Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-01-13
STATE HEALTH BOARD.
A Number of Recommendations to
be Submitted to the
LEGISLATURE.


age of towns, villages and cities, and
the passage of law which will furnish
better vital statistics and give an ac-
curate record of births, deaths and mar
riages in the state, are among the prin-
cipal things recommended in the SIN
tenth report Of the state board of
health, now on file in the Office of the
governor, and the Legislature is urged
to pass laws to remedy these defects.
In regard to the first subject the board
says: ''The extent to which our rivers
and lakes, from which communities de-
rive their drinking water are beng pol
luted is a very important matter, as
no doubt they are becoming sources from
which contagious diseases are spread,
especially typhoid fever, and some steps
should be taken to remedy the evil"
The report covers the years 1895 and
1896, and during this time, the board
says, ''the general health of the state
has been good.' Of the 1856 towns,
villages and cities in the state entitled
under the law to boards of health, 1919
boards have organized in 1896, leaving
but 81 places that are without boards
of health.
The Vaccination Rule.
In reference to the annulment by the
courts of the vaccination rule promul-
gated by the board, the report says the
work of the board has been hampered
by this decision, and hopes for an early
decision of its appeal therefrom to the
Supreme court. Continuing it says:
If this law is declared unconstitutional
by the supreme court, 1t will be highly
necessary that the Legislature pass some
law that is constitutional regulating the
powers and duties of the state board. 1t is
gratifying to the board, however, to be able
to report that as result of the VACCINATION
rule which was promulgated by the board
large proportion of the people Of the state
have become protected from smallpox by
vaccination. If this work would continue,
the board believes that smallpox could never
again get any foothold in the state, and the
board would most respectfully urge that
provide for frequent vaccination of the
people as protection against this loathsome
disease. The outbreak of smallpox, which
cost the state quite number Of lives and Il
vast amount of money, ceased in June 1895.
Since then there have been only few spor-
adic cases in the state and at the present
time the disease does not exist in the state
to the knowledge of the board
Concerning other diseases the report
says:
The two diseases which are preventable,
are diphtheria and typhoid fever These
two diseases are continually breaking out
in different parts of the state and great
deal of effort has been put forth to prevent
their spread. Early this year the board is
sued circulars pertaining to the prevention
OF smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever;
fever, and these circulars have had very
wide distribution.
Contingent Fund Needed.
The board urges a continuance Of the
contingent fund established by legislative
act two years ago, to be used for the
prevention of cholera and other con-
tagious diseases, should they occur: that
fund, not being used by the board, re-
verts back to the state treasury and it is
necessary to have another bill passed.
while the state has been fortunate in
not having to use any Of this fund.-" the
report says, 1.-The future is very uncertain
and it is possible that within the next
two years such q fund will be jndis-
pensable to protect the health and life of
the people"
In conclusion the report says: ''The
board believes that the work of santa
ton IN our state is one of the most inn
pOrtant that can be considered, and that
the Legislature should be more liberal in
its appropriations for the use of the
board" The members Of the board are:
Drs. Scion Marks, Milwaukee, president:
L. 0. 3. Wingate. Milwaukee, secretary;
c. II. Marquardt, La Crosse; 81. w.
Harrison, Ashland; ]. II. Mcneil, Fond
du Lac, and .. Q. Sutherland, james
vile.
The report also includes the reports of
the secretary, of the inspection of the
different state institutions, of DR..
Marquardt as delegate to the conference
of state boards OF health, treatise on
1.-The Publication of the Water Supply
of Ashland by Sand Filtration" by
sity, consulting bacteriologist Of the
board. a paper on "Enteric. or Typhoid
Fever" by DR.. @. w. Harrison of Ash
land, a list of the health officers Of the
local boards of health in the state for
1896 and their reports of the general
Of 1o .ifi
The report of Secretary Wingate re-
calls among other things the anti-cigar-
cite resolution passed by the board at its
June meeting:
Resolved, by the state board of health of
smoking is deleterious to the health of the
individuals addicted to the habit; that it is
especially deleterious to the physical growth
and mental development of young persons.
Drainage in Milwaukee.
DR.. Wingate's report reviews the diff
Guilty experienced by the board in en-
deavoring to carry out the law passed
in 1898, and amended so as to make it
mandatory in 1895, for the drainage of
the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic val
leys in Milwaukee county The trouble
experienced in carrying out it's provis-
ions arose through lack of funds, the
provide them, but the supervisors of that
county neglecting to provide them, the
Secretary'S communication to the county
board on the subject having been re-
ferred to a committee and no action tax
en- He gives the correspondence with
District Attorney Brace of Milwaukee
county, in which the district attorney
rendered an opinion to the effect that
as the state board of health did not
make a complete report to the Legisla-
ture, as required by the law of 1888,
(which of course the board could not
do, not having any funds at it's dis
posal to carry out the provisions of the
act" the law had become ''functus of
ficio." Secretary Wingate then wrote
Gov. Upham before the last special ses-
sion of the Legislature, asking that if a
special session be called a clause be in
serted providing for action in the mat
ter, stating that "the condition of this
territory is such as to require the earli-
est possible attention that can be given
it on account of the safety to public
health" He received a reply stating
that his suggestions should receive very
careful consideration, and there the mat
ter ended.
The difficulties encountered with the
drainage systems at the state prison at
Waupun and the insane asylum at Chip
Nall IL