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State Health Officers

State Health Officers image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
July
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The attendance at the conference of Michigan's health orEicers in this fity w;i 8 harldy as large as expected, bul the interest wanifested was very great. The flrst session Xhursday afternoon was occupied by the folio wing papers and the discussion whieh f olio wed: "Toxius and Anti-Toxins," by Prof. Fredoriek G. Novy, of the Unlversity; ■Bacterial Poisons in .Milk and Milk Products," by Dr. Yietor C. Vaughan, of the Uuiversity; "Infantile Mortality and lts Causes,'' by Dr. Henry B. Baker, of Lansing, secretary of tlie state board of health. Discussion upon these papers was general and interesting. The second session of the conference that night was devoted eutirely to the discussion of niilk poisouing and the duty and authority of the state in inspection and regulation of the sale of milk. Dr. Samuel P. Duffield, Detroit's well known health officer, read a paper on "The Milk Supplies of Large Cities." The doctor spoke chiefly of the pure food act of 189Ö, and characterized it as a gloomy failure, as far as thQ milk question in Detroit is concerned. It did away with the standard set by the law of 1S80, by which all milk could be judged. Dr. O. L. Dales, health offlcer at Grand Bapids, led in the lively discussion which followed. Prof. Clinton D. Smith, of the Agniculturai College, read a paper on "Sterilization and Pasteurizatiou of Milk." Hou. Frank Wells, of Lansing, opened the discussion. Judge Aaron Y. McAlvay, of Manistee, followed with a strong paper on ''The Duty of the State to Inspeel Milk Supplies." Prof. Jerome ('. Knowlton closed the program witli a brief discussion of the legal aspeots oí the question. The f olio wing coiamittees were appointed: To urge legislature to grapt funds for carrying on work of instruction in public schools - Dr. E P. Hurd, of Union City; Dr. H. R. Mills, of Port Huron; Dr. Bion "Whelan, of Hillsdale. To urge a change in the recent law for collection of vital statistics- Dr. V. C. Yaughnn, of Ann Arbor; Dr. S. P. Duffleld, of Detroit; Dr. Hicks, of Menominee; Dr. A. D. Hagadorn, of Lanslog; Dr. O. L. Dales, of Grand Rapids. ■ At in o'elock Friday morning the conference again took up its work, meeting in the upper lecture room of the physical laboratory, the hygienic laboratory beiug occupied by a class of summer school students. The topic for the two sessions of the last day's conference has been "Diphtheria," and all papers and discussion have centered about that dread disease. The following papers were read at the forenoou session. with discussion as indicated: "Causation of Diphtheria,' by Prof. Frederick G. Novy, of the University; discussion led by Prof. Delos Fa 11, of Albion, member of the state board of health. "Practical Hestriction of Diphtheria in Cities," by Dr. Adolph Hochstein, of Kalamazoo; discussion opened by A. D. Hagadorn, of .Lansing. "Bacteriological Diagnosis of Diphtheria and Other Infectious Diseases," by Dr. A. W. Crane, of Kalamazoo; discussion opened by Hiram E. Mills, of Port Huron. For the foni'th and last session the conference assemblee! "at 2:30 p. m., Friday in the State Hygienic Laboratory. The following program of papers and discussions is being carried out: "Preparation of Diphtheria Antitoxin," by Dr. C. T. McClintock, of the University; discussion opened by Dr. V. O. Vaughan, of the University. "The Results Obtained by the Use of Diphtheria Antitoxin," by Dr. .7. H. Kellogg, of Battle Oreek; discussion led by Dr. George H. Granger, of Bay City. "The Restriction of Diphtheria by Isolation and Disinfection," discussion general and led by Dr. Henry B. Baker, of Lansing. secretary of tlie state board of health. The two days' session of Michigan health ofticers elosed Frlday uight, the delegate-s expressing thernselves as highly gratified at the suceess of the conference. Bêfore adjourning the following resolutions were passed: "Whereas, Reliable vital statisties constitute so important a. basis for the development of the sanitary service of the state, and since the metliods of collecting those statistics in this state are such that gross errors ma y be made, we, members of the conference of health officers of Michigan, petition the coming legislature to pass a bilí for the immediate registra tion of blrtbs and deaths." "Whereas, The legislature of Michigan, at Itá last session, "wisely saw fit to pass a law for the disseininatiou of knowledge conceruing the preveution and restriction of comnmnicable diseases by direrting that the state board of health should place in the inands of the teachers of the state such informatïon as would carry out the intent of the law, but oniitted to pass an appropriation that would enable them to carry out the provisions of this act, without curtailing its ordinary work, therefore, be it, "Resolved, That this conference ask tliat the leglsla.ture to be elected shall make additioual appropriations as will enable the state board of bealth to effectually carry out the provisions of tbis act, whlch we believe will be of the greatest value to the people of this state."