Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-15
WORK OF THE YEAR
Annual Meeting of the State
Board of Health
MEASURES TO CHECK DISEASE
Contagious Diseases and Reports Made
Thsreon BY Health ofieess-Othsr
Impostans Matters

LAssIss, April l4.--Following ~ .
repors Of the annual meeting Of the
Michigan STATE board Of health. 1T
lansing. April IL, 1892
The members present were Drs.
lakewood. Vaughan. Gray. Baker.
P.ofsasse Fall ana the Hon. Frank
WsllA
The secretary reported that during
the firss quarter Of 1922 the reports OF
outbreaks or dangerous communicable
diseases IN Michigan were about -
usuAl; action had been taken relative
70 oathre AXIS as follows DiphtheriA.
LIS, scarlet fever, 2o9; typhoid and
typno-malarlsl fever, So; measles, "a.
No smallpox during the quarter.
Since the close OF the quarter, one case
II typhus in Detroit. The reporting of
dangerous diseases Is not az yet as per-
feet as IL should be. OF the i've DIS
eases mentioned above, - per cent OF
all the tirst notice. obtained were from
the local columns OF newspap ers, ex-
amined At the Office of the state board
of health; OF these 81 Der cent were
afterwards confirmed by the local
health officers. To each OF the 42l
outbreaks acted upon by the Office of
the state beard, pamphlets on the re-
strlctlon and prevention or those dis
eases were sent 10 health officers ID DC
distributed TO the neigheors OF those
slck.
Library sccessions during the quar-
ter have consisted of seventv-elght
books and pamphlets and 392 journals.
The library now CONTAINS Slol numbers.
Reports From Health Onacers.
The reports from health officers and
clerks oil local boards OF health are not
vet always made; not much more tnan
half of them have reported for the
year 1891. A list has been made OF all
the townships. cites and villages, CIV
ing the name and address OF each
health officer and clerk VINO has made
his annual report ~ the law requires.
To those who have not reported there
has been sent '.Secoud Request for
Annual Report Required by Law"
This has brought IN many reports, but
some are still delinquent. The secre-
tary proposci to the board an amend
nent to the health laws, SO that re-
ports OF dangerous diseases which now
may be- reported to either health off,
Ger, president or clerk OF the local
board, after the amends ent takes
effect, shall oil DO reported TO the
health officer. THIS would make il
possible 10 relieve the clerks OF all
townships, and OF most cities and VII
lagos from receiving and from making
reports on this subject. 1t would be
welcome relief TO over Que thousand
officials, and would greatly lessen the
work and expenses OF the Office Of the
state board OF health. The state board
approved of the proposed amendment.
The secretary urges the amendment OF
the law, and asks the influence OF the
presidents and clerks Of the local
boards throughout the state IN the
same direction.
7 The usual meteorological work of
the office has been kept up. A table of
the daily rainfall At Lansing for the
thirteen years ending with 1891 was
made by requ - and sent for use ut the
office of IT, Eited States weather
bureau at Washington. A table of
monthly rainfall for the fourteen years
ending with 1890, 1T Lansing. and tor
the twenty-eight yesrs ending with
1891 at the Agricultural college. was
made and sent by request to United
States Engineer Schwartz, Grands Rap
ids.
The work of collecting and compiling
sickness statistics has proceeded as
usual.
Contagious Diseases.
The subject of dangerous contagious
diseases at the state agricultural COL
lege, the reform school aud the sta b.
scnool ct Cold water, was discussed and
q resolution passed requesting the
boards committee on legislation 70
formulate some plan for prompt Motif.
cation TO the health authorities i'm
mediately on the occurrence Of dan
gerous communicable disease in any
state institution and, for prompt action
by the health authorities for the restric-
ton of every dangerous disease in .
state institution.
The secretary had received from
Saginaw two fishes (hass) containing
parasites. the question beng whether
the parasites were dangerous to health.
Professor Cook OF the Agricultural col
legs, kindly examined them and re-
ported, This - Tire cystlcerus stage or
encysted form of . tape worm. proha-
bly, Bothriocephalus lasus, hut we
could no. tell from this stage. That 10
the broad tape worm of man and .;
works IN fish. such FISH should be
we'll cooked"
The board voted 10 hold q special
meeting at Lansing June 8 and 7, when
the national conference of state boards
of health will meet, and make y epe-
ciaI study several methods OF work
by the Michigan state board Of health.
The prevalence Of diphtheria and
scarlet fever IA Detroit WAS discussed
comparisons we're made with the rest
OF ths state and with New York City.
The law says Tine state board OF
health shall nave tho general super
vision of the interests OF the health
and life OF tlse citizens OF this state
They shall have authority to send
their secretary or q committee of the
hoard TO any part OF the state, whea
deemed necessary to investigate the
cause Of any special or unusual disease
or mortality" Preamhies and resoIu-
tons we're adopted a. follows
Whereas, More than ons-tenth OF
the people Of Michigan reside IN De
trsit. And communicable diseases tend
to spread from that commercial
metropolis 10 very part of the state,
and
Whereas. Some of the dangerous
communicable diseases are uucom-
monty prevalent IA Detroit.
Resolved. That . committee consist
Tag Of the president and four other
members Of this eosrd be appointed te
visit Detroit ard confer Nth the health
officer and with the board OF health OF
Detroit, and other city officers II found
desirable, with the view of learuJns
and of reporting % this hoard 50 mucS