Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-24
THE STATE HEALTH BOARD.
Sion oHers some very Positive Rsmarks
on the subject.

on the subject.
C6nmaaScatsd
read Governor Jackson's late State
paper with care and much pleasure, save
that portion which calls the attention OF the
Legislative body of the State to the workings
and wants Of our State Board Of Health.
The act originating this board was passed
March 6th, 1881. We find by report OF this
Board that the receipts from special tax,
fees, &C., from June 18th, 1881. to August
10th, 1888, we're $l,T45; disbursements
were $3,24l.5l. The excess Of disburse-
ments over receipts were 81 1861, and to-
this TO be paid by the State may be added
the public printer bill OF no small amount
and the modest salary of the secretary OF
the board, $500 per annnm. This Star
chamber board modestly asks for an apPro-
pfiation Of $4,000 from now depleted
State treasury to further its wrongs upon
the people simply to crafty their selfish
motives. / am aware that our excellent
Governor in his message commended the
board as being very popular with the
masses, when in fact not one-third OF the
people Of our State are aware that such
board has an existence The great major
ity acquainted with the fact Of its existence
are to-day crying out against it, and demand
the repeal or modification OF the power
placed in the hands ofthis autocratie board
-styled West Va. Board of Health. l
presume the Governor simply borrowed his
enconiums, presuming they were correct
from the report OF The secretary OF the
board
The act creating this board was lobbied
through the Legislature. The people were
not consulted, neither did they ask for the
creation Of juntotobe composed otthree or
four men who shall set in Judgment over
the free born citizens of our State, and die
tate to them what they shall eat how clean
" they live and when sick, who shall dose
them with physics, and even presume to
enquire after the health of our cattle and
swine, when poor souls, the most ignorant
stable boy on Mr.. Eeighror Arnold or
Benuess farm woald be q Fit tntor for any
Of the Board touching diseases Affecting
cattle and swine. Ii is no doubt true that
public Hygiene should be taught the peo,
Die, but not by force Of law and penalties.
Yet without the cooperation Of an intelh-
gent public, the three or four members con-
shutting this Board appointed BY Govern
or, who may be rs ignorant Of the quahhca-
tons Of his sppoiutees as Sanitarisns, as
thew are of the laws governing the FIJI
Islanders This co operation they have not
got, or can they get from the simple fact
We regard this Board as superfiuous, and
a useless tax upon the people. Is not
physician in every community an active
SanitsriHn2 Does not every corporate city
or town guard the health of its people?
Does not every county in the State claim
the right to care for themselves aud man
age their own Sanitary affairs
much better doubtless, than could
be cared for by a State Board.
This Board acts not only as a health Board
and chief sanitarians of the State, but by
law are constituted an examining boar and
as such names such persons as shall dose you
with physic, cut of your leg, or treat sore
toe professionally; pains and penalties OF
law are attached if their mandates be dis
regarded. In short no physician can render
your family his professional car, without
the stamp Of commentator placed upon
him by this ar chamber junto, who by
stealth forced themselves upon the public.
and now rest IS a carbuncle on the body 20
h.ic. Swsying such power as are only equal
led BY a Russian autocrat Our State seal
we stamp lie. "Mountaineers are always
free. Are we freemen, when ourdruggist OF
twenty years experience possessing
diploma and State certifcatea testifying to
his skill as q pharmacist is forbidden by
this iunto, backed by the mandates Of
law, from prescribing a simple dose Of
medicine for your aiing cbii2 Such is
the law with pains and penalties for VIOLA
lions (See Acts Of 1882, page 2i2l, forcing
the citizen to pay one Of the Junto pets 80
cents for prescription to get perhaps 10
cents worth of medicine. Again am l a
freeman, when forbidden to call to the bed
side Of my sick wife, whom may choose
to administer to her needs? Am 1 foolP
Am dog that my rights as man, as
a citizen are to be trsmpled upon2 There
exists no necessity for such restrictive laws,
smacking as they do of the odious registra-
tion laws which once disgrsced our statute
books. The people demand their repeal or
modification. If physicions err in their
profession and infict an injury upon their
patients, we have, laws sufficient without the
restrictions and restraints inflicted By this
law, to punish the offending, uuskillful
doctor. am aware the law Of 1881, dele
eating sush powers to the State Board, are
not fully enforced, or can they be, as they
are contrary to the spirit Of the people
/ yet in some cases Some localities
| for violation of the laws have been brought
into reuuisition, simply In most cases to
crafty reyengetul spirit which too oftep
nrodures the wicked heart, There is not q
| druggist in the State who does not daily
violate the law, yet they are not prosecuted.
Why uot2 No sensible jury in the State
would convict him for presenting q remedy
Tor q eolicky baby. Thus the law is a
nulhty in part and should be IN the whole
| To protect the standard Of the medical pro-
!, sSion, the advocates Of this registration"
aw claim is the object possess but little
! isiih in the skill OF q doctor who is con.
| lrsiued TO call to his aid the forcing power
| Ug law 10 give him patients, but have said
,uoUgh and only hope the Legislature now
in session will fully yentilate this whole sub
| Jet and act in accord the wishes Of their
| constituents. Your scribe, Mr. Editor, is
no doctor or yet druggist, am simply an
humble citizen living in the wildwood Of
Lewis county, vet wish to be as free as the
sir breathe, trsmping upon the rights Of
70 citizen. pray our law making power
of State contrary to the fundamental or
organic law TO force no class legislation
urou me or my ncighbOr. Yours.
Lewis county, January %. -ION.
M Relsef. Nm Hooa-