The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
NEW OFFICERS FOR
 MEDICAL SOCIETY Annual Message of President
 Full of Interest YEARS DISEASE RECORD Society Approves Greater Birmingham Because of Good Effects on San itary and Health Conditions
 in Outlyino Districts.
YEARS DISEASE RECORD


 Dr. L. w. Whatley, one of the oldest members, was elected president, to sue ceed Dr. w. l.. Wyman. Dr. Whaley made a little speech of acceptance, in which he spoke highly of the society and it's former president Dr. w. r. Black was elected vice president and Dr. w. F. Tally was reelected to the board of cen sors. Dr. Arthur Toole still acts as sec retary and treasurer and his term does not run out for another year.
 It was unanimously decided to give smoker at the Hotel Hillman next Mon day night. A committee consisting of Dr. Gewin, Dr. MeAdory and Dr. Hogan was appointed to complete arrangements. The doctors expect to make this quite an elaborate affair as an appropriate ending for the banner year in history.
 Annual Message of President.
 The annual retiring message Of the. president was one of exceptional inter- est. Not only did he touch on the ty- phoid fever epidemic but the subject of Greater Birmingham, the squabble in the health department and number of other important matters
 "To be the president of the largest and best county medical society in the south is, indeed, a distinction to which any physician who loves his profession may well aspire" he said. We now number on our roll 237 members and constitute the banner society of the state as well as the whole south" He called attention to the fact that the society had lost one member during the past year, Dr. A. W. Sims, of whose ability and energy he had very high opinion.
 Reviewing the work of the past year, l must congratulate you upon the masnifi : cent record you have made, You will all agree with me when l say that 1t has been the best year in the history of the society considering the amount and character of the work that has been done Early in the year your president urged the adoption of the weekly meetings and the appointment of a committee on seien- tihc work. You at once approved this plan and you all know the results"
 Local Typhoid Epidemic.
 He Recommended that a volume of the papers, read before the society be pub lished. "The year just about to close has pdssed without any general epidemic disease prevailing in the county, ana health conditions have ben fairly good in the city of Birmingham and in other municipalities and parts of the county. During the summer months there was, It is true a local epidemic of typhoid fever in a rather circumscribed district on the South Highlands. The exact cause of this infection, so far as l know, has not been definitely fixed. There was, however, a very strong suspicion resting on local dairy in the center of the infected dis trict as being the original cause. 1t was noted that after this dairy was closed by order of the Mayor that the disease no longer spread in that locality. In the adjoining blocks there was no sewerage and a case developed there which may have been the original fauces.
 eve have had in other parts of the city cases of typhoid fever, and there have been some very valuable lives st from this disease. There has been more or less typhoid Throughout the surourps and county. There Is one fact which we must recognize, and that is that we nave too much typhoid fever in Birmingham, and it behooves this society acting Tn the capacity of county board of health. to devise ways and means of preventing this widespread infection which eon- fronts us each summer and fall It IS an infection which can be prevented by the proper enforcement of the sanitary reg ulations. 1t is your duty, gentlemen, to insist upon the enforcement of all san- tary rules, including proper sewerage for dwellings, careful inspection and examin- ation of all kinds of food and thorough and systematic investigation of each case of fever which develops" One point which the speaker complained of was the slack manner in which contagious diseases are reported to the health departments. He highly congratulated pr. R. E. Hardness for his efficient work during the past year.
 "Unfortunately there has existed some friction between the city bacterologist and the city health officer, due, l believe, largely to the fact that the duties of the former official and his relationship to the health department have never been definitely fixed. A committee has been appointed to adjust these differences and render tliese two departments more har- rponious and effective. l desire to say in this connection that pr. Duncan has been very faithful and efficient in the discharge of his duties.
 For Greater Birmingham.
 "Our society during the past year placed itself on record by resolution favoring the adoption of the King Greater Blr- mingham bill, which was finally passct. by the legislature and signed by the gov ernor 1t is earnestly hoped that .he people will adopt the measure at the roIts as the extension of the city limits fur nishes the only solution by which the sanitary and health conditions of the out lying districts can be improved
 Much of the presidents address was hostile sentiment against the State Met- ical association. He also spoke highly of the work done by the legislature. The bill establishing a state sanitarium for tuberculosis, the bill providing for the state board of medical examiners, aeoi- ishing the county boards of medical ex- aminers, the epileptic colony bill, the new health laws and the bill increasas the appropriation for the health depart ment were all signed by the governor"
 After discussing these laws, he ex-