The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-02
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
D'Ii to Create Such an Institution
and Define Its Duties.
SOME SWEEPING CHANGES PROPOSED
prepared by Physicians of Galveston
ana submitted To Their Lcgisla-
tive Nominees.

| .NAns in the coast country OF Texas have
'"ought more about quarantine and quaran-
'lhe laws in the past twelve months than
'hsy nave for twenty years back. Houston
| ana Galveston have beth been made TO fesl
| 'he rigor of an absolute quarantine, with
| us consequent blighting effect on business
and the paralyzing OF traffic and com.
mercc
FROM the recent experiences OF the two
towns WITH yellow fever ssares and quar-
anime olockades, has come desire for a
Vhahge IN the State laws regulating this
uA,'er and the next legislature Will be
caileu upon to enact legislation TO this ef-
rest As embodying the views OF a ma
Jority OF the physicians OF Galveston, a bill
uas ALREADY been prepared and submitted
" Vhe nominees Tor the legislature from
'nis county, who have given 1t baeir APP
provAi. A careful reading of the bill wla
snow Shat 1t is sweeping one in It's pro-
ss'ohs. IL calls for the creation of a State
board OF health and gives the board unlim-
Yea lowers in all maaters OF quarantine.
rue oill VIII have the support of the med
'vai department OF the Stare university and
ABOUT all The regular or allopathic physl-
clans In town. Ii follows
w N'tHtt n BclfU ttcdltu,
define It's duties and powers and provide
for its maintenance, in tae State of Texas
w hertaS, The great extent OF territory,
RAPID increase In lppula,ion and vast COM
merclal Importance OF the State of Texas,
requires the highest grade OF intelligence
and keenest watchfulness for the preserva-
tion OF the health as we'll as the prosperity
OF the people; and,
Waereas, The past few years have fully
demonstrated the nect ssMy for a more ex
pan4ive system OF sanitation than any that
mas ever prevailed In Texas before; and
since most of the States in the Union, hav-
ing Interest in the matter OF public health.
lave long since taken The initiative in this
respect and moved abreast of the times in
the meter OF advanced modern sanitation.
nnerefore be II enacted by the legislature
OF the State OF Texas that
Article |. There shall be created
State board OF health consisting OF five
physicians, to be selected on account Of
their experience and fitness and as nearly
es possible from the different sections OF
the State whose method of appointment
terms OF office, duties, powers and recon-
pense shall be prescribed in the following
articles, provided, that no preference slaN
be shown to any particular sect or school of
physicians in the formation of such board.
and tina. no person holding the position of
teacher in any medical school in Ehis State
HOW FORMED.
Areicle 3.
Section /. Said State board OF health
shall be appointed by the governor of Texas
and confirmed by the senate as soon DIS
practicable after the passage of this
act, and each member taertot shall serve
for fixed term of Ave years. or until his
successor shall have qualified, except. that
in the creation OF the first BOARD OF
health" one mtmber shall be appointed to
serve for one year, one member for two
years, ore for three years, etc. and as a va
cancy occurs annually or at any other time,
It VIII be the duty of the said governor 10
I'LL the same by appointing member TO
serve the unexpirod term or for five years.
SEC. 2. AS soon as practicable after their
Appointment said State board of health
shall convene and elect one Of their mem
bers to be president, who will be she chief
health officer of Texas" They shall also
elect secretary, and such other officers
and assistants as may be necessary to carry
out successfully all the objects of the
beard.
Sec 8. Said State board of heal5h shall
he'd ITS regular meetings every month, OF
special ones oftener II necessary, at the
capitol and in room to be furnished by
the safe. They shall own seal and will
be required TO make report OF their do
ings, annually, TO the governor OF TEXTS.
DUTIES
Article 3.
Section l. The duties of the Texas
State Board OF Health' shall be to take
fun cognizance Of everything that pertains
10 the public health in the State OF Texas
They shall promptly inquire into all epi- |
denies and dangerous diseases which may
threaten human and animal life in the
Stale, and do all In their power to aha;e |
them. They shall take charge OF all quar-.
aEgines between This State and all out |
side localities, and shall institute and abol- |
iih the same at their discretion. They VIII !
appoint such officers. guards and inspectors
as may be necessary 10 protect the public |
health in time OF danger; establish their
salaries, and do an things else not incom-
patible with the laws Of Texas, in avert
ing erld mics and diseases OF dangerous
character.
Sec 3 Besides looking after the health !
1f The citizens 1t shall also be the duty OF |
he said board Of health 10 provide against |
al infectious or contagious diseases |
lmonlst HORSES and catlle In tails State: to |
Iral alstine or even destroy all such infect
a stock when it may TO bnem seem neces
'ary and establish such rules as may be
'eQuiIed to eradicate suah diseases from the |
stare.
Sec. 3. Said board shall also take cog
liZsnce OF all articles OF food offered for
die In the STATE OF cAdSt Us llEtN sSE All !
rugs and other things consumed by man.
o the end that hing but pure. healthy
nd unaiulterated articles Of food and
rink be sold in said State to any citizen or
esident thereof.
Ste. A. 1t shall also he their duty 10
repare and properly distribute system
# vital STATISTICS, regi tel all births and
eaths in the State where practicable and
ollect and classify all diseases that may I
any time occur in Texas.
See. 5. The State board of health"
hail adept such rules and regulations tor
he practice OF mediciy.e in the Sta;e as they
aay dc m proper for the protection OF the
ecple and their property. They shall eau q
u persons intending 10 practice medicine
r midwifery in any OF ITS departments in
be State 10 procure Certificate OF quail
cation" beforehand which shall be fur
iahed by said bcIri sitter a careful and
satisfactory examination OF such applicant.
Such certificate. after being duly regis
cred by the county cl rk. and not TIL shen
ill entitle the owner thereof to practice
Is or her profe sion In the State. Any
orson pIacticing medicine in the State OF
Texas without said certificate OF qualifica
on, unless otherwise exempt, Will be
unity OF, misdemeanor and upon convic-
ION shall be fined moi less than s. nor more
ian $50 for each ofielse.
Sec G. No examination and certificate