THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH OF THE STATE OF VERMONT FOR THE Year Ending Sept. 1st, 1889- RUTLAND: THE TUTTLE COMPANY, OFFICIAL PRINTERS. 1889. SIR-I have the honor herewith to transmit the Third Annual Report of the State Board of Health, for the year ending September 1st, 1889. Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, CHARLES L. ALLEN, 178742 Secretary. No. 93.-AN ACT TO PREVENT THE SPREADING OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND TO ESTABLISH A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: SECTION 1. The governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint three persons as members of a State Board of Health for the State of Vermont. The term of office of said members of said board shall be so arranged that the term of one of them shall expire at the end of every second year. Vacancies in said board shall be filled as they occur by appointment of the governor, and confirmation by the senate when next in session. SEC. 2. The members of said board first named in said appointment shall call a meeting of said members immediately after notice of said appointment shall be received by said members, and said board shall meet within six days after said notice, at the time and place designated in said call, and said board shall organize by electing one of their number to be president of said board, and the board shall also appoint a secretary, who shall be a reputable practicing physician of this State, and if not one of the members of said board by appointment he shall be a member of the board by virtue of his appointment of secretary. The said secretary shall hold his office until said board shall appoint another secretary, and he shall be the executive officer of said board of health. SEC. 3. The board shall take cognizance of the interests of life and health among the inhabitants of the State; shall make or cause to be made sanitary investigations and inquiries respecting causes of disease, especially of epidemics, and the means of prevention; the sources of mortality and the effect of localities, employments, habits, and circumstances of life on the public health. They shall also, when requested, or when in their opinion the sanitary interests of localities require it, advise with municipal officers with regard to the location, drainage, water supply, heating and ventilation of public buildings and the drainage and sewerage of towns and cities. SEC. 4. The board shall meet biennially on the second Tuesday of the session of the legislature at Montpelier, and at such other times and places as in the judgment of the board the public health may require, and also whenever the public safety of the people or the stock and domestic animals of the State shall require. The secretary, as executive officer of the board, shall superintend the performance of the work prescribed in this act, and shall perform such other duties as the board shall direct. He shall also respond to the invitations of boards of selectmen of the several towns, or the mayor of a city, in case of epidemics, contagious diseases or |