The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-25
WORK OF ASSOCIATED
HEALTH AUTHORITIES
Second Days Session of the Annual
Meeting at Meohanicsburg- Cues
tions of Importance Consid cred,

tions of Importance Considered.
Mechanicsburg. Pa, May 24.-The
second days session Of the seventh an
nual meeting OF the Associated Health
Authorities and Sanitarians Of Penn
sylvania opened at 10 o'clock this morn.
ing. The devotional exercises were
conducted by the Rev. S. A. Stein. of
st. Pauls Reformed church. Moritz G.
Lippert, chairman Of the committee on
publication, presented the report OF
that body. Then followed a symposium
on rural hygiene, at which several
papers were read.
The Need Of Proper Health Super.
vision in Townships" was considered
by DR.. Robert S. Maison, of Delaware
county, who Is medical inspector to the
state board of health from that county.
The paper discussed the steps taken by
TIE state board and it's friends to give
legal protection throughout the state
The efforts resulted in establishing
boards OF health in cities of the third
class. Boroughs and school boards in
townships were finally authorized to
assume this function.
The author claimed that borough
boards in the smaller places are not
efi1cient, because of local antagonism,
the dearth Of proper material for MEM
bership, the personal element injected
into every effort to abate nuisances,
lack of interest among members them
selves, deficiency in hygienic knowl-
edge and constant change in the per-
sonnel of the boards. The paper advo-
Gated legislation providing for CO.
health officer with deputies in each
township, in order that all cases of
contagious disease may be promptly
quarantined and epidemics thus
avoided.
Dr. II. B. Bashore medical inspector
to the state board from Cumberland
county. read a paper on the danger
which arises from the lack of rural
sanitation. The paper stated that al
though hygiene has never made rapid
progress and the larger cities are un-
de rfairly good sanitary laws, very
little has been done for the rural dis
tricts. The condition has become so
bad in most rural places that It Is act
ually healthier to live in a great city
than in the country.
Contagious diseases are not thor
oughly isolated in the country and as
n consequence people in whose houses
such diseases exist ride on trolleys and
steam cars and thereby endanger a
large community. The lack OF rural
sanitation favors bovine tuberculosis
and tuberculosis milk is in some cases
carried to the city consumer The
state board of health authorities tried
to obviate this lack OF rural sanitation
by endeavoring to have a law passed
authorizing the appointment of rural
boards OF health officers, but the bill
was defeated. The paper asserts that
rural sanitation will be a paying in
vestment, even IL 1t does add one mill
more to the tax rate.
William II. Allen, of the University
or pennsylvania, read a paper entitled
Some Suggestions for Rural Sanitary
Reorganization in Pennsylvania.
discussion followed the reading of
the papers, after which e. S. Wagner
president Of the local board of health,
presented the report OF the committee
on legislation, of which he is chairman,
The afternoon session was opened
with prayer by Rev. T. G. McCarrell
Presbyterian minister of this city.
The Sanitary Aspects Of Epidemic
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis" was dis
cussed in a paper by DR.. d. r. Nc
Cormick, of the Lancaster board of
health.
The greatest interest was manifested
in the discussion that followed the
reading OF the papers. Miss Dora Keen,
or Philadelphia. gave an interesting
description of the workings OF the pub
lie schools in that city. The most spir-
tied discussion of the day was over the
paper by Dr. Maison, which was Joined
in by Prof. Leonard Pearson, state
veterinarian; Captain Weaver, of Nor
ristown, and Major Mclaughlin, OF
Allegheny City.
The treasurer's report showed
small balance in the treasury.
The election of the officers resulted
in the reelection Of all the present Of
ficers, as follows: President, Cover
nor Stone; vice-president, Crosby
Gray, of Pittsburg; second vice-pres.
ident Moritz G. Lippert, Of Phoenix
Vile; third vice-president. II. ii. Whit
comb, of Norristown: secretary, Will
liam B. Atkinson, of Philadelphia;
treasurer, Jesse c. Green, of West
Chester At i30 o'clock this afternoon
reception was given the delegates
at the Irving female college.
At the evening session DR.. w. f.
Eilgin, OF Delaware county, gave an
illustrated lecture on the theory and
practice of vaccination and production
of bovine vaccine. After the presen-
tation OF reports of county medical
inspectors on the recent small pox
epidemic the convention closed. To-
morrow the delegates will visit the
Indian school at Carlisle and the
Gettysburg battlefield.