The President announced the election of a new President to be in order.

A ballot being taken, a majority of votes cast were for Dr. D. H. Beckwith, of Cleveland, who was declared duly elected, to take his seat at the September meeting of the Board.

Dr. Jones announced that he was going abroad, where he expected to remain for several years, and consequently would be obliged to tender his resignation as a member of the Board.

Expressions of regret and good wishes were offered, after which, there being no further business, the Board adjourned.

Attest:

C. O. PROBST, Secretary.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING.

A regular meeting of the Board was held at the Arcade Hotel, Springfield, Ohio, September 18 and 19, 1889.

Present: Drs. S. P. Wise, President, D. H. Beckwith, Thos. C. Hoover, H. J. Sharp, W. H. Cretcher, Joseph L. Anderson and Prof. Nelson.

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P. M., Wednesday, the 18th, and after the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting the Secretary presented his quarterly report, as follows:

SECRETARY'S QUARTERLY REPORT.

Mr. President, and Members of the Board:

I have the honor to submit the following report of work performed since the last meeting of the Board:

The Third Annual Report of the Board was received from the printer the latter part of June, since which time copies have been sent to members of local boards of health, correspondents of the Board, members of the last General Assembly, to city and State Boards of Health of other States, to physicians, to newspapers, and various sanitary and medical journals.

Copies are being mailed daily in answer to requests for the same. According to instructions, Mr. Hunter, of Warren, Ohio, was requested to assist in the preparation of a pamphlet for the legal instruction of local boards of health.

Mr. Hunter accepted the proposal, and I expected to present his report at this meeting. Business, he writes me, has indefinitely postponed the work, though he hopes to accomplish it soon.

The circular on The Prevention of Consumption, to have been prepared by the Secretary and President, is not ready. I have a paper on this subject, however, to be read at our public meeting to-morrow night, which I trust your committee can shape for a popular circular.

We are slowly increasing the number of local boards of health, and now have 262 on our list.

A circular-letter-the third in number-was recently sent to the mayor and council of each town that has failed to comply with the law to establish boards of health, urging them to take action in the matter. As a result, a few new boards were secured.

The mayor of Sandusky, under date of September 4, writes me that an ordinance to establish a board of health in Sandusky has been introduced and read the first time. He hoped soon to be able to report a board in that city.

I am pleased to report, that after much correspondence, a board has been established in Zanesville.

In two or three places, the board of health has been abolished by council. I have written the proper authorities calling attention to the illegality of such action, and insisting that a board of health must be maintained. On the whole, however, excellent progress has been made in providing for local sanitary work, and the State Board and its purposes have become well known throughout the State.

In my judgment, more really beneficial work can be accomplished in the establishment, fostering and instruction of local boards of health than in any other manner. Much good could be accomplished by a meeting of health officers and representatives of local boards of health; and I would suggest that the State Board of Health should, at its January meeting each year, extend an invitation to local boards to be present, and that one or more days be set apart for the consideration of subjects relating to the practical work of local boards of health. The mutual acquaintance and instruction resulting from these meetings would undoubtedly be of great benefit, both to the State and local boards.

The correspondence of the office continues to increase, especially with local boards, with whom a much closer relationship is being formed. Questions relating to matters affecting the public health are daily referred to this Board for advice or action. A few of the more important communications received since our last meeting will be given here :

The following letter is from Dr. B. R. LeRoy, of Chagrin Falls:

Secretary State Board of Health, Columbus, O.:

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO, July 9, 1889.

DEAR SIR: Our health officer, Mr. Lampson, has reported cases of diphtheria in Solon township, Cuyahoga county. Dr. Armstrong, of Bedford, attended the cases from

commencement until one week ago. The early history I have not, but I was called and took charge of cases and found that the baby was dead; the next oldest dying; the third child in stupor, and two just recovering-past danger, in a measure.

The family Meeks consists of father, mother and eight small children, the eldest, Katie, a blind girl, aged about 13 years. This girl has been staying at the State Institution for the Blind, Columbus, and came home on a Thursday. At the depot she told her mother that she (Katie) had been sick, and that it was the diphtheria. The following Monday the first child came down, the next day another, and so on until all were down with the same disease. Katie and another sister who had not shown signs of disease, were sent to their grandpa's in Cleveland, to escape, if possible. (I hear that both are now sick with the disease, but have no definite knowledge). There is no question as to the nature of the disease. And if the little girl's story is true, I believe that you will have to overlook our State institutions The premises where Meeks lives is three miles east of Bedford. The place was in a filthy condition, which may have caused the trouble (?) But Katie's trunk had that peculiar odor before we disinfected it. We had the place put into good, healthy condition, burned all clothes, rags, bedding, etc., that were soiled; used common lime, Platt's chlorides, carbolic acid and sulphur in abundance, and at present the two boys are doing nicely, and no new cases in neighborhood. Three deaths to date.

Yours truly,

BERNARD R. LEROY.

P. S. Please, if possible, ascertain whether the disease was in Blind Institute.

On receipt of this letter, I wrote to Supt. Miller of the Institution for the Blind, asking for his statement in regard to the facts reported. He answered as follows:

COLUMBUS, O., July 12, 1889.

C. O. Probst, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health, City: DEAR SIR: Replying to your favor of to-day, I beg to say that we had a pupil by the name of Katie Meek, who left here for home Thursday, June 20. But it is a mistake that she took diphtheria with her from here, as we have not had it here. Dr. L. M. Early, our physician, is the best authority as to some cases of sore throat he treated for some of the little girls. And I have requested him to call on you and explain.

Sincerely yours,

C. H. MILLER, Sup't.

Dr. L. M. Early, of Columbus, physician to the institution, called me up by telephone and stated that Katie Meek and two other pupils at the institution had had cases of simple sore throat. He isolated them a few days, to be on the safe side, but claimed there had been no diphtheria at the institution.

On July 23, the following letter was received from Dr. Ashmun, health officer of Cleveland:

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH,

C. O. Probst, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health:

CLEVELAND, O., July 23, 1889.

DEAR DOCTOR: About the first of this month a girl who had been an inmate of the Institution for the Blind, at Columbus, returned to her home here. In a few days

she proceeded to Solon, this county, on a visit. In the family where she visited, three children were soon taken sick and have died from diphtheria. At her own home, after her return from Solon, her sister was taken sick with the same disease and died. Upon inquiry, I find that this girl (Katie Meek), with several others, was sick with sore throat, in the institution, before coming home; that they were isolated and treated as though suffering from some infectious disease; and that there is pretty good reason to believe her to have brought home the infectious element to these people hereabouts. At all events, the outbreak followed her arrival, and at points somewhat separated. I do not know whether trouble has occurred where other institution children were located, but if so, the conclusion would be forced, and I write this only as a possible link in the chain of evidence. Yours sincerely,

On the same date Dr. LeRoy wrote as follows:

To Dr. C. O. Probst, Columbus, Ohio:

G. C. ASHMUN, H. 0.

CHAGRIN FALLS, O., July 20, 1889.

DEAR SIR: Yours of 15th inst. at hand. Since I wrote you, one of the two children, that were sick in Cleveland, is dead, with same disease. No other cases to date.

Doctor: Here we have four children, out of a family of seven, dead with diphtheria in its most malignant form, and the blind girl says that she was sick some time while in Columbus; that she used potash and some other medicines to wash her throat with; that she could not swallow food; that others were sick at same time; that they would not permit the well children to come into their room; that the nurse asked her if her brothers and sisters at home ever had diphtheria. When Katie answered in the negative, the nurse replied, "'tis too bad." This the little blind girl told before she realized the import of of her words.

Of course, the condition of the premises were such as to promote any disease, and possibly cause it; but I candidly believe the disease came from the blind institution at Columbus.

P. S. The first, and youngest, that died, bled to death from raw surfaces left when membrane came off; so did the third; the second, and last, choked to death from membrane closing in throat. The three remaining children are well and around.

Yours,

B. R. LEROY.

I wrote Dr. Early, requesting a full history of Katie Meek's case, and asking whether evidence could be collected in regard to other pupils whom he regarded as having had simple sore throat, which might show that he had had cases of diphtheria with the absence of false membrane or severe constitutional symptoms.

Dr. Early replied as follows:

COLUMBUS, O., September 2, 1889.

Dr. C. O. Probst, Secretary State Board of Health, Columbus, Ohio:

DEAR DOCTOR: Your communication of August 30 is at hand.

As you requested, I have secured the names of all the pupils in room No. 14, where the two suspicious cases of sore throat were taken sick.

Nellie Wright, of Farmington, O., and Mary Hock, of Clyde, were confined to their beds the afternoon of May 20th. I saw them on the morning of May 21st. Both had

high fever, headache, and their throats had more the appearance of being ulcerated than of a deposit of membrane. To be on the safe side, however, I had them removed to the hospital, the bedding boiled, and allowed none of the pupils to see them. On the 23d they were free from fever, and throats simply red; there was no membrane, and I did not feel justified in reporting the cases as diphtheria. They were kept in the hospital for five days, then released. The following list of girls were their room-mates, all of whom have been heard from since school closed, and all have been enjoying good health: Laura Peters, East Ringgold, O.; Susie Hoke, Center P. O., O.; Letha Zimmermann, New Martinsburg; Amanda McCabe, Liberty Center. I have not the exact date of Katie's illness, but it was about June 12th or 13th; any way, four days before school closed. She was taken much the same as the others, only the throat had the appearance of a simple inflammation. She was in bed two days, and the day before school closed was up and around.

I am unable to secure the names of all her room-mates, owing to the absence of the assistant matron from the city. Lena Lapp, 972 Pearl street, Cleveland, and May Redden, Sciotoville, Ohio, are two of them. Neither have been heard from since school closed.

I am certain Mr. Miller would have heard had any pupil been sick while at home. The following is a copy of a letter received by Mrs. Miller soon after Katie's return home, and will probably have some bearing on the case. The underscoring is mine:

July 7, 1889.

DEAR MRS. MILLER: I write to tell you of Katie's visit home, that she has anticipated for so many months. She found her brothers and sisters all sick, and only stayed a few days, when the doctor ordered her sent away. Since then three have died of malignant diphtheria. Their bodies could hardly be kept together for burial, they were so poisoned with the disease. Others are sick. Their sickness is attributed to filth and a bad cellar. Katie is at her grandmother's, in Cleveland, and Mr. S. has written him to keep her while there is any danger. It is reported that she is also sick. We are well; hope you

are also.

Truly yours,

MRS. J. J. S.,
Chagrin Falls, O.

P. S. Was Katie sick before she came home?

Our school commences September 11, at which time I can see all the pupils and ascertain whether or not any have had the disease during vacation.

Hoping this may be of some benefit in clearing up the trouble, and that I may be of still further service to you, I am,

I wrote Dr. LeRoy in regard to the statement that diphtheria was in the Meek family prior to Katie's return. He answered as follows:

To C. O. Probst, M. D., Columbus, O.:

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO, September 5, 1889.

DEAR DOCTOR: Yours of 30th ult., at hand. It was within one week (five days, I think), after Katie returned home, that the baby came down with its last illness. I did not attend the cases until the commencement of the third week of their sickness, therefore cannot say as to what was the first symptoms or disease, if any. The second child came down a few days after the baby, and I believe Katie left for Cleveland about this time, but left her trunk and most of her clothing at home.