sideration and criticism. It is founded mainly on that adopted by the Royal College of Physicians of England. SANITARY LEGISLATION. It is made the duty of the Secretary in his annual report to suggest amendments to the Sanitary Code of the Commonwealth. The preceding report of the work of the office for the last year should in itself be sufficiently suggestive. The two crying needs of the State for legislation which shall aid in the preservation of the public health and check the unnecessary mortality which is carrying thousands to premature graves, are, first, an act to prevent the pollution of streams and protect the purity of water supplies; and, secondly, an act to provide for the sanitary organization of the State. It is unnecessary to remind the board how seriously it is crippled in its efforts to carry out the beneficent designs of the law establishing it, by want of funds. This, however, is a minor evil. It can go on accomplishing much good by dint of practicing a severe economy, as it has done for the past five years, but the two former necessities are absolute and will brook no delay. INSPECTIONS. The following is a list of places at which inspections have been made either by members of the board or its medical inspectors: Making, in all, thirty-seven, of which thirty were made by medical inspectors, five by the entire board, and two by individual members of the board. REGISTER OF PHARMACISTS. At the request of Mr. Alonzo Robbins, Secretary of the State Pharmaceutical Examining Board, and on the suggestion of His Excellency the Governor, the first annual report of the Board has been incorporated, as an appendix, with the report of our own Board, and a limited number of copies of the same, with a "list of registered pharmacists and qualified assistants," has been issued for distribution by their officers. CENSUS OF THE PHYSICALLY DEFECTIVE CLASSES. The effort of the officer in charge of department of vital statististics of the United States Census Bureau, Dr. John S. Billings, appeared to your Secretary to offer an opportunity of obtaining information of great value to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in this Commonwealth. Finding that many physicians hesitated to reply to the interrogatives propounded with regard to the defective classes, from motives of professional delicacy, he addressed a communication to the department at Washington, asking for a guarantee of absolute secresy. This was cheerfully and explicitly given. A circular was then addressed to the profession throughout the State, informing them of this guarantee, and requesting their co-operation. The following letter indicates the appreciation of this effort on the part of the Superintendent of Census: ELEVENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. C. S. C. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. CENSUS OFFICE, WASHINGTON, June 11th, 1890. SIR: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favor of the 7th inst., and to thank you for the manner in which you have encouraged the physicians of Pennsylvania to make returns to this office regarding the defective classes of your State. I have read your circular to the "Physicians of Pennsylvania" with great care, and appreciate the spirit that prompted you to so forcibly urge upon the medical fraternity the advantage of making prompt and accurate returns. Again expressing my thanks, I remain, BENJAMIN LEE, M.D., (Signed) ROBERT P. PORTER, Superintendent of Census. Supt. Vital Statistics of Pa., Philadelphia, Pa. The following is a list of the places where disease has prevailed epidemically, or contagious diseases have occurred and been reported to the board: The following is a list of circulars which have been issued during the year: 4. Regulations in Regard to the Disinterment and Transportation of Dead Bodies (revised). Precautions against Consumption. Circular No. 28. Circular No. 29. The Dangers Arising from Public Funerals of Those who have Died from Contagious or Infectious Diseases. Addressed to the Clerical Profession. Circular No. 30. The Disposal of the Sewage of Public Edifices. Addressed to the Trustees and Managers of Public Institutions. Circular No. 31. Precautions to be Observed by Undertakers in Case of Infectious Diseases. Circular No. 7 (revised). Precautions against Cholera, Cholera Infantum, Cholera Morbus, Summer Diarrhoea, and Dysentery. Invitations to Fourth State Sanitary Convention, held at Norristown, May, 1890. Programmes for Fourth State Sanitary Convention, held at Norristown, May, 1890. The total number of written communications received during the year has been 1,960, and the total number sent 1,835. The total number of books received by exchange with other boards and scientific bodies during the year has been 44, and the total number of pamphlets during the same period 181* The total number of books purchased during the year has been 13. Permits for the disinterment and transportation of bodies have been issued in the following cases : George L. Bowan, cause of death diphtheria, from North East, Erie Co., to Savanna, Illinois. Permission of health officer of Savanna obtained. Dr. H. Schill, cause of death phthisis, from California to Pennsylvania. Twenty-nine bodies of persons identified, and a general permit for the bodies of the unidentified at Johnstown, cause of death drowning, to be transported from other cemeteries to Grand View Cemetery, Johnstown. Theresa E. Mahratta, cause of death non-infectious, from Rochester, Beaver Co., to Minneapolis, Minn. Permission of health officer of Minneapolis obtained. Kate O. Obley, cause of death drowning, from Johnstown to Lower Yoder. Young woman buried in Grand View Cemetery, Johnstown, grave marked 715-N-47, name not given, cause of death drowning, record of destination not preserved. Adam Ferg, cause of death blood poisoning, from Bremen, Germany, to Pennsylvania. Jane Acker, cause of death convulsions. Charles W. Acker, cause of death croup, all from one grave to another in Rich Valley Cemetery, Tylersport. Harry Seipel, cause of death intestinal catarrh, from Gum Tree, Chester Co., to Frankford, Philadelphia. Two children of Henry Riddle, of Media, from one grave to another in churchyard at Middletown, Dauphin Co. The following is a list of the circulars distributed during the past year: And 508 box envelopes, containing each Circulars Nos. 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 26, 28, a total of 22,028. INTER-STATE NOTIFICATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. During the year, notification of the existence of contagious or infectious diseases has been received from the secretaries of the boards of the following States and Provinces: SMALLPOX. Minnesota, on two occasions, covering three outbreaks. Massachusetts, on two occasions, covering two outbreaks. TYPHUS. New York, on one occasion, covering one outbreak. Similar notification of the occurrence of communicable diseases in Pennsylvania has been sent to the secretaries of all the State and Provincial boards. Smallpox, on three occasions, covering three outbreaks. Leprosy, on two occasions, covering two outbreaks. State Board of Health and Vital Statistics of the Supreme Court Room, State Capitol, Harrisburg, unless otherwise ordered. TIME OF MEETING, Second Thursday in May, July and November. |