Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-08
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD
OF HEALTH TO Gov FLEMING.
EEorts TO Increase the General Information Concern
ing Sanitary Matters Number Of Marriages
Births and Deaths During the Year.
$500 T.Isram . .as Rea..l.r.

Special Ts's0rcm 10 sss Registsr.
CHARLESTON, January The Secre-
tary OF the State Board OF Health has
submitted to the Governor the follow
ing brief report Of the work OF the
Board during the past year:
The reports received from local
boards OF health would indicate about the
usual amount Of sickness, as compared
with previous years. Typhoid fever,
scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria and
other preventable diseases have been
reported from a RGmber Of localities,
but the cases have been rather sporadic
than epidemic. the outbreaks quickly
yielding 70 the well-directed efforts Of
the local health officers, many COM
mendable instances Of which have come
10 the knowledge Of the State Board OF
Health.
When we receive notice OF the ex-
istence Of any Of the above mentioned
diseases, we Immediately send a supply
OF our disease Circulars" bearing upon
the disease In question, and request the
local health officers 70 have them dis
tributed among the people in the neigh
bOrhOOd. At such times we are sure OF
having them carefully read and their
prOcepts followed. To such an extent
have the masses taken hold Of this
question OF sanitation aud the proven
ton Of disease that we frequently find
the people demanding action OF health
authorities and forcing indifferent
health officers TO do their duty. What
a striking contrast with the action Of
these people only a few years back,
when every action OF local boards OF
health was viewed with suspicion aud
resisted as an encroachment upon their
rights and liberties as American citi-
zenS.
N THE LINE OF PROGRESS.
Another step in the line Of progress
which we hope 20 carry into effect at an
early day, and which was ordered By
the State Board at its last meeting, is
the plscarding OF premises known to
contain contagious diseases OF any
kind, This will decrease the dan
ger Of their spreading fully One-half, as
few people will wantonly rush either
themselves or their families, into the
presence Of such diseases as scarlet
fever, diphtheria, etc, etc. In some
States this plan Of placarding houses
containing contagious diseases is in
operation and meeting with very little
opposition.
BY the plan Of Interstate notification
adopted by the National Conference OF
State Boards Of Health, cases Of small
pox occurring in any part Of the United
States or Canada, are promptly reported
10 each Secretary OF the State Board OF
Health in either country. Quite recent
~ a very serious outbreak occurred in
the Province of Quebec, Canada, and
during the year cases have been report
ed in nearly every State in the Union
except our own, which has enjoyed a
remarkable immunity from the disease,
no well-authentic0ted case having oc-
CURED in the State for several years.
While we are to be congratulated on our
goOd-fOrtune, yet 1t has not been an I'M
mixed blessing, as it has produced an
indifference 70 vaccination, the only
;. knaER preventive Of the disease.
After repeated efforts we have sue
ceeded In getting local Board OF Health
for each county 10 the State, working In
harmony ard hearty accord with the
State Board OF Health. From the exec
utive officer Of each local Board Of
Health we require quarterly reports, by
which means we keep well Informed as
70 the health of the different pOrtiOnsO OF
the State.
HYGIENE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
Early in the year circular of ques-
(. tions on the hygienic condition Of our
public schools was sent TO the teachers
I'm different parts Of the State. The re-
ports received In response TO this circu-
bar showed, with few exceptions, an ut
ter disregard Of the teachings Of school
hygiene, or. rather, ignorance OF school
sanitation. In view of this fact, the
Board az It's last meeting instructed the
Secretary 70 prepare short circular on
school Hygiene" for distribution
among the teachers and Others directly
connected herewith.
The existence Of maglignsnt dySen-
Atery az Berkeley Springs, Morgan coun-
~. having been called to the attention
u the Board OF Health, the Secretary
q the Board, in connection with por-
ION Of the local Board Of Health, made
asanitary survey Of the town, and as far
as, possible located the cause OF the
trouble. Both the cause OF the trouble
and the proper remedy were treated In
a written report made TO the County
Court and the local Board Of Health.
The subject Of Improvement of gar
bage disposal methods attracted little
attention in this country until the cpl
demic Of 1873 In the valley OF the Mis-
sfssippi. and the scourge OF yellow fever
fn Florida in 1858. The varioGS systems
brought forward for the disposal OF
sewage, etc. are undergoing the cruel
cal test Of actual application. The two
systems which at present appear to
promise the best results are cremau4n
and the combined method Of precipita-
tion and filtration, the latter being the
plan recommended by the sanitary en-
gineer employed by the directors OF the
asylum to give them plan for prevent
ing the pollution Of the West Fork river
At Weston This pollution OF the West
Fork river by the sewage from the
ASYLUM is a standing menace to the
health and lives OF the people OF
Clarksburg, and should receive the
earnest attention OF the next Legisla-
tpre. The former appropriation was
fnadeouate, but by increasing the
amount, the work could be done.
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS.
The number Of marriages, births and
deaths reported to the State Board OF
Health Is as follows, viz: Marriages
4 800. births 1913 and deaths 2,6SO.
some few counties failed TO report as
rsonired by law, notably, Ohio county,
which. on account of some contention
- 20 whose duty IL is TO make the re-
oor+. the Clerk OF the Board Of County
"REMINISCENCES oI OF the Clerk OF the