The Portland daily press., 1891-10-28
Keeping Maine People Well by Pre-.
venting Disease.
Yesterdays Convention Of the Local
Boards Of Health.
Full Account Of the Valuable Papers
and Discussions.

hOaibu met yesterday III bHo COmluou coun
ell chamber at 10 a. m. DIR. Charles ID. Smitl
called the meeting to order and introduced
Mr. E. G. Jordan, chairman Of the Stat
Board of Health, the president Of the con
vention. Mr.. Jordan made brief introduc
tory remarks, explaining the scope of the
convention. Its object, he said. was to de
wise means for the improvement Of means
for keeping the health Of the people good. in
accordance with the doctrine that health Is
prosperous the people must be kept well. He
said that the people of Maine owed it to their
summer visitors to make the sanitary condi-
tion Of the towns good.
Mr.. George G. Burgess, Ia behalf OF the
mayor, who was unavoidably absent, extend
ed the formal welcome of the city. He also
read letter from the mayor, expressing his
regret at being unable to be present, and
paying high tribute to the boards of health
for their excellent work throughout the
state.
DR.. Charles d. Smith read the first paper
on the Experience OF Local Boards of
Health In Dealing with Contagious Dis
cases." DIR. Smith said that this work WIS
the most important of any undertaken by
health boards. with the greatest effect for
good IL successful, and most fierce condemna-
tion il unsuccessful. There is nothing, he
said, that people fear more than smallpox
and against which they are more clamorou:
for protection. Scarlet fever and diphtherIa
are also much feared. and yet 1t is surprising.
said the speaker. how much Indifference and
opposition the boards have to contend with
in certain communities Of peculiar tempera-
ments while trying to stamp ont these same
diseases.
DIR. Smith then described the methods
used by the board of health of this city re-
gardlng the isolation aof scarlet fever and
diphtheria cases. He said that he did not
know Of an instance In this city where the
attending physicians had not aided the
board OF health in looking after cases Of con-
cannot be said. One of the things that
the boards must do Is to create public senti-
ment In their favor. Only twice, said he
had diphtheria cards been removed and both
OF these were satisfactorily explained. Pub.
lie funerals Of persons who die OF these dis
eases are absolutely prohibited. Clergymen
and Others are active in aiding the boards Of
health. The exclusion OF chtldren from dis
eased houses from the schools Is thoroughly
done and is beneficial. Dsinfection Of dis
eased b0uses Is attended to in every case, IL
not by the householder himself, by the
board.
This line of action was adopted four years
ago and since then there has been a steady
decrease in the number Of contagious cases ,
and Of deaths. Medical men and others all
bear witness to the truth of this statement.
Speaking Of q1arantining people from in
fected districts, DR.. Smith said that 1t is not
so easy to take care Of the sick Of other
countries IL those countries do not take care
Of them themselves. He explained the pro-
cess used six years ago when the small p0x
invaded Canada, and said that in similar
event In the future. the same would be re.
peated. He severely denounced the lack OF
proper building In this city for the isola-
tion and care of contagious cases, not only
OF small pox, but OF diphtheria and scarlet
fever. He closed with an expression of
thanks to the citizens for their hearty sup
port.
On motion of DR.. E. M. Fuller Of Bath, a
vote of thanks was rendered DIR. Smith.
DIR. +. e. Hitchcock of Rockland, opened
the discussion. He said that in this city
the principal criticism should be directed to
the heads OF departments. Two years ago
the death rate was 17.9 per thousand; one
year ago 1t was reduced to Is by the heroic
efforts OF the board. lie said that the city
government was rather Indifferent to the
doings Of the board of health. There Is no
diphtheria, little typhoid fever and very lit
tie scarlet fever. In the matter of dlsinfect-
ing, plaearding, ETC., the citizens are well
disposed, but the city council has refused to
pay any bills contracted by the board. He
thought that one of the principal things to
be done by the convention should be to edu-
cate city governments up to the Importance
OF the work Of boards of health.
Mr.. Jordan spoke briefly on the matter Of
placarding houses, saying that at the recent
meeting OF the American Health Association
several delegates said that at their towns
there was great opposition.
Mr.. Burgess spoke Of a measure Of protec-
tlon omitted by DR.. Smith. namely the nOt I'll
fcation OF the public library officials of the
existence of disease.
Speaking of placardiDg. Mr.. Burgess de-
scribed the gradual growth Of public senti-
ment In its favor in the city.
DR.. EM.Fuller of Bath said that in his city
pubic sentiment was very much against the
work OF the board. he said that the city
government had returned bills unpaid. This
year the board has $50 to carry on its work.
Placarding Is carried on with extreme diff
Guilty. People are bitterly opposed to it, The
physicians do nothing to help the board.
There has never been single case reported
to the board by any physician. The only
way the board has OF finding out the exist
ence OF contagious cases is by collecting evi-
dence In the street. Although the board has
not yet become involved In law suits, there
faye been several wordy c0mbats with citi-
zens., contagious diseases have been re-
lished.
DR.. John g. Sturges of New Gloucester
reported that in his town the board had the
support OF the citizens In what little conta-
gion they had to contend with. All bills are
promptly paid by the towns.
Mr. z. III. Russ OF Dexter spoke Of case,
OF scarlet fever in his town. 1t originate
In q hotel, the proprietor of which wasa
scoffer. The board of health removed pe
case TO private house in which there tas
0pposltlon to placarding. The town ofPers
backed the board up and gave them frl au- |
thority TO do whatever was necessar. He |
gave a humorous account of the aFir, ana |
said that since then there lad beeyno trou- |
BILE with anybody. The board halfeformed
the sewerage system of the towp removing |
many Duisances.
Dr.. Stanley P. Warren offortland was
called upon 70 speak for the 9hysicia out
side the boards Of health uvon the work Oh
sne boards. Or. Warren sald tnat ne was
heartily In favor of Its work, giving many
cardlng. he thought that other things
should be placarded, consumption. typnoid
DR.: A. K. P. Meserve gave an instance In
which the backwardness of physician 10
reporting contagious case. gave rise to sucn
public clamor that the physician left for
another field.
l Mr.. Burgess said that the remarks con-
Ieerning the indifference Of city governments
aboard OF health matters was very sur
Pt,stng to him, ard called on Mr.. Charles A.
onSlk president of the Common Council, 20
eApiSq ~ Sq the position of the city government.
MI. MI. osS.9lut briefly statsd that he was sure
luis SitS government is willing to do almost
| ask. '-o N u
VI, smith briefly closed the discussion,
p. eapn.aasi1Dns Ds se statement that public sent-
n99s e1 ~ oIsals was behind the Board. h9
salu .nat ~ wa his fixed belief that the
| psace 10 pegln quasntine was at the bedside
oI the patient, ana hat the Boards should
40 all tney could 10 IL ke this stringent. lie
| tnought that the maJIity of physicians 10
the state werein sympaSy with the boards
DIR. o. A. Horr Of LewisAn was the next
| essayist, his topic being 'Tne Practical
Employment Of Dlsinfectantsr The very
| Iull instructions sent out by the State BoarC
OF Health concerning disinfectants made thi
matter we'll understood, but one stap 10 ad
vance that the speaker suggested, Is that tn
public schools should teach the theory Of TIT
prevention oil diseases by the destructiouol
their germs. He ridiculed the practice OF
using nostrums, charms and cachets as pre-
ventives OF disease. DIR. Dorr then deip 4
at length the terms used In the theQys nv
practice OF the propagation Of uisrsctinS
germs. Concerning tho great uislLr 9S t9
| power OF steam at pressure OF III NJ ,yss
80 pounds DR.. horr thought the n1sc,ars
not far distant when steam towns
would be used by all cities aors disin-
| Chloride of lime Ia a vofy efncfi"oS Jiei's