceded thst this
Board is entitled 10 4 great degree Oi
praise for its industry, zeal and eff.
cheney. The results here presented are
the strongest protest against the state
ment that q State Board can only reu,
der q valuable service TO = community
by the most liberal expenditure of
money.