Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-10
cGN ERsEES arnUr CHOLERA.
Cont crcnce of Health Officers.
MEETING THIS MORNING AT TIE EBsITT-fREsIpEN
BROOKS ADDREss-NANEs OF THE DELEGATES, ETC

Conference of Health Officers.
MEETING THIS MORNING AT TIE EBsITT-fREsrpENr
BOOKS ADDREss-NANEs OF THE DELEGATES, ETC.
The National Association Of Health Boards as
sembled this morning at the Ebbitt house. in &C
cordance with call which set forth the danger 10
THIS country from cholera, and the importance OF
adopting necessary precautions The association
Is composed or representatives from health boards
In all parts OF the country and the health officers
OF cities There was large representation present
this morning when the president. Mr.. Erastus
Brooks, OF New York, called the convention 10
order, and asked the secretary, DIT. i. y. McCor-
mack, OF Bowling Green, Ky, TO read the call OF
the meeting.
TIE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT ERAsTrs BROOKS.
Upon its conclusion the president delivered an
address, in when he summarized the facts known
about cholera, Its character and method OF its
propagation and spread.
He said that the record OF mortality caused by
choiera. even in the past few months had been
scourge prevailed TO the gre dest extent where
thousands or lives could have been saved by proper
preparation TO meet the disease. The disease came
upon the city or Paris last month, not without
warning, but in the seeming belief that the city
would no: be visited. With whole season of the
prevalence or the di ease IN Italy, Paris ard Lon
don negl cted 10 Improve the wretched condition Of
th worst portions OF the two cities Where there
were many cases Of cholera in Paris in June and
july. there was not even feeble preparation TO
meet the disease until November. when &c re-
appeared and came ike n THIEF ia the night. No
one seemed to expect its coming.
over fifty thousand deaths we're reported from
cholera in the city OF New Orleans from 1889 TO
1855, inclusive. With all the cemeteries much too
small for the victims, the dead were dumped by
cart-ioadS into hastily prepared and shallow
trenches. The city was then without drainage
and the sewage was covered with fifth. Thanks
10 state and local health boards and more healthy
pubic opinion. New Orleans Is now probably rs
well prepared 10 meet the cholera as PERHAPS any
OF our large eastern cities.
The n asses OF people. ana even educated people,
are not wen informed In regard to the germs OF
disease in the human body, In the soil we tread
and in the air we breathe: but we all know what
sons and houses from our workshops and surround
1ngs, from polluted streets and streams which, as
mn, IN Ihe SEINE ana Thames, and In places nearer
nome, are simply sources or corruption.
REFERENCES TO SURGEON GENERAL HAMILTON
"We regret" he said after referring ut length to
the Importance OF preparing to meet the choiura
"to read the statement OF DR.. Hamilton TO super
visor general OF the marine hospital made far in
advance OF the present meeting of this conference
That the health boards here in session in Washing
ton said all there was to say al ST. Louis We
also regret DR.. HanliltonS statement that the
more recent conference OF 'sanitarans in New
YORK city decided that they wanted no more gov
ernmentai aid than Is now being provided Such
was not the Judgment. conclusions or record Of
elher OF the two bodies in session at St Louis In
tae month OF October Nor was Ii the Judgment
OF the conference or sanitarlanS held two weeks
since In the city OF New DIRK. Upon the contrary,
these three bodies. connoSed or practical SAM,
tarlans, expressed The opinion that more and bet.
ter work could be done by the government 10 ar
rest and If possible prevent the appearance OF IA
TAI calamity than had hitherto been accomplished.
While 1t may be sef-conclusve TO 4 single officer
OF the COVE. nment that his own work Is complete
and that oil other advice. knowledge, and assist
ance Is uncailed Tor or unnecessary II IS the udg-
ment or your presiding officer, and he presumes OF
this conference upon the best Information they
can obtain, that in crisis like the present, a more
va of
health administration is necessary for the country
than Is at tie present time provided for by Con-
gress by one officer or department Of the govern
ment."
TIE address Of the president was listened to at
tentively, and greeted with applause.
The secretary then read the minutes of the last
meeting held In ST. Louis In Oct,her.
MEMBERS PREsEsr
The following handed In their c,edrntials
Lousiana-S. r. Olliphant. n n, ,lerricK New
Orleans lndiana-Dr. E. S. Elder secretary OF the
state board. indianapolis Illin,,l. H. J II Ranch,
or Springfield, secretary of the 81 ,ir board Georgia
d. L. Mcfarland, savannah. ,'onn.,crlcui-C. A.
Lindsey. New Haven. Kentucky--Dr j. n. Nc
COTmlck, secretary OF the state board; w l. Brey-
foye. Nichigan-H. Il. Baker. Vest Virginia.
James E.Reeves, president OF the American Public
Health association and secretary Oh the state
board OF health; DIT. L. A. Harris, Parkersburg
president OF the state board CT health Wisconsin,
j. l. Reeve, secretary OF state board OF health
District OF Columbia-Dr smith Townshend. health
officer OF the District and chairman OF the local
committee. TeXas-Wm. Penny. Galveston. MIS-
souri,. W. Jackson. Kansas city; J. C. Hearne,
Hannibal; Joseph Spiegehal,er, health officer OF
ST. Louis, and Dr. Outtan OF the ST. Louis board OF
health Pennsylvania-Crosby Gray Pittsbur,: E.
w. Germer, Erie. ohio-C.W. Rowland, Cincinnati,
Thos F. Wood, Wilmington, secretary state board
OF health. New York-Dr. Joseph III. Raymond,
health officer OF Brooklyn; A. c. Mercer. Syracuse
Erastus Brooks, first vice president Of the Ameri-
can Public Health association, and also
chairman OF the conference OF the state
boards and member state board OF health, and DE.
Va n n
Ezra Nj. Hunt, secretary OF the state board OF
health. New HampshlreADr. Irving A. Watson
Concord, secretary OF The American Public Health
association and also secretary OF the state board OF
health. Maryland-Dr. Cnas w. Chancellor secre-
tary OF the state board: James A. Stuart, Balti-
more. Massachusetts-Dr. Henry p Walcott chair
man OF the state board Dr. S. W. Abbott, OF Bos-
toneditor Of Boston Medical and Surgical Journal
Surgeon General Holt. of Cambridge, and DR.. s. II.
South Carolina-Dr. HOrtbeck, health officer OF
Charleston, anu j. Ford, Prtolean Capada-A. b.
La Royne, Montreal; DR.. Frederick Montizambert,
quebec, delegate from the provincial government
OF Ottawa; DR.. Covernton, OF Toronto, representing
the government OF the Dominion OF Canada Ten
nessee-G. b. Thornton, Memphis; Dr. J. b. Lind
sley. OF Nashville, treasurer OF the American Pub
lie Health ASSOCIATION, and secretary OF the state
board; Dr.. Charles Mitchell, OF Nashville. member
OF Red Wing, secretary OF the state board.
MI Cooper Mckim, the Chief clerk OF the health
ONCE OF this department, was in charge OF the ar
engagements for the reception OF the delegates DIR.
Godding. DR.. Billings and others In this District
interested Ia health matters were present.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
The following standing committees were ap-
pointed by the chair: On federal legislation-Drs
Wolcott, Smith, ROUGH, Brooks, Mccormick, Baker,
Herrtck. On state action-Drs. Watson, Hewitt,
Lindsey, Hunt, Herne On municipal action
Drs Raymond, Mcfarland, Durgan, Brightloot and
Mr.. Poland
THE FAILURE OF MARITIME SANITARY REGULATIONS.
W. NJ. Smith, the health officer OF the city OF New
York, read paper in regard to the failure OF the
maritime sanitary regulations to prevent the in
PRODUCTION OF contagious diseases In this country.
He also referred 10 the unreliability OF bills OF
health FROM foreign ports and the legislative eror
made to have the Sick On emgrant vessels cared
for before landing The difficulty In securing O
sanitary condition OF affairs on ocean steamers
lies in the TACT that the owners not citizens OF
ent TO the dangers OF bringing infectious
diseases into this country, unless coer-
Give measures are adopted. On many of
the lines the steamers have now Isolated
hospitals. The surgeons are found to be very fire.
quently incompetent, and their isolation OF conta-
giouS diseases and their treatment Is often CON-
plete failure The reason OF this is that the pay OF
surgeons is small, and, In consequence, they are
principally young men who want 10 see the world
before settling down 10 the practice OF their pro-
feSSion To correct this defect he urged that Shin
surgeons be appointed after an examination by q
board, and that their salaries and ter
ure OF office be made the subject OF proper regula-
tons
DR.. Covernton, OF Toronto, cited as an instance
OF the evils OF want OF proper precautions, the
danger which was now imminent In Toronto from
the arrival there of smallpox cases
The paper or Dr.. Smith was referred to the CON-
mittee on legislation
On motion, Dr.. Convention was added to the COM
mittee on state action.
SPECIMEN CHOLERA GERMS
The chair read notice from Dr. Bill ings which
called attention OF the delegates to the ract that