Greenville Sanjtary Convention

April llth and 12th, caused the doctors and others, at the cali of the Board of Health of the State of Michigan, to be present at the Sanitary Convention. It might have been called a health institute, and "Smelled as Sweet," but the sound would have lacked the Latin twang. This was, I think, the sixth of a series of meetings of this character. Conducted by our efficiënt Board of Health, and was decided to have been quite the most successful of all, especially as to attendance, and attention. Five sessions of three and four hours' duration, were sustained by full audiences, in the spacious Congregational church. The number and character of the delégales from abroad were quite favorable too, to the influence of the convention. Two very intelligent gentlemen from Toronto, Ontario, were here, confessedly to learn something of the work of our Board of Health, and by the way, it leaked oul here, that this same Michigan Board of Health, is the pioneer of its order and is with all making quite a stir in this sickly world, at home and abroad, in the interest of health reform. But as to attendance, Bishop Gillespie sat attentively, and not alway silently, through every session, Governor Jerome sat through three sessions, also Ex. Lt. Gov. Holt, of Muskegon. "While Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Battle Creek, Grand Eapids, and many other towns were represented. The papers and discussion s were of a high order generally, and all but two on the program me, were presented; and one of these was crowded out for want of time. Not to go toto detail, the importance of vaccination, for the prevention of smallpox, muscular hygiëne, school hygiëne, restriction and prevention of scarlet fever, and diphtheria, were notably gosd papers. Adulteration of food, wa8 ably discussed by Prof. Prescott, of Ann Arbor. Much was read and said a bout pure air and water and generally the discussions were reasonable and instructive. The usual tendency to enthusiasm, in places where men do congrégate was apparent and in some instances ventured upon the use of the "gift of continuance" where it is denied to the preacher. It occurred to some that sanitary meetings should be conducted under the law oL their order. One speaker remarked that he had at one sitting at the microscope, seen a creature bom, grow old, and die. Thiü was a very suggestive idea to those who at one sitting gave audience to some of the speakers, but these instances were very few. Another danger to an idea, in passing the seat of a special conventioa, or institute, became apparent. That is, to ride the poor panting thing till it gives out, instead of showing its muscle and speed, and leaving it tied for others to ride. A good thing can be overdone, and then the effect is no better than if it were not done enough. The old and trusted well, would come out of some discussions, the reeking cesspool whose next draught would be almost sure and sudden death. The dishwater had been thrown too near, and other nuisance3 were known to be within the wide circle that sends every foul thing straight to the well. Then the average dweliing was gone over from cellar to garret, with the nasal muscles in tensión. Decay in the cellar, poison in the wall paper, carbonic acid gas in the bed room, and "germs" of disease every where, witn tue best unng of all, plenty of house flies, f or seavinger service. What's the nies' food is poison. It loads itself with genns, as the miller does with dust, then strokes them off, rolls them into balls, and eats them. No plea of clemency however comes for the blue bottle flies - the horse fly, or the mosquito. One thing reinaining in the form of objection to the householder, in this case, it is that while the faithful fly has the whole field of "germs" to convert into dumplings, it will not give the family a fair chance at the table, nor keep its unwashed feet out of the victuals. Some of these fine points I say, were axded to the innumerable things that an enthusiastic sanitarian sees going into the ground; but the drift of the work of the convention was good, very good. The impression one received from a lay standpoint, was that the professional gentlemen present were modest, able, common sense men, and that Michigan has reason to be grateful for the work of her Board of Health. They are dcing invaluable work in the way of restricting the prevalence of eontagious diseases. Heed to their voice coRcerning scarlet fever and diphtheria, will no doubt save the lives of hundreds, and if Greenville may speak of the local and general valué of a sanitary convention, the town is fortúnate that enjoys auch a favor.