The San Francisco call., 1903-09-09
MEDICOS DISCUSS
SANITARY LAWS
State Health Officers
Organize Permanent
Association.
Interesting Papers Are Read
and Doctors Exchange
Their Views.

met the State Board yesterday in the
AIcazar building and a permanent organ
ization was formed and named the State,
County and Municipal Sanitary Confer
ence Of California 1t IS the intention Of
the organization TO meet once a year to
attempt 10 revise the sanitary laws Of
the State and by mutual exchange Of
ideas work in more perfect harmony in
the future. At the session yesterday Dr.
Martin Regensburger, chairman Of the
State Board Of Health was elected presi-
dent q the new medical association and
Dr. n. K. Foster secretary.
At the opening Of the session yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock DR.. Regensburger
made a few preliminary remarks. He
said that at a meeting some time ago
az the State Board OF Health il was sus-
gested that IL a few Of the many Off
cials attached TO the health boards
throughout the State We're to meet Occa-
siOnaIy IL would be most advantageous
There were many subjects that should
be discussed. those being sanitary laws.
the prevention Of the cOntagiOn of riv-
ers. creeks, milk and public conveyances
The state Board Of Health was unable
10 secure statistics in regard 10 births,
and this among other subjects could be
discussed by an organization Of State
health officers and undoubtedly many i'm
provements could be made in this way
the speaker said. In closing he called
upon Dr. Foster. secretary Of the State
Board Of Health for remarks on the sub
5ect
ANTIoUATED LAWS.
Dr. Foster said that the work Of the
state Beard Of Health was extremely
difficult on account Of two troubles. the
first being that the laws in reference to
enforcing sanitary measures were anti
Quated, and the second that a lack Of
interest was shown by health officers Of
the State. He said that he did not mean
10 attack personally those present, but
he was disappointed 10 see only hand
ful Of health officers. when there were
about $50 Of them in the State He sug-
eested that the convention and oTganiza-
ton be made permanent and that the
next meeting CI the association be held
the latter part of April at the same date
and place as the State Medical Society.
IN the meantime committees could get up
papers which could be read and would
be sure 70 be instructive 20 the members
of boards Of health all over The State.
POLICE REGULATIONS.
W I. Foley. an attorney Of Los An
geles. was then introduced TO the conven-
ton. He read a most interesting paper
on the subject The Necessity Of More
by the State Under It's General Police
Power" Ie said in part;
Politicians must learn that the subject Of
public health Wiu IN time become popular
The slow. az wei as the quick mind, must be
taught 90 fear ard observe the lurking dan
gers arising from inadequate sanitary laws
Sanitary measures prepared or suggested by
this beard should be submitted to the ,are
~ the leading legislators oe all parties The
time IL crpurtune Tor action. II IS a most
happy presage of success that the present ex-
in the medical profession as well as his wide
experience and statesmanship has The power
10 materially aid this necessary and important
work or sanitary reform which the distin-
Euished professional gentlemen constituting
the state Board Cf Health have so wisely
industri0usy and ably inaugurated for the
the state owe particularly 20 the members OF
thls board and to the associated members Of
Lle .lt-lea- LIolesslon or the StSte generally
= oebt 81 sratitIoe Tor their activity and in
rerest In sanitary matters which viii IN time
7 trust. be adequately acknowledged. and viii
result in a revision and reform Of the sanitary
laws of TIE State.
TAKPERING WITH FOOD.
Professor w b Rising. in charge or
the chemistry department OF the Cniver-
siry cf California, followed with a paper
on Food Adulteration." He dwelt on the
crime Of tampering with food and also
emphasized the fact that all goods when
limitations Of other things should be
l4aA-l4t marked so LEaL Lne purchaser
would not be misled.
The members Of the convention then
drifted TO the subject Of smallpox and the
danger Of contagion. DR.. Aiken Of Fresno
opened the discussion. He said that near
ly ali the smallpox that appeared in Fres-
no County was owing 10 the lax atten-
ton 10 quarantine by health officers Of
other counties In Fresno County alone
$4,000 had been expended in the last two
years IN suppressing the disease Some
OF the smallpox patients We're recent ar
rivals from the East and some came from
adjoining counties What was needed at
once was a uniformity in all counties in
the enforcement Of State health laws. He
knew that Fresno had the reputation Of
being a very hot place. but he also felt
proud that the city was known as a place
where sanitary laws were respected and
obeyed. Owing 10 the milk regulations
and the inspection of meat the death rate
for the last two years had been reduced
80 per cent. he said.
THE SMALLPOX QUESTION.
Dr. William Simpson. health officer of
Santa Clara County. raised laugh by
asking DR.. Aiken how he had been able
10 get so much money for the suppression
Of smallpox He said that last year he
had $50 cases and that he was only al
lowed $500 by the county and that he was
told that he was bankrupting it. DR..
Simpson went into details about the dam
ger Of contagion IN smallpox and quoted
a case at Coyote, where an old woman
who washed the clothes Of children who
were supposed TO be suffering from chick
en- pox became attacked with smallpox
and later gave il to five other people,
three Of the cases dying.
At the afternoon session DR.. A P
O'Brien addressed the convention. DR.. D.
II. Currie Of the United States marine
hospital service read a paper on Rats
and the Danger Of Their Spreading Dis
ease" Engineer Grunsky showed the
plans for the new German hospital and
explained the modern innovations that
viii be introduced.
Among those present at the convention
were DR.. @. II. Aiken Of Fresno. DIR. .Da-
Wis Of Stockton, Or. Ruggles Of Stockton,
formerly a member Of the State Board
q Health: Mrs. DR.. Ryerson Butin of
MADEIRA. DR.. Ira 3. L.add Of Stockton. Dr.
Carothers Of Martinez. DR.. William Simp-
son OF San Jose, Dr. H c Brown of San
Jose, DR.. J. J.. Asay Of San Jose and DR..
Robert T. Legget Of McCloud.
The Northwestern Personally Con-
Quoted Excursions.