The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-24
STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER.
State Health Officer Swearingen's re-
port for the years 1895 and 1896 was
issued from the press yesterday:
He reports that the state has been won
drously free from any contagious disease
during the past two years.
Barring the small pox camp at Eagle
Pass, in July, 1895, made up of negro
refugees from Mexico, there has not
been single case in the state. He also
reports that the state has been free
from yellow fever. a..
During November, 1895, scarlet fever
made its appearance among the Bohe-
mian and German settlers in Lavaca
county, but no serious epidemic was re-
sultant. ...
Touching ON the disease of consumption
he says:
Consumption is now known to be an
infectious disease. and it should, prop
erly, be embraced in the list of Quaran-
Unable diseases, but the public sentiment
at present would hardly tolerate the in
novation. Experience has demonstrated
that much may be done by the measures
known to sanitary science to limit the
spread of infection and greatly lessen
the ravages of the disease. In some
states, laws have been enacted looking to
this end, and in others boards of health
are active in enforcing preventive meas
ures.
He suggests that in addition to the
usual appropriation of $4,000 for the
quarantine department $1,000 per an
mum be appropriated Tor so much there
of as may be necessary TO employ an
expert in microscopy and chemistry, to
make analyses of suspected polluted
waters and meteorological examine
tions, " henever, in the judgment of the
state health officer. such examinations
are deemed necessary to protect the pub
lie health. o..., -, e,...f.. .a W.
The great and constant advances in
science of preventive measures against
epidemic diseases imposes this require
ment; and, without it, no health depart
ment is thoroughly equipped to perform
the responsible duties that deyolve upon
it. Such addition to the staff OF the state
health department would greatly widen
its scope of usefulness. .su.A .'t
THE LAND OFFICE.
In his report for the period from Sep
tember /, 1894, to August 81, 1896, Land
Commissioner Baker reports the amount
of fees at $40, 1887 and patent fees at
$13,919.07, making the total $4,01S.J5.
He also reports the receipt of S2S,J42
during that period and the recompilation
of the maps of thirty-one counties, and
the reconstruction Of the maps of twenty
four counties. ..t ...,... 90. ~
Touching on the matter Of dispositions
he said:
1.-THE great demand on this depart
ment for the dispositions OF the commls-
sioner forcibly presents defect in the
laws, which ought to be supplied. The
great demand upon the commissioner to
testify in the many cases presented to
this Office by interrOgatories on the de-
mand of private litigants imposes a work
on him which is impossible for him TO
perform and ut the same time attend
to all the other duties imposed upon him
by law. Thus, his public and official
functions are converted into those OF an
universal witness for private parties.
II would suggest that laws be passed
providing that when interrOgatories come
into this Office, directed to the commits
soner, that he detail an expert clerk,
who shall answer them and swear to
their correctness himself, and that the
commissioner be only required to certify
as to the qualification of the clerk, as
in the case of the Spanish translator; and
that uepoSltlOnS so answered snaH w
as competent testimony as i sworn 10
by the commissioner himself.
'The work of answering interrogato-
ries requires about half the time of one
clerk, for which the state pays salary
without any compensation whatever.
These dispositions are taken at the de-
mand of private litigants, and in most
cases certified copies of the papers and
maps on file in this office, for which a
fee is already provided, would answer
every purpose. 1t is manifestly clear
that the parties demanding dispositions
should be required to pay for the time
so occupied by clerks in this department,
when the state is not a party. i would
suggest. therefore. that the law should
provide fee, say at the rate. Of IS per