The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-10-16
Regular Quarterly Meeting Held
At Lansing OctO-
ber Sth.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The Laws of the State Must BE
Rigidly Enforced by
Local Boards.

The following official letter has
been received from Lansing:
The Michigan state board of health
held its regular quarterly meeting
at the state capitol Oct. 9th. The
meeting was called to order by the
president, Hon. Frank Wells, of
Lansing. The members present
were Prof. Delos Fall, of Albion;
Judge Aaron V. McAlvay, of Man
istee; DR.. Samuel G.. Miner, of
Grand Rapids; DR.. Frederick G..
Novy OF the university at Ann Ar
Dor; DR.. Fred r. Belknap, of Niles,
and Secretary Henry b. Baker, of
Lansing. Every member of the
board was present.
DR.. Miner, of Grand Rapids,
presented the subject of the dangers
to life by drowning, imperfect sewer
age, unprotected water supplies,
milk supplies and other unsanitary
! conditions at summer resorts. He
offered resolutions to the effect that
there shall be systematic inspec-
tion OF summer resorts, in order
that the danger to life by drowning
and from all unsanitary conditions
be reduced to a minimum, and that
every safeguard that is possible be
placed around summer resorts. The
board voted to refer the resolutions
and the subject to the committee on
public health legislation, with re-
quest to consider the points sug-
gested and report to the board at
its next regular meeting. Resolu-
tions on the same subject offered by
DR., Belknap, were referred to the
same committee.
The subject of the restriction of
measles in Michigan was discussed
at length. 1t being disease that
causes many deaths in Michigan
every year, the board agreed that
every effort shall be made to see
that the laws of the state are en-
forced by the local boards of health.
The following preambles and resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, Section 1873, Howelrs Statutes,
provides that 'Wheu the small pox, or any
other disease dangerous to public health, is
found To exist in any township, the board of
health shall use all possible care to prevent
the spreading of the Infection, and to give
public notice of infected places to travellers,
by such means ~ in their judgment shall be
most efrectual for the common safety" ana
Whereas, II has come to the knowledge of
this board that in some instances local health
boards and officers are neglectng To enforce
said law with reference to some of said dis
eases:
Resolved, That the interests of public health
demand that said law should be enforced and
all possible care be taken to prevent the
spreading of dangerous communicable dis
eases, and We are of the opinion that neglect
so To do not only makes such officers and
boards liable under the law but also subjects
the municipalities they represent to liability
for damages in case of death or injury arising
from neglect to comply with the provisions of
the statute.
Local boards of health should take
warning by this action Of the state
board of health that they do not lay
themselves or their municipalities
liable to penalties or forfeitures un-
der the state laws. The opinion was
expressed that in case of such a dis
ease as scarlet fever or measles re-
ported to city board OF health, if
the city health officer fails to give
public notice of infected places, as
the law requires, and a death results
from exposure to the disease in such
an infected place which had been re-
ported 10 the local health officer in
accordance with law, the city is le
gally and properly liable for dam
ages.
The secretary made plea for the
vigorous continuance of the Michl-
uan plan for the education of the
people on the modes of spreading
and the best measures for the re-
striction and prevention OF the dan
gerous communicable diseases by the
distribution of leaflets of instruction
to the neighbors of the family in
which any dangerous disease exists.
This places the instruction in the
hands of those most Interested
at a time when attention will be
given to the measures recommended
by the board. He mentioned that
not long ago scarcely anyone would
believe that diphtheria and scarlet
fever were dangerous communicable
diseases, but the people have been
educated by just such leaflets, and
today nearly every child in Michi-
gan knows the danger of going near
or coming in contact with one sick
with diphtheria or scarlet fever. He
said the people of Michigan need,
most of all, instruction on the re-
striction Of that greatest cause OF
death-consumption, but eventually,