The Portland daily press., 1895-06-25
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The. Question of tuberculosis Considered
Other Matters R ell ating to Public Health
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.]

Augusta, June 24.-The second quar-.
terly meeting of the State Board Of
Health was held here today. There were
present, the president Dr. Charles d.
Smith of Portland, Prof F. c. Robinson
of Brunswick, DIR. G. M. Woodcock,
Bangor, DR.. NJ c. Wedgewood, Lewis.
ton and the secretary, DR.. A. G. Young,
Augusta.
Important action was taken relative
to the administration of the new law
relating to tuberculosis, cases of which
must now be reported to the local board
of the community in which they occur.
Desiring to secure the cooperation Of
all who may be able to aid in the work
of preventing the spread of tuberculosis
and to avoid what might perhaps be
thought undue interference on the part
of local boards with the relations of the
medical. profession to this class of cases
it was decided to forward to all local
boards of health circular letter, adyis-
ing them to make the attending physi-
clan the medium of communication be-
tuberculosis occurs, upon all matters re-
lating to restrictive measures and disin-
fection, and not to keep their record OF
such reported cases open for public in
spection. 1t is believed that if the ad-
ministration of the law is begun in a
conservative way many of the fancied
objections to it which have been raised
by some physicians will be removed.
The board will seek to avoid any intru-
sion upon private affairs, and recognizes
the fact that there are circumstances
connected with the management of cases
of phthisis which are radically different
from those attending contagious diseas,
es, which are more actively dangerous to
the public health.
The secretaries of the New England
State Boards of Health having formed
themselves into an organization for the
study and publication of vital statistics,
will issue every five years in pamphlet
form summary of vital statistics OF
New England to be edited by DIR. S. w.
Abbott, secretary of the Massachusetts,
board.
The secretary was directed to prepare
for gratutious distribution new circu-
lar on "disinfection and disinfectants,
which shall be in accord with the deyel-
opnents of sanitary science.
Sulphur fumigation will be dropped
from the list, the board being convinced
of its practical inutility in the vast
majority of cases, particularly in dwell
lings; other and more efficient methods
being readily applied The secretary
made report upon his visits to various
parts of the state investigating com.
plants and certain outbreaks of diphthe-
ria and typhoid fever. There is in pre-
paration card catalogue of physicians,
clergymen, town clerks, and all Others
who may in any way from occupation
of official position be obliged to con-
tribute to the collection and recording
of vital statistics.
The board is also studying the question
of anti-toxin and it's application. and
will at all times be in a position to
afford to physicians and others full in.
formation upon the subject. Anti-toxir
serum of kundoubted excellence can now
be had in abundance from reliable deal
ers throughout the state, and the board
is anxious to receive all information OBJ
tainable of it's effects in undoubted cases
in our state
The board will be represented by its
secretary at the next meeting of the
American Public Health Association,
which will be held in Denver in October
next