News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-01-17
OUR STATE LABoRAToRvs WORK.
Handsome Words of the British Medical
journal for Vermont Institution.

Handsome Words of the British Medical
journal for a Vermont Institution.
The following handsome compli-
ment for the Vermont laboratory
and State Board of Health is from
the columns of the British Medical
Journal, the official organ of the
British Medical association, which
unquestionably has the largest cir
culation of any medical journal in
the world.
1t may be remembered that about
a year ago we mentioned that the
Legislature of the State of Vermont
had passed an Act for the foundation
of laboratory for the chemical and
Observation-Disclosures of water
supplies, milk, and all food products,
and the examination of cases or sus-
pected cases of various infectious dis
ease The laboratory was opened
on January LIST, 1899, and has since
done great deal of good work I'M
der the direction of DR.. ]. H. Linsley.
An interesting development of the
work of the laboratory was the hold
ing last July of school of instruc-
ton for health officers. The school,
which is believed to be the first of its
kind in the United States, was con-
Quoted for five consecutive DAYS.
Papers were read by well-known
sanitary authorities from the large
cities, by members of the State Board
of Health, and by other professional
men. The subjects considered were
numerous, and included the follow
ing topics: The relation of the pub
lie health laboratory to the citizen !;
the powers and responsibilities of
health officers and the Local Board
OF Health; public water supplies and
sewerage; sanitary plumbing and
house drainage; the relation of ami
NAL diseases to public health; school
house sanitation and inspection of
school children; isolation of infec-
tious diseases; the prevention of
diphtheria and tuberculosis; disinfec-
ton, disinfectants, and quarantine !;
authorizations and dangers of milk /;
the menace of the pig-pen in country
towns; water supplies and the sig
nifcance of constituents as reported
in the chemical and bacterial analy-
sis; and discussion of the Vidal
test for typhoid fever Daily demon
strations were held at the laboratory
for the purpose of familiarizing, as
much as possible, members of Health
Boards and Others with the nature
of the technical work done i'll public
health laboratories. Working mod
els of systems of correct and faulty
plumbing were used; disinfecting ap-
paratus, filters, ETC., were shown
and demonstrated. The sessions
were free to all persons interested in
the subject of public hygiene, and
no fees of any sort were imposed
There was an attendance of 89Sb
GERS of health, representing as many
municipalities, and as there are only
about 240 towns in the State, the
number present was thought to be
very satisfactory, especially wher
the rural nature of the country i;
considered. 1t is now proposed tc
} hold these schools of instruction an
nually hereafter. Moreover, the
Vermont State Board of Health i;
about to publish periodical de
voted to the subject of public santa
ton, the first issue to appear il
January next (190O) This journa
will be furnished to all officers o
health gratis, and its object is t.
! promote interest in and the efficiency
: of public health work throughout tn
State. We trust this very laudabl
object may be fulfilled