Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-11
Opening Of the Annual School For
Instruction in This
City.
AN ATTENDANCE OF 100.
the State Board. Mayor Hawley,
Gov. Stickney and Hon. j. A. De
Boer-Tribute to the Late DR..
10 H, Linsley.

The Health Officers school opened at
the Hayward block Monday night with all
attendance of about 49, representing near
ly all sections of the State.
DR.. c. 5. Cavcrly, president of the State
Beard. calleG the meeting to order, and
gave d brief review of health legislation
in the state of Vermont Previous to 1855,
he said, there were few laws relating to
public health. Those that existed gave to
the seectmcn authority as health officers.
In 1886 the State Board was created. since
then progress has been rapid, eliminating
In the act passed by the Legislature in
1900 authorizing the School Board for Health
Officers. This school is the first of its kind
authorized by any State. The effect of Yer
mont health laws have been salutary to
a remarkable degree, statistics showing
that deaths from infectious diseases, in
GLIDING diphtheiia, scarlet fever. typhoid
fever and consumption have greatly de.
creased This good work is unquestion-
ally due to the local boards Of health. That
they may be efficiently trained is the
main purpose of this school.
Mayor Hawley was introduced by DR..
Caverly as a good citizen and a good doc
tor In well chosen words he welcomed
the visiting physicians and rendered them
the freedom of the city. lie recognized
he said, the importance Of the work of
the Board of Health. Modern sanitary
necessity. Since thi; is so, laws ON sar-
itary conditions must nc supreme and
must be respccted q. State health officers
should enforce their regulations to the
full extent of their power. Concerning
tuberculosis the mayor said that it was
now fully recognized that it was common
in animals as we'll as in man, and can be
transmitted from animals to man. lsola-
ton of cases distinction and destruction
of sputum was urged, ard the establish
ment of state sanitoria for treatment of
the disease recommended. Irchriety was
also classed as a disease, and the state
control and treatment Of its victims In
reformatory institutions urged. The may
or concluded by COMMUNICATING tho ctt-
cheney and energy of the board.
Gov, Stickney was then introduced. He
was here. he stated, to stamp with the Off
cial approval of the State the work ard
endeaVors of the State Board of Health.
He considered as incontestable the state
ment that the welfare of the people is the
supreme law Health officers are the
representatives. Of that law. Hence the
must keep abreast of the times This is
the great value of their gathering. Gov.
Stickney then discussed the question Of a
federal board of health. and upheld Its
legality on the ground that whatever sub
serves the health of people has always
been held legal by the highest courts. Yer
l'II', tIl' SHfdhtl luIlHtT Sdlu, was III lii''
lead in sanitary legislation as in other
movements. She had an exhibit at the
Paris exposition that vas in aL
vance of other similar exhibits, and did thu
State great credit. The gov error said in
closing that he was glad that in this
gathering, as in The state Legislature, the
representation is by towns, fer the town is
the genesis Of New England government
Following Governor Sticknev. Hon. ]. A
)eI9Oer of MOntpelier. was introduced He
expressed his interest in the matter If
precaution. and his satisfaction
that the attention paid to this branch Of
medical science had resulted in giving Yer
mont a lower death rate than her sister
States. Sneers at the science of sanitation
he said are out of date. 1t is poor econ
omy to economic at this point. The dis
CoVcries OF science have been greater than
the events chronicled in the histories
Splendid progress has been made ana tina
progress has been toward ir,olligcnce and
morality Mr. DaRoer laid a,,eciol etrosc