Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-23

ecutive officer Of the board, to issue q
procIamaGon in the name OF the board, de-
olaring such disease epidemic, and 70 oroeC
and enforce such measures IN the way ot
quarantine isolation OF the sick, vacclna'
tion, disnfectfon and the closure Of schools,
public and private, religious and secular, as
in his Judgment may be necessary 20 stamp
out the infection.
In CONSIDERATION of the increasing prev
alence of dfphtheria the board has oonsia-
cred it expedient to modify its feguIasons
concerning the transportation OF deao pod
les, prohibiting the transportation OF any
body that has died from that disease.
After giving q complete history of the
means and methods adopted to combat vita
cholera and the preventive measures ad-
vised, Dr. Lee says in his report that -
yet no considerable outlay has been made,
except to the boards medical Inspectors In
case the system of inspection OF moving
trains and the establishment Of camps Of
observation is introduced, it will entail
considerable expense. The doctor says:
The State should Be Assessed.
As the people OF the townships in which
such camps would be located would be In no
way responsible for their presence, and as
they would be intended not for the protee-
t1on of the people of those townships bus OF
the entire State, simple justice would seem
70 indicate that the expense OF maintaining
populations of the townships but upon the
entire State. However that mlSnt DO, tno
management OF such camps shoulo not oe
left to the people OF the township. any moto t,e
than that OF a military camp should Do IN
case OF riot. Public safety demands that they
should be under direct sepervision OF thls
board. Guards would be needed TO enforce
quarantine. 1t might be an open question
whether they should be furnished by the
Sheriff Of the county or the Adtutant Gen.
eral OF the State. All experience shows shas
little dependence is to be placed upon the
raw Material OF posse. Should the necee'
sity for such precautionary measures arise,
It is manifest that the board would need
sum Of ready money greatly In excess OF ~
ordinary appropriation. 1t wouio % heces,
sary to open a branch office, with q stan OF
assistants solely for this work, in order tnat
the routine work of the board, which. under
the circumstances, would materially De aug
protection of the streams OF the Common
wealth from choleraic pollution might also
require considerable outlay.
Making Provision for Emergencies.
The board cannot too strongly urge upon
the Legislature, therefore, the importance
of ma king permanent provision for future
emergencies by the establishments OF an
emergency board, Of which the Chief E1eeu-
tive OF the State should be tho chairman.
and the appropriation of an adequate sum to
be disbursed by said board under proper re-
proper authorities.
Leprosy, according to the indications,
seems to be on the increase and the neces-
sity for the national provision for the care
of sufferers from that disease has been
called to the attention of the President
and the Surgeon General of the United
States Marine Hospital service. The mat
ter will be recommended to the attention OF
Congress- DR.. Lee says:
The leper who has been domiciled at the
Delaware County Pesthouse at Lima for the
past two years has recently made excursions
much anxiety to the Inhabitants. 1t is
question whether this Is q matter for inter.
ference on the part Of the board OF the local
courts or OF the Sheriff OF the county.
Two new cases OF this disease have been
discovered lurking in the city Of Philadel-
phia. One OF these had peen for months
acting rs cook in a small hotel kept by the
riety. who was promptly fined by the city
Board OF Health Tor this criminal infraction
OF sanitary law. Both cases are now con.
fined in the Municipal Hospital, on the
ing erected for the permanent reception Of
cases of this disease. Thus the prophecy
on which your Secretary ventured few
years since that unless stringent precau-
tions were adopted and q retreat for such
unfortunates was provided by the National
Government every city would need It's leper
house is entering at this early date on its
fulnllment.
An Alarming Increase in Blindness.
The alarming increase of blindness has
been called to the attention Of the
board. A regulation was made to the
effect that Inflammation of the
eyes or redness of the lids in q new born
child shall be reported to aqualifed prac-
titioner of medicine within 12 hours of the
time the disease was first noticed
Dr. Lee notices the formation of society
in Philadelphia having for its object the
prevention of the spread of tuberculosia
DR.. Lee in suggesting legislation for the
better protection of life and health says:
The needs Of the State continue as they
have been ever since the establishments Of
the board, and as the board has pressed
them upon the attention of each successive
Legislature.
First-The sanitary organization Of the
State throughout the rural districts, 80 that
every portion OF the State may have some
legally constituted local health authority.
Second-The compulsory establishment Of
boards of health in all cities.
Third-Tne authorization and establish
ment Of boards Of health in all incorporated
boroughs.
Tourth-Protection Of the purity Of water
Efth-The establishment of an emer-
genoy board, with an appropriation ade-
quate 10 meet ordinary emergencies, and,
Si1th-An increased appropriation for the
ordinary work of the board.
To this may be added the new suggestion
made in a previous portion of this report OF
an act to confer upon sewer companies
the right of eminent domain through pri.
vate properties.