Report of the Board. alent in this state as in some of the eastern states, yet there is a sufficient amount of it to cause anxiety and to stimulate the most active efforts to prevent its further spread, and if possible to eradicate it altogether. This is a question of not only the sav ing of human life, but it is of great financial importance to the State of isconsin, and one that t sideration by our legislature In making the aforesaid suggestions relative to legislation the State Board has only referred to such as are of the most vital importance to the people of the state. They are questions which have been carefully studied by the State Board, and it is hoped that they will receive the attention that the importance of the subjects demand. SOLON MARKS, M. D., President, J. H. MCNEEL, M. D., G. W. HARRISON, M. D., F. C. SUITER, M. D. Q. O. SUTHERLAND, M. D. U. O. B. WINGATE, M. D., Secretary, Members of the Wisconsin State Board of Health. Secretary's Report. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. To the State Board of Health, GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit the folowing report, as your Secretary, for the biennial period ending September 30th, 1900: PERSONAL OF THE BOARD. During the past two years the membership of the Board has remained unchanged, with the exception of the appointment by Governor Edward Scofield of Dr. Wm. F. Whyte of Watertown in place of Dr. F. H. Bodenius, deceased, which appointment occurred the latter part of 1898. The term of your Secretary having expired in February, 1899, he was reappointed to succeed himself, and the term of Dr. Q. O. Sutherland having expired in February, 1900, was also re-appointed to succeed himself. MEETINGS. he The first meeting of the biennial period was held in Madison on January 4-5, 1899. At this meeting Dr. Solon Marks was reelected President of the Board for the ensuing year. The following committees were appointed by the President: On Finance: Dr. J. H. McNeel, Dr. G. W. Harrison, Dr. F. C. Suiter. On Legislation: Dr. Wm. F. Whyte, Dr. F. C.. Suiter, Dr. Q. O. Sutherland. On Printing: Dr. U. O. B. Wingate, Dr. F. C. Suiter, Dr. J. H. McNeel. Secretary's Report. At this meeting the matter of preparing suggestions to teachers in the public schools in regard to contagious diseases was considered, and a set of rules were presented, but on motion the matter was deferred for action until the next meeting of the Board. The Secretary presented a report of the work done in his office during the past six months, and the same was accepted and ordered placed on file. On motion it was voted to re-draft the circular on the "Prevention of Smallpox," issued by the Board, and to submit the same at the next meeting for approval. Also to re-draft the circular on the "Prevention of Diphtheria," and submit the same to the next meeting. Mr. Rood of Beloit presented a petition to the legislature, which was signed by the members present, asking for an appropriation to reimburse the State Board of Health in the sum of $652.11 and the School Board of Beloit in the sum of $629.11, total, $1,281.22, the same having been expended by the two Boards for legal expenses in case of State ex rel. Adams v. Burdge et al., School Board. This was a case which came out of an attempt to enforce a rule made by the State Board of Health requiring all children to be vaccinated before admittance to school in pursuance of section 1408 of the Wisconsin statutes as annotated by Sanborn and Berryman but the rule was declared null and void by the Supreme Court on the ground that the legislature could not delegate power to any Board to make such a rule. (Legislature reimbursed the School Board of Beloit but declined to reimburse the State Board of Health.) Prof. H. L. Russell, Consulting Bacteriologist of the Board, made a verbal report relating to the work of attempting to eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis in the state. He stated that in his judgment our present laws on the subject of treating and disposing of diseased animals were antiquated, and that if we were to attempt to accomplish anything in this direction our laws should be revised. Prof. Russell and the Secretary were Secretary's Report. appointed a committee to visit the Governor and present the matter to him and obtain his views, and if possible his opinion on the subject. Prof. Russell made some remarks relating to the work of Water Analysis which he was conducting for the rd, nd expressed an opinion that there was an increase in the interest taken in the subject throughout the state. The Secretary then presented various reports of inspections made by him in various localities throughout the state. The Secretary then presented a bill to be introduced into the legislature during the next session, entitled, "A Bill to Regulate the Transportation of Corpses." This bill was drafted to conform to the rules lately promulgated by the National Association of Baggage Masters and other State Boards of Health. On motion the bill was approved and the Secretary instructed to have the same introduced. (This bill failed to pass.) The Secretary then presented a bill entitled, "A Bill to Provide a Contingent Fund for the Prevention of Cholera and Other Dangerous Contagious Diseases, and Providing for an Appropriation." This bill called for an appropriation of $50,000 to be used by the Board, by and with the consent of the Governor. This bill was approved and the Secretary ordered to have the same introduced. (This bill became a law.) The Secretary was then authorized and directed to draft a bill entitled, "A Bill to Provide for the Control of Water Supplies and Sewerage in the State of Wisconsin, and Calling for an Appropriation," and to submit a copy of the same to each member of the Board for his approval, after which to have the same introduced into the legislature. (Bill was introduced but failed to pass.) The next meeting of the Board was held in Milwaukee, June 27-28, 1899. The question of preparing rules for use of school teachers was again considered, and on motion it was Secretary's Report. voted that it was inexpedient for the Board to issue such a circular at the present time. Works on Physiology and Hygiene, to be used in the public schools, were then considered by the Board. The Secretary then presented various reports of inspec tions made in different localities throughout the state. Also letters were presented by the Secretary from the authorities at New Richmond, Wisconsin, relative to the recent calamity at that place, resulting from a cyclone, in which the entire city was nearly destroyed, many killed and more wounded. The Board was urged to visit the city in a body, and do what it could in improving the sanitary conditions. The Secretary was authorized to prepare suitable ordinances for adoption by the Common Council of New Richmond to meet the emergency. It was also the sense of the Board, that on the approval of the Attorney General and the Governor, so much as may be necessary of the emergency or Cholera fund should be used for the purpose of rendering immediate sanitary aid. The Secretary presented a report as delegate to the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America, held at Richmond, Virginia, May 23-24, 1899. The following resolution was adopted: "That the Board appoint a committee to confer with the railroad companies operating in the state, and ask them to improve the sanitary conditions of their passenger cars in the following respects: First, To provide cuspidors containing disinfectants for all smoking cars and in the smoking rooms of sleeping cars. Second, To give more attention to disinfecting passenger coaches at the end of each line. Third, That better arrangements be made for the ventilation of passenger day coaches and sleeping cars." The next meeting was a special meeting, held in Milwaukee, September 13, 1899, for the purpose of meeting with the Governor, and considering the expenditure of a portion of the Con |