The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-16
AS CHOLERA MAY COME
EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO
KEEP 1T FROM SPEEDING.
The Chamber OF Commerce and the State
Board of Health Discuss the Matter.
What tho Doctors Say.

A called meeting OF the board 81 d.
rectors Of the Chamber Of Commerce
and OF the special committee 10 aid the
State Board Of Health was held yester-
day evening
Judge Christian announced the standing
committees for the ensuing year, after
which the Chair stated that the principal
object OF the meeting was to hear from
the State Board of Health and other
physicians as to the Importance OF
promptly inaugurating the work Of the
board. He further explained that some
months ago, the Chamber being I'M
pressed by it's committee on health and
sanitation with the necessity for the ex-
istence Of a State Board Of Health, In
view OF the probability OF cholera COM
ing TO this country during the year,
pledged Itself that II the Governor would
appoint such a board IT would do what
1t could to raise a fund for carrying on
its work until the next meeting OF the
LEGISLATURE, the law as IL now exists
making no provision for that purpose
that this being the case, the ChamDer
felt obligated to do all that IL could 10
redeem this pledge. and in pursuance Of
appointed for the purpose Of making a
canvass, but had not as yet gone to work
for the reason that they desired 10 be
posted by the State Board or Health,
and such other physicians as felt inter
ested I'm the movement. so as 10 make a
vigorous and effective canvass. The
Chair then invited Dr. Mcclure ana mem
bers OF the State Board Of Health who
were present TO address the meeting
upon this question.
Dr. Mcclure. IN response 10 this invita-
tlon said that he could not better illus
trate the estimation OF the importance oil
such on organization I'm other states
than nv mentioning he fact that Massa-
chusetts annually appropriated No.DV 70
carry on the work OF its state Board OF
Health: that II was hard 10 state the
many ways in which such an oreaniza-
tiol could be Of the greatest use. tnal
thcy could cooperate with ana greallF
aid the CITY Board Of Health. their lnris-
diction being over the whole state
whereas the jurisdiction Of the city
Board Of Health was limited As an IN
stance. he referred 10 the probability OF
visitation Of cholera. which he said.
had never come 10 this country without
coming 10 Richmond. that IL was one or
the most prevertable diseases by proper
measures and yet one N the most diill-
cult ones to recognize; that he believed
that IL would be impossible for the city
Board Of Health 10 keep ont the cholera,
but that the State Board Of Health, with
the use Of the laboratory at the Oniver-
sitv OF virginia. could detect the disease
and take proper measures 20 prevent 10
spreading II supplied with adequate
means.
He then alluded 10 the importance or
the organization for educational purposes
referred 10 the Iowa board Of healih'
which issued from 5000 10 1000 circu-
lars at time instructing the people on
all questions relating TO health or the
prevention Of disease.
In conclusion. he stated that IT was I'M
possible 10 estimate the importance ana
value VI the prevention Of such an
epidemic as cholera. which he said had
cost countries I'm Europe, over which
Il had swept. more money and more lives
than war.
Dr. Mcclure was followed by Dr. Hugh
NJ TAYLOR. who also described the work
done by State boards Of health I'm other
States. He said that such an organization
had two missions: that the one was edu-
cational, which was important I'm teach
ing the necessary measures for the pre-
vention OF disease. its detection. treat
ment. etc. where 10 existed; the other
was the exercise Of police powers i'm
establishing proper guarantees. etc; that
while the present law did not give all
the jurisdiction that the board should
have that by its organization and work
from now on, public interest would be