The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-14
MAINE,
STATE BOARD oR uRAtTH.

STATE BOARD OEF HEALTH.
The Firss Meeting in Augusta Yesterday
Dr. II. Ell. GerEish of Portland Elected
President.
Especial to the Press.)
AUaUsTA, April 13-The first meeting of the
State Board Of Health was held at the State
House this morning at Il o'clock, this being
the first occasion ainea the issue of their COM
missions when all the members could be
present.
The Board consists of the following gentle
men, named in the order of their nomination.
Dr. Frederic H. Gerrish of Portland, Hon.
Lewis Barker of Bangor, Prof. Stephen j.
Young Of Brunswick. Dr. Oren A. Horr of
Lewiston, Edward G. Jordan, @. E., of Port
land, and DR.. John o. Webster OF Augusta.
The board was called to order by DR.. Ger
rish, and Mr.. Jordan was chosen Secretary pro
tenn.
ballet vas taken for President for one
year, and DIR. Gerrish received the five votes
which we're cast, and was declared unanimous
ly elected. In accepting the Office, the Presi-
dent addressed the board on the responsibilities
and duties which they have assumed. He
said that there has been confided to them the
general supervision of tho interests of health
and life of the citizens of Maine, For long
time the medical profession has tried to per-
sRade the Legislature of the necessity of
establishing such board; but it was not until
the session just finished that any success at
tended theee efforts. The act constituting the
board was passed without any serious opposi-
ton, showing that Maine at last recognizes in
some measure the duties of a State ia the
preservation of the health OF its people. Six
teen years ago Massachusetts created the first
State Board of Health in America, and now
the great majority Of the States have such
organizations, oars being the thirtieth. We
have in our work the advantage of their ex-
perience, but we have purchased it by q delay
which has been fearfully costly in human
lives Always Maine has had body of sani-
tary LAYS of considerable value; but they have
been almost entirely imperative for the want
of q board charged With the duty of enforcing
them. Our functions are get forth in the
establishing act. With the small means at
our command, it is impossible to execute ali of
these provisions at once; but there ara soma
which call for prompt attention. One of the
most important is tho collection OF vital stati5-
tics Nobody kpcws or can ascertain the
number OF births, marriages and deaths in this
State in any year in the past. We must re-
Quire the local health committees to keep
records of all these matters and report to us
weekly. Not only should there be notifica-
tion OF deatha but of disease also, SO that the
existence and progress of an epidemic can be
traced accurately. and means adopted for its
arrest. The local boards must be instructed
concerning their duties and their powers An
abstract of our sanitary laws should be sent to
each Of them, and compliance with these
statutes insisted en-. Every week q report of
the health of the State should be published in
one or mere prominent newspapers. Another
junction of great importance is the instruction
OF the people in sanitary affairs, and this can
be accomplished In various ways-by lectures,
by public meetings and hyslenic conventions,
by the distribution OF health tracts, and by our
annual reports.
There are uevsral matters of dstail which
may we'll be attended to at this meeting: the
securing Of a suitable room for the business OF
the board, and the adoption OF bylaws regu-
lating the dates of the quarterly meetings.
fixing the time of the annual meeting and
providing for the calling OF special meetings
We should also couaider the deslrahility of
appointing committees on 6p6cial sanitary
topics. We must bring to our task intelligent
interest and Willingness to work, as On our
success in the frst two years depends the con-
tinaed existence OF the board.
The President was, by vote, requested TO
furnish the board with copy Of his address.
The board inspected room which is being
prepared for it, aud suggested some needed
The President and Drs. Horr and Webster
were made committee on bylaws, with in
structions to report at the next meeting.
A committee, consisting OF the President
and Messrs Yonng and Jordan, was appointed
to nominate candidate for the secretaryship
at the next session.
1t was voted that when permanent secre.
tary is appointed, he shall be required to
devote his entire time to the work OF his office.
The President was authorized to convene
the board whenever he deems 1t necessary.
The Secretary pro tenn. vas instructed to
open correspondence with the other State
boards of health, and solicit files of their pub
locations for the ofics Of the board.
The board then adjourned to meet at the
same place in four weeks, unless sooner called
together BY the President.