APPENDIX A. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. 1. Report of the Executive Committee, Richard Y. Cook, Chairman. 2. Report of the Con mittee on Registration and Vital Statistics, Benjamin Lee, M. D. Chairman. 3. Report of Committee on Preventable Diseases and Supervision of Travel and Traffic, George G. Groff, M. D. Chairman. 4. Report of Committee on Sanitary Legislation, James H. McClelland, M. D., Chairman. ( 135 ) REPORTS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Richard Y. Cook, Esq., Chait man. May 20, 1898. The Executive Committee begs leave respectfully to report that since the last regular meeting of the Board, it has held two regular meetings. One at Philadelphia, February 26, 1898, at which bills represented by vouchers numbering from 1010 to 1025 inclusive, and covering expenditures amounting to $998.91 were presented. One at the office of Dr. Samuel T. Davis, Lancaster, Friday, May 20, 1898, at which bills represented by vouchers No. 1026 to No. 1052 inclusive, and covering expenditures amounting to $1,006.25 were presented. All of these vouchers were examined and found correct. July 14, 1898. In the absence of the Chairman, the Secretary presented the report of the Executive Committee, who reported that since the last regular meeting of the Board, the Executive Committee had held one meeting, namely: At Swiftwater, Monroe county, Thursday, July 14, 1898, at which vouchers No. 1053 to 1064 inclusive, amounting to $591.14, examined and found correct. On motion the report was accepted. were November 17, 1898. The Executive Committee begs leave respectfully to report that since the last regular meeting of the Board, July 14, 1898, it has held two regular meetings. One at the executive office, l'hiladelphia, Wednesday, August 31, 1898, at which bills represented by vouchers numbering from 1,065 to 1,072 inclusive, and covering expenditures amounting to $404.86 were presented, and favorably reported. One at the Supreme Court, Harrisburg, Thursday, November 17, 1898, at which bills represented by vouchers numbering 1,073 to 1,082 inclusive, and covering expenditures amounting to $996.20, were presented and favorably reported. All the vouchers were examined and found correct. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS. Benjamin Lee, M. D., Chairman. Your committee begs leave to respectfully submit the following communication from the registrar of the Philadelphia Board of Health, describing the methods pursued in that office: Benjamin Lee, M. D.: Dear Sir: In compliance with your request I have prepared the following brief description of the division for the registration of births, marriages and deaths in this city and county. The registration department is operated under the act of March 8, 1860, being organized July 1 of the same year. The act referred to comprises three divisions, viz.: Compulsory registration of physicians, midwives, clergymen, aldermen, sextons and superintendents of cemeteries and of under takers. The establishment of an office for the recording of births, marriages, and deaths for legal purposes. (A transcript of these records under seal being prima facie evidence thereof)-finally to establish a repository for the collection of data concerning the vital economy of the community. Reports of births are received monthly from each physician or midwife, a regular account being kept with each. These reports are registered, indexed, and the original are filed away in fireproof rooms, all copies being made direct from the originals. Marriages are received, registered and indexed, and filed in precisely the same man ner. In the matter of the interment of dead bodies, the system is somewhat different, no interment being permitted in the city nor dead body removed from the city unless a permit has first been obtained from the Board of Health, which permit must accompany the remains at all times. Special rules prescribe the manner of preparing the dead for interment in contagious diseases, which must be always within 36 hours, and for the transportation of dead bodies by public convey ance. Affidavits being required from the undertaker in each case that the rule has been complied with. A general index of all names recorded since July 1, 1860. This has now progressed from that date to about the year 1875, and is of inestimable value already. The collection of the reports of births is greatly facilitated by the employment of two collectors, whose duty it is to visit delinquent physicians. The births reported annually number, 32,000 29,000 7,900 After thirty-eight years of existence the individual records amount to nearly 2,000,000, the population of the city having nearly trebled itself. The value of such a record to the community requires no demonstration. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PREVENTABLE DISEASES AND SUPERVISION OF TRAVEL AND TRAFFIC. George G. Groff, M. D., Chairman. The State Board of Health and Vital Statistics of Pennsylvania: Gentlemen: Your Committee on Preventable Diseases respectfully desires to report: One purpose in the organization of the State Board of Health of Pennsylvania is the dissemination of hygienic and sanitary literature. In the present struggle between the United States and Spain, as in all former wars, there is a probability of much loss of life from lack of knowledge of personal hygiene on the part of the soldiers, and from inattention to sanitary conditions on the part of the authorities. Especially, should the troops be sent to tropical countries, will there be need of great diligence in reference to sanitation and personal hygiene. In the "Medical News," of New York, for May 7. Dr. W. F. Brunner, Sanitary Inspector, U. S. M. H. S., stationed at Havana, reported that in 1897, 32,534 Spanish soldiers perished of disease in Cuba, and 30,000 invalids were sent home to die. Of the deaths above enumerated, 14,500 were from bowel troubles and only |