Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-09
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The PUBLIC HEALTH.
SANITARY MEASURES DISCUSSED.
Proceedings or the American Public
Health Association at To-day,s Scs.
sion.
Before the American Public Health associa-
ton resumed its sessions this morning the
members Of the association grouped themselves
on the portico and steps Of the hall and were
photographed.
NEW MEMBERS ELECTED.
Upon assembling in the hall the following
were proposed and elected to membership:
Prof Leonard j. Sanford, NJ. D., Yale college;
DR.. Arthur ]. Wolff. Hartford, Conn.,; Dr. w. G.
Alling, New Haven, Conn.,; DIR. ID. R. Hagner
Washington; DIR. Chas Mcmillan, Washington:
NJ. III. Stauffer, Allegheny, Pa; DIR. w E. Tay-
lor, Monmouth, Ills; DR.. g. A. Doren, Column
Q. L, Wallace, Newark, n. J.; DR.. F. Edmlster
Brooklyn, n. Y; DR.. Lew. Slusser, Canton, Ohio:
DR.: 7. f Hammond, Washington, 3. G: DR..
lambert, Quebec; Geo. w. Baird, U. 8. navy;
DIR. George Cook, Concord, n. H.; Dr. Chas. VI.
Mashngso anbnS e. drah White AsbuHy ff ank
n. j.; DIR. l.. Eliot, Washington; John Frazer,
Washington; Edward Caverly, Washington: f.
P. B. Sands, Washington; and DIR. E. B. Bliss,
Washington.
The executive committee reported that 1t had
not deemed it expedient to adopt the resolution
offered yesterday recommending legislation to
prevent the sale of diseased meat
An invitation from the Cosmos club, OF this
| at any time during their stay in Washington
was read.
THE SMALLPOX IN CANADA
DR.. p. 81. Bryce, secretary of the Provincial
board of health OF Toronto. Ontario, then read
an interesting paper, giving a sketch Of the re-
cent smallpox epidemic in Canada, and the
methods OF dealing with it in the different
provinces.
with a supplementary statement regarding the
Quebec.
Dr.. Kingston referred also to the dissemina-
ton OF characterization views smong the
French people, which had he said, done meal
culable damage. The sentiment against vac
clnnatlon, however, had now almost entirely
disappeared. This was due first to the CONNER
cial people of the province who made it a rule
warehouse, or factory without a certificate Of
vaccination, and then to the American authori-
ties, VINO Declined to permit persons to cross
the frontier without showing marks OF recent
vaccination. The speaker gave a most graphic
account OF
THE BATTLE WITH DEATH
during the past summer. Referring to the
death Of 5000 people, he said it was enormous,
but 1t did not, as might be supposed, represent
5000 houses of mourning. He had heard that
IN some of the United States one child required
Two or three houses. It was not SO in Quebec
The death rate was large" said DR.. Kingston,
DuI our birth rate was enormous. There is no
country in which the birth rate is SO enormous {"
rms statement having been received with
| applause, DR.: Kingston added: 81 am glad,
gentlemen, that you approve of that fact"
| He spoke of the density OF the French popula-
| uon, and said when the smallpox entered a
| mouse II would take off five or six children
| under seven years Of age. So the number of
deaths should be divided by six or seven to
represent the number of afflicted households.
| DIR. Kingston said the reports that the French
people in Quebec We're unclean was untrue.
| They were scrupulously clean, but they were
lar fnr tinc IT,
quarters.
| SMALLPOX A CRIME.
DR.. A. n. Bell, of New York, said that one
| 1.-THE of the energy expended in Montreal since
| the smallpox appeared there, if expended be-
| fore, would have prevented a single case. He
looked upon smallpox as a crime, and spoke
most theoretically denouncing anti-vaccina-
ti4nists, and in favor of compulsory vaccination.
Or. J. q. OConnOr, of Holyoke, Massachusetts
said that compulsory vaccination put and end
to the smallpox epidemic in his city twelve
DR.. Quimby, of New Jersey; DIR. James. OF
Philadelphia; DIR. Armstrong, of the marine
hospital service; DR.. Germer, of Erie, Pa; DIR.
| Brooklyn; DIR. G. P. Conn and other gentlemen
discussed the question OF vaccination.
CONSUMPTION.
DR.. c. w. Chancellor, secretary of the state
board of health, spoke on ''impure air and un.
| healthy occupations as predisposing causes OF
pulmonary consumption
Referring to statistics showing that one-eighth
of the people who die in this country die of con-
sumption, ne said that experiments showed
OF light and pure air. Statesmen in stores were
more liable to pulmonary diseases than others,
because OF their employment in rooms where
| the air is close and superheated. He referred
also to the dangers surrounding operatives in
| factories where the dustladen air was vitiated.
He alluded to the fearful mortality among steel
grinders, flint cutters glass polishers and others
DR.. James thought there ought to be dis
tinctiOn between the diseases due to chronic
Inflammation produced by stone-dust, coal
dust, etc., and real tubercular consumption
caused by the introduction Of tubercular mat
ter. The real tubercular consumption he be-
lfeved was either hereditary or was caused by
breathing the air over a ccnsumptive patient.
sumption, he thought, were nothing more than
the result OF overwOrk and the breaking down
of the system.
CONSUMPTION IN THE DISTRICT
DIR. Bell, of New York, discussing the matter,
said there was a larger percentage of deaths
from consumption in the District of Columbia
than in New England. Was there any other
population, he asked, that furnished so many
clerks shut up in close, dark rooms, porting over
sure to night air, and he thought it explained
the figures. He was convinced that at least IS
per cent of consumption was due to exciting
causes and was not hereditary.
DR.. James, of Philadelphia, said in regard to
this city that 1t was probable large number of
to this city from other cities. He had been
through most of the departments here, and he
naQ never seen any OIlceS SO well constructed
or SO well arranged with a view TO the health of
the occupants.
PROPOSED HEALTH COMMISSION.
Mr. Henry Lamb, OF Rochester, offered reso.
luton, which was referred to the executive
committee, recommending the appointment by
the government of two commissions, of three
members each, to visit different parts of the
country, examine workshops, &C., with q
view to ascertaining arrangements made for the
health of operatives, and recommend remedial
measures.
NEW MEMBERS
The president announced the appointment of
Drs Montezambert Covernton, and Kingston,
of Canada; DR.. p. 81. Bailhache, of the marine
hospital service, and c. 7. Richardson, of
Wheeling, w. Va, as members.
The association then adjourned until O'Clock
NEW ARRIVALS
The following new arrivals registered to-day:
James H. Harris, NJ. D., University of Virginia;
Samuel II. Durgin, NJ. D., health officer Boston,
Mass; Ralph Walsh, NJ. D., Washington, D. c.:
F; b: Gerrish. N; D., Portland, Me; Henry g.
city; J. j.. CConnor, NJ. D., Holyoke, Mass;
Jonathan Scharr, NJ. D., Arlington, Mass; VIM
X. Newton, NJ. D., Paterson, n. j.; A. b.
ison watson, NJ. D., Elizabeth, N. J.:
A. ]. Herrick, NJ. D., Cleveland, Ohio; Alfred
II. Holt. M. d.. Cambridge. Mass: Geo F. War.