Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
CONCLUDING. SESSION
CONFERENCE OF STATE BOARDS
:zoR HEALTH.
Papsr Read ON the discrimination Of
IL mi
Mosauitoss The Choice
Of Officers.

at the second session of the nineteenth an
nual conference Of the state and provincial
boards Of health OF North America. which
was concluded at sthe, New Willard Hotel
this morning. The application Of San Fran
cisco for the nesting next year was filed
with the executive committee, and that city
will be probably chosen. the announcement
to be made later. Many Of the members
go from here to Atlantic City, where they
will attend the meeting of the American
Medical Association Rhich opens there next
week. Af-4
In the chair this morning was the presi-
dent, Dr.J. N. Hurty of Indianapolis while
all of those in attendance were executive
omcers or various state boards OF health.
The secretary, Dr. Gardner IT. Swarts of
Providence. r. L, read a report on resp
luton to the effect that. In view of the
fact that typhoid fever has been frequently
traced to oysters, the. conference recon-
mended legislation by the several seaboard
states which will prevent propagation and
rattening Of oysters in sewage-polluted
waters
In response to the report of the commit
tee appointed at the last meeting In Bal
timore In October 1903, DR.. Probst OF
Ohio read paper on venereal diseases and
recommended that boards of health every
where be advised to circulate gratuitous in
structions as the avoidance and care or
physicians comprising the committee were
Drs. Henry D. Ho1ton, Vermont; e. W.
cooper. Delaware. and Charles 0. Probst,
Ohio. The resolution was supported by DR..
Ferd. C.. Valentine, genito-urinary surgeon
at the West Side German Dispensary, New
York.
DR.. Carl L. Barnes Of Chicago discussed
the disinfection OF bodies where death re-
suited from contagious diseases. He de-
clared that in cases of death resulting from
smallpox 1T is now possible to embalm the
body and carry It through the streets with
out danger of contagon.
There was also favorable consideration
Of the resolution offered at the Baltimore
meeting by DIR. J. A. Eagan, to the effect
that state boards of health were recon-
mended to see that all school children are
and hearing. in order that these diseases
might be checked in their fncipiency.
determination Of Mosquitoes.
DR.. L. o. Howard, entomologist of the
Department of Agriculture. read paper
prepared by Mr.. Henry c. Weeks, secretary
of the National Mosquito determination
Society, Bayside, l.. l.. on resolution that
it is the duty of the state boards of health
to obtain such legislation and appropria-
lions as are necessary to secure drainage
of swamp lands and; thus exterminate mos
quitoes. which insects, says the doctor. are
entirely responsible for the contracting of
malaria and yellow fever. DR.. Howard
read In part:W . II
''Entomologtsts have disproved one of the
most persistent fa1lacies-that mosquitoes
may breed without water. They have also
shown the efhciency Of OIL as an extermi-
nator. and itafallsg. upon those who state
that there are other means of contracting
malaria and yellow fever than by the bite
of mcsquitoNto prove their case
He read from MI Weeks paper that the
shown. and with the certain proof we have
of this menace andbour- positive knowledge
oe the scientific means at hand for its elm
nation, there seems to be but one course
to pursue. ana that,ls to get rid of the con-
ditions which "a usssthe trouble.
We should, he said. drain all standing
water; in every form. aor. If drainage is i'm
practicable, fishes should be introduced or
larvicides used for ere exterrnina ton of the
pests II tffes stagnahf wat ter cannot be
drained away It, shoiiid. be made, by scien-
tif1c trea tment,e psrfeetly safe by either Of
the other courses IN entioned But the main
reliance is drainage he read, for 1t has been
conclusively shown thar the mosquito is in
directly responsible for tuberculosis, be-
cause the people are afraid to- breathe the
bracing night air because of the mosquitoes
The foul air of the dwelling is therefore
used over and over again, with the result
of frequent tuberculosis from-.tiis hitherto
unsupported origin.
~ Officers Elected.
The election of officers resulted as fol-
lows: John S. Fulton, Baltimore, Md presi-
dent; NJ. X. Foster. San Francisco. Cal.
vice president: ]. A. Eagan, Springfield, ILL.,.
treasurer; Gardner T. sSwartz, Providence,
Il. L., secretary =. 49,. -.