Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-12-19

The annual meeting of the County Health
Authorities in the Court House, Tuesday
afternoon, was an interesting occasion,
attended by representatives Of majority
OF the Township Boards Of Health and
physicians and citizens from every town
ship The number of ladies present at
tested the interest the home-makers have in
the subject of smallpox, which was to be
especially discussed.
President Halsey, presided, and after
Secretary DR.. T. E. Parker had called the
roll, the old officers were all reelected by a
unanimous vote, in opposition to Dr. Hal
sey's advice that new President might
infuse new vitality into the organization,
as follows:-
President, Dr. L. NJ. Halsey, of Monroe;
Vice President, DIR. Jas. Hunter, of West
Deptford: Secretary and Treasurer, DR.. T.
E. Parker, of Woodbury..
Executive Committee Warner Under
wood, VIM. M. Carter, Woodbury.; VIM. G..
Cattell, Wenonah; DR.. G. S. Heritage,
Glassboro; DIR. S. F. Ashcraft, Mullica
Hill; DR.. George c. Laws, Paulsboro, and
Walter Heritage.
The roll call of the townships elected the
pleasant fact that the general health Of the
county was good, as one representative,
that from Logan, expressed it, alarmingly
good except for case of smallpox and
one case of scarlet fever in West Deptford,
both cases however, have passed the danger
point.
The following resolution was adopted
Realizing that it is difficult to get speak
ers to address these meetings, and realizing
also that it is difficult to arouse sufficient
interest among members of the different
Boards of Health as well as of the laity, it
is the opinion of those present to-day that
this organization shall continue, and that
we meet at regular intervals to discuss
sanitary matters.
The following questions were asked
How can we get the active cooperation
Of sanitarians throughout the county 2"
This topic was not discussed. The next
question els it possible to obtain legisla-
tive Endorsement of such an organization
rs this, and in this manner make it one of
the duties devolving upon the local boards
to be represented"
Mr.. Carter thought it was. He stated
that this county was the pioneer in forming
of county organization.
He suggested the appointment of a COM
mittee to confer with the State Board.
Carried.
DR.. Rogers asked if such a move was
practical.
Mr.. Carter thought county organize
Jon was just as practical as a township
The vote was in the affirm
alive.
The next question asked, ''Is it practical
md expedient to obtain uniformity of
lctlon throughout the county and more
general enforcement of health, as we'll as
! better protection, to have diseases which
IRE, or shall hereafter be termed commune
able and hazardous to public health re-
ported to some central Office? The answer
vas in the affirmative.
DR.. BENZ Lee, a gentleman of national
equation in sanitary matters, was then
by President Halsey to speak on
he various phases of smallpox. He be-
,an by saying that from the fact that the
people of New Jersey and Pennsylvania
we're daily intermingling, it must follow
hat when contagious disease existed on
me side of the Delaware it will continue
IN the other side. He gave unreserved en-
iorsement to the opening sentence of the
circular issued by the Health Authorities,
hat we are in the midst of an epidemic the
most terrible of all conta2 )us diseases, and
said that as martial law overrides all other
aw in time of war, SO sanitary law over
ides all other laws on the appearance of
mall-pox, and it is the duty of every
itizen to submit himself to that authority
There is no excuse, he said, for any
to allow the warnings of the
Ipproach of this disease to go unheeded
rs early as 1898 the warning went out
rom the State Boards of Health, but they
emained unheeded except in few of the
anger cities. Reports from every section,
lorth, east, south and west, all told that
he disease was approaching the epidemic
stage.
Precautions which Boards of Health
hOuld adopt were first, vaccination of all
chool children; second, procure disinfect-
ng apparatus; third, procure hospital
where those who cannot be safely cared for
t home can be removed; fourth, have ply
lcians report every case of eruptive dis
ase.
Ii these stEps are promptly taken,
ense of security is engendered.
The doctor devoted a few sentences to
corning those municipal authorities that
from Boards of Health the means
I enforcing and putting in operation the
yarious precautions.
Coming to the different phases of small
'ox, the lecturer described nine distinct
ypes of the disease, from the old fashioned
mall-pox to the type Of the present cpl
lemic.
The last epidemic Of smallpox occurred
n 1871-'72, and freedom from the disease
or 80 years had produced a poorly
accinated generation. Physicians he said
we're not prepared to recognize the present
,hase of the disease from the text books, as
his phase is peculiar one, and no physi-
ian with whom he had talked has recog-
lized it from any previous phase. 1t had
'een called Cuban itch, Philippine mea-
els, chicken pox, etc., and his inspector
lad even stopped a teacher of public
chool on the way to his duties, with his face
overed with sores; and physicians, even in
ace of expert opinion, have insisted that it
vas not smallpox.
While chicken-pox develops in crops,
yer surfaces protected by the clothing;
mall-pox develops at once, on exposed
urfaces. In smallpox, before the erup-
ions, the skin feels like shot or peas under
he surface.
He closed with an appeal to Boards of
Health to be fearless in the discharge of
heir duty, and not be swerved therefrom by
my influences whatever.
A rising vote of thanks was rendered the
loctor for his address.
Court Notes.
The Common Pleas causes of The State
4 New Jersey, Adon w. Muller, Fish and
tame Warden, Prosecutor VS.. Geo. Ander-
on and Philip Walaman, were called for