of time, frequent failure, and meanwhile many persons may be exposed to the disease. This provision also involves a needless and unnecessary expense for frequent meetings of the Board, which is entirely avoided by the provisions of the substitute above quoted. It is suggested that the Code be so changed as to restore chapter fifty-nine, laws of 1892, with which local boards throughout the State are familiar, and which, in the deliberate opinion of the State Board of Health, is most conducive to the interests of the public health. Section seven of this chapter provides that upon the appearance of small-pox or other contagious disease the local board of health may or may not remove the sick persons to a separate house, or if they cannot be removed they may remain where they are, and necessary nurses, needful assistance and supplies be furnished, and such provision made as will best preserve the inhabitants against danger. The removal and care of the sick is to be effected by an application to a civil magistrate in the same manner as for the removal of a nuisance, as provided in section six. The section should be made mandatory. The board should be commanded to act. It is not uncommon that the question of expense of a few dollars outweighs the value of human life. It is only in rare instances that of small-pox-that the removal of sick persons is required. They can best be cared for in their homes. The inconsistency, therefore, of requiring the warrant of a civil magistrate as authority to enter upon premises for such public benefaction is plainly apparent. Section one provides that meetings of the State Board of Health shall be held at the seat of government, and that the Secretary of the Board shall have an office in the Capitol. No provision is made as to what shall be furnished such office of the Secretary. After the word "Capitol," in the last line, should be added the words, "to be furnished with the necessary and suitable furniture, lights and fixtures." In revising the statute respecting marriages, it is provided in section 3145, chapter two, title sixteen, that after the marriage has been solemnized, the officiating minister or magistrate shall make return thereof to the clerk of the district court. No limit of time is fixed for making such return. As the clerks of the district court are required to make return to the State Board of Health on or before the 1st day of June of all marriages, births and deaths filed in his office "for the year ending December 31st, immediately preceding," it is important that the returns be made to such clerk with some degree of promptness. The limit should be not more than thirty days. The same limit should be fixed in section 3147, instead of ninety days. There is no good reason why the return of the marriage to the clerk of the court cannot be made at the time the certificate of marriage is made for the contracting parties. INSPECTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS. Chapter eleven, title twelve, of the Code, provides for the inspection of petroleum products. In section two thousand five hundred and eight it is provided that the lighter products of petroleum at a specific gravity of not less than seventy, nor more than seventy-five degrees, when used in the Welsbach hydro-carbon incandescent lamp, and for street lighting by street lamps, may be used for illuminating purposes. What was evidently intended as a protective measure, by an unfortunate placement of this proviso, becomes practically null, for the reason that the lighter products of petroleum of the specific gravity required, which is gasoline, cannot be used for street lighting in street lamps, as it would give no light, except a blue Bunsen flame. The real intent and purpose was to apply the specific gravity to what is used in the Welsbach lamp, and this is really unnecessary for the reason that gasoline of any other specific gravity or grade cannot be successfully used in that lamp. There are three grades of gasoline used for lighting purposes. One has a specific gravity of sixty to sixty-five degrees and containing a certain portion of carbon, which is made for street lighting. Another grade is of seventy to seventy-four degrees, which is used for heating purposes in ordinary gasoline stoves, and for illuminating purposes in the Welsbach lamp. Another grade is of eighty to eighty-five degrees gravity, and exceedingly volatile, which is used for generating gas in machines outside of buildings and for making gas for gas engines in propelling machinery. In all cases there is very little danger of misuse of either, and the supply is regulated by the special demand or use to which it is to be put. It would therefore be well to strike out the words relating to specific gravity. If retained it will necessarily require an inspection of all the lighter products of petroleum, the furnishing of special apparatus to all inspectors, at considerable expense, and the exercise of unusual expertness. It will also necessitate the formation of special rules by the State Board of Health for the government of inspectors, for all of which there is no adequate compensation, there being no necessity, direct or implied, for the proviso in the statute. MINERS' OIL. The provisions of the Code respecting the use of oil for illuminating coal mines, chapter ten, title twelve, require the mine inspectors to inspect the oil used for illuminating mines. The schemes and devices of unscrupulous refiners and dealers to evade the statute are numerous and subtle, and so long as they can avoid the suspicion of mine inspectors, their traffic is continued and the miners are supplied with cheap, spurious deleterious, and mixed products, at exorbitant prices. It would be much better to place the inspection of this oil entirely with the oil inspectors, and prohibit the sale or use of any oil for illuminating mines that has not been inspected, and does not bear the brand of approval of such inspector. This would put a stop to all illicit traffic and protect the miners not only from spurious and adulterated oil, but from the extortions practiced by mine operators' stores, which are the agencies of these unscrupulous dealers. See page 331. 1855 67.0 73.0 70.4 67.9 47.2 37 8 21.7 24 8 15.6 30 3 54 0 60.4 47.50 4.75 2.35 1856. 71.8 735 65.4 1857 1858 1859 59 0 52.4 32.8 15.6 65.1 71.2 70.9 63.8 47.9 31.2 31.4 6.2 28.8 29.9 38 3 53.9 44.90 70.6 78.8 79.9 66 0 52.0 32 6 25.5 300 16.0 38.7 46 1 54.3 49.20 690 72.3 68 2 60 3 37.5 39.6 15 1 24 1 25.8 40.1 43.3 62.1 46.45 *Observations were made by Prof. T. S. Parvin. 7.5 15.0 25.8 49.5 61.4 44.14 2.86 2.74 9 10 3 00 4.30 1.40 1 29 1.20 1.60 2.10 0.70 4.40 36.29 1.55 5.34 3.03 3.60 12.60 74 50 2.52 1.00 8.60 5.30 6 50 59 39 |