Fourth Regular Meeting.

REGULAR MEETING, INDIANA STATE BOARD OF
HEALTH.

October 11, 1907.

AFFAIRS CONSIDERED OF THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDING JULY 31ST, 1907, AND THE STATISTICAL QUARTER ENDING SEPT. 30TH, 1907. Called to order by President Tucker at 2 p. m. Present: Drs. Davis, McCoy, Hurty.

Minutes of the last regular meeting held July 12th, 1907, minutes of the special meeting held Sept. 12, 1907, read approved.

and and "

REPORT OF SECRETARY FOR QUARTER ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 1907.

The correspondence during the last quarter was much heavier than in the corresponding quarter last year. The statistics and office work, also the work of both laboratories, have been carefully kept up to the standard. Reports of the work done in the laboratories are appended to this report.

The International Congress on Tuberculosis, to be held in Washington in September and October, 1908, has been a central piece of work during the quarter. The secretary-general of the International Congress, Dr. John S. Fulton, has sent out circulars to all the state boards of health, followed by letters urging the participation of the states. Circulars and letters were also sent to all governors and to all mayors of cities having a population over 25,000. In response to the letter of the Governor of Indiana requesting him to do what he could to make the International Congress a success, we have to present the following communication:

To the Indiana State Board of Health:

October 4, 1907.

Permit me to enclose you herewith correspondence from Dr. John S. Fulton, secretary-general of the International Congress on Tuberculosis, extending an invitation to the State of Indiana to participate through the Governor, the State Board of Health, boards of health of municipalities, and other agencies in Indiana interested in tuberculosis, in the International Congress on Tuberculosis, to be held in Washington, D. C., September 21 to October 12, 1908, by sending delegates and contributions of

t.

exhibits thereto. This congress promises to be one of unusual importance. It will be a great gathering of scientific men from the civilized nations of the world, and I deem it advisable that the State of Indiana be properly represented.

I suggest, therefore, that the State Board of Health take steps to insure the presentation of such exhibits on the part of this commonwealth as the Board after due consideration may deem proper and advisable, and that invitation be extended to the boards of health of municipalities and other agencies interested in tuberculosis to join with the state in participating in the congress.

I submit herewith correspondence from the files of this office relative to the subject. Very truly yours,

It will be noted the Governor recommends that the State Board of Health take steps to insure the presentation of such exhibits on the part of this commonwealth as the Board may deem proper and advisable, and as secretary, I also recommend that said action be taken. I also recommend that this Board request the Governor to write a letter to the county health officers of the state and the health officers of the cities having a population over 10,000, calling their attention to the International Congress on Tuberculosis, its very great importance, its purpose and scope, and to urge that they become interested and join in the work of making the congress a success. I further recommend that this Board write a similar letter. In connection I will state that the governors of the following states have written letters of the character recommended above: New York, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and all the New England states.

VISITS AND INSPECTIONS.

Seven visits and inspections were made as follows:

July 8th, Danville, on account of inspection of water supply and conference with town authorities.

July 12th, Kirklin, on account of reinspection of schoolhouse as ordered by the Board.

July 16th, Carmel, in order to meet with the town board and advise in regard to sanitary work, and in the evening to talk to an audience especially gathered in regard to public sanitary affairs.

August 30th, Bedford, to meet with the county and city authorities to consider public health affairs. The special point to be considered was the continuation of the hitch rack at Bedford.

September 5th, New Albany, to inspect the jail, report of which has heretofore been presented and acted upon.

September 7th, Lafayette, to visit the State Soldiers' Home and make sanitary inspection.

September 20th, Morgantown and Martinsville, to inspect the schoolhouses at Morgantown and to confer with the township trustee in regard to a new one to be constructed. At Martinsville, to inspect the books of the local health officer, who had been negligent of his duties and from whom no response to letters could be secured. Below, full reports of these visits are given :

Danville.-On arrival at Danville, where I was accompanied by Mr. C. C. Clapp, an inspector of the U. S. Geological Survey, we were met by the chairman of the town board, the clerk, and Mr. Julian Hogate, editor of a local paper. Together we visited the water works. Danville is supplied from deep, flowing wells. Upon removal of caps, the water is projected to a height of six feet. The supply is abundant, is cool, and analyses have shown it to be pure and wholesome. The system is that known as the Holley system, [9-17549]

where the water is distributed by direct pressure. There was no complaint in regard to the public water supply. The only question was, is it good and plentiful?. Both of these questions could be answered in the affirmative, and Danville is to be congratulated upon having such a remarkable water supply, which is so pure and so abundant. Upon return from inspection of the water works, a conference was held in regard to the continuance of the horserack, and the sanitary features attached thereto. The secretary presented sanitary arguments why the horse-rack should be removed, calling atention to the advantages which would result from the sanitary changes.

From Danville, with Mr. Clapp, I rode to Cartersburg and Plainfield, at both places meeting with the local authorities, discussing sanitary conditions and making recommendations.

Kirklin.-July 15th: Kirklin was visited on this date in order to make a second survey of the schoolhouse at that place, according to the commands of the Board. Upon arrival I was met by the local health officer, Dr. Parker, and together with a number of citizens, examined the schoolhouse. The conditions discovered confirmed fully the previous survey made by Captain Anderson, and upon which the said schoolhouse was condemned. According to the power conferred by the Board, I did not waive the condemnation but continued the same.

Carmel.-July 16th: On account of an invitation of the local authorities, a local society of women for civic improvement, I went to Carmel. Upon arrival, together with the local health officer and citizens, alleys and the schoolhouse were inspected, also the local creamery and slaughter house. The slaughter house was found in abominable condition, but no action was necessary because the proprietor of the same promised to immediately quit using it for slaughtering purposes and to clean it up. I have learned since. this has been done. In the evening a large audience was addressed in the Friends' Church upon the subject of municipal and domiciliary hygiene. I believe this visit will eventually produce good results.

Bedford.—August 30th: An invitation from the county and city authorities caused me to go to Bedford to consult in regard to various public sanitary matters, but especially in regard to the public hitch-rack. New streets are being built around the public square and sidewalks and sewers are also being built. The ques

tion was, whether or not to continue the public hitch-rack. The matter was gone over fully from all points of view, and upon taking a vote it was the sense of the meeting that the hitch-rack should be abolished. The county and local health authorities were addressed in regard to their duties and the good work that they could do under the law to raise the public health.

New Albany.---September 5th: With Mr. Amos Butler, secretary of the State Board of Charities, I went to New Albany to inspect the jail. Full report of this inspection was presented to the last special meeting; the same was accepted and acted upon.

Lafayette. September 7th: This visit was for the purpose of inspecting the Soldiers' IIome and making such recommendations as might seem proper. It was a stormy day and the inspection was somewhat difficult upon that account. I have to report very great improvements in the hospital since our previous inspection and recommendations from this Board. The water closets now have cement floors and cement walls to a distance of 4 feet high. The partitions are raised from off the floor, repainted, and the ventilation bettered. On account of the original defects in the hospital when built, it is impossible by improvements to produce the sanitary conditions which economy and the proper care of the sick demand. A new hospital is now being constructed, and the plans, if adhered to until the end, show that the new building will be sanitary in all respects. The health of the institution is good, but, of course, the sick rate and death rate is very high, because all the inmates are aged people. Tuberculosis exists very extensively, but there is no hope of saving any of the cases examined, because of the advanced age and because of the advanced condition of the disease. Several minor recommendations were made to the commandant, for which he expressed thanks.

Morgantown. The schoolhouse at Morgantown was condemned as unsanitary one year ago, and subsequently permission was given to the trustee to use the schoolhouse this winter, provided certain improvements were made. Complaint by telephone was received that improvements were not made and asking for an inspection. Accordingly I went to Morgantown on September 20th, called upon the trustee, and together we visited the schoolhouse. I found the report to be true in part. Galvanized iron jackets had been provided for the stoves, but ventilating boards had not been placed in the windows. The trustee said he was waiting for these