measures adopted from time to time toward perfection of statement. Dr. Cressy L. Wilbur, of Lansing, Mich., followed with a paper, virtually on the same subject, and the need of co-operation by the registrars of vital statistics throughout the country, for the accomplishment of a common standard for forming comparative judgments on the results. He said that in many cities fictitious results were adduced by eliminating deaths occurring in hospitals and other institutions, and yet comprehending in the population all the itinerancy for the time being, insomuch that, notwithstanding the showing, he doubted whether any city in the United States. reached an annual death rate of less than 17 per 1,000 of population. This conclusion of Dr. Wilbur elicited considerable discussion. A member from Buffalo, N. Y., remarked, with regard to his own city, most rigid methods were employed, while the rate there was but 14 per 1,000. Others stated, with reference to cities severally, all deaths in hospitals were included in their reports. Papers by members from Mexico next followed.-"Period in Which Every Contagious Malady Can Be Transmitted, and Period in Which Every Sick Person is Dangerous to Healthy Persons Near Him," by Dr. Louis E. Ruiz, was listened to with marked attention. Dr. Jose P. Guyon read "A Note Concerning the Transmission of Pathogenic Fungi by Flies and Mosquitoes," technically discussing the now generally accepted belief in the transmission of certain diseases in tropical countries, especially by these means. Dr. Jesus E. Monjaras read a paper on the "Principal Causes of Infectious Diseases and the Principal Means to Act Against Them," dwelling in particular upon the various sanitary measures in vogue in the Spanish-American countries.

Evening Session was held, beginning at 8 o'clock, to hear the Welcoming Address of Mayor CAPDEVIELLE and Hon. J. Y. SANDERS, Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives; and the Address of Dr. HENRY D. HOLTON, President of the Association. The session was opened with a prayer by the Rev. Father Laval, of St. Louis Cathedral, a gem in thought and wording, expressive of the great debt of gratitude owed by men for the opportunity and means to combat the afflictions of the human race, and giving thanks for the deeds already done, as well as asking blessings upon the future progress of the great work.

Mayor CAPDEVIELLE expressed great pleasure in behalf of the city at the meeting of the Association here. He said in part: "Louisiana, from an early date in her history, has pursued the enlightening public policy of fostering the studies which are neces

sary for the development of sanitary regulations, or those means designed to secure health, as calculated to produce the most beneficial effect on the people of the State, tending at once to the increase of population, the extension of trade and commerce, the productiveness of agriculture, and the rapid growth and progress of the arts and sciences.

"Having constantly in view the policy in question, the property holders of New Orleans have not very long since laid upon themselves the heavy burden of additional taxation, the proceeds of which have been capitalized in 4 per cent. bonds amounting to $12,000,000, having fifty years to run, in order to construct a system of drainage and a sewerage system, with free water therefor, through the city. At this interesting period in the history of the place, a considerable portion of the system of drainage has been completed. When the many obstacles are taken into account. which it has been required to overcome, I am able to say that the result so far attained is satisfactory.

"We live in Louisiana in a terrestrial paradise, whose riches, science instructs us, are in all probability not yet half explored. "The Mississippi is held in by artificial banks as it courses its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The gardens of New Orleans, luxuriant with semi-tropical plants and shrubbery, and the streets of the metropolis are no longer to be deluged by the torrential rainfalls of the locality, but, conveyed in open and in lined and covered canals, will be discharged into the Lake Pontchartrain, and, eventually, into Lake Borgne. When the alluvial plain on which the city is built will have been sewered, and the filth and other foul and polluting matter which has heretofore been deposited and left to infect the soil, will have been removed, New Orleans is certain to become as healthful a place of residence as any other large American city.

"Gentlemen of the Convention, I greet your gathering in this place with heartfelt satisfaction. Our people have watched your coming with deep interest. They will witness your departure, when that has to take place, with unfeigned regret.

"Speaking for the people, and in my own name, besides, I bid you once more a heartfelt welcome.”

Mr. SANDERS spoke very briefly, but cogently, to the purpose. "It gave him pleasure to accede to the request, and in the name of the Governor, to welcome the Convention to the hospitality of the State of Louisiana, and he embraced the opportunity of speak

ing some words which expressed his own heartfelt desires as well as those of all the great Commonwealth-that the work of the Association should ever prosper, and that in the future, as in the past, all mankind would have a debt of gratitude owing to the work of the American Public Health Association."

President HOLTON thanked the preceding speakers for their cordial welcome to the Association, and proceeded to deliver the annual presidential address. He sketched briefly the progress that had been made in preventive medicine throughout the country since the organization of the Association; dwelt upon the achievement of practical sanitation in Cuba, and awarded high tribute to the work of Drs. Jesse W. Lazear and James Carroll, who sacrificed their lives in the performance of dangerous duty for the cause of sanitary science. He also paid tribute to deceased members of the Association during the year: Robert C. Kedzie and Albert L. Gihon, ex-presidents; Thomas J. Turner, Medical Director, U. S. Navy; Col. John F. Kimball and Major Walter Reed, U. S. Army, and Prof. Wyatt Johnson. He then proceeded on the objects and hopes of the Association with regard to preventive medicine; reviewed the progress made in the prevention of tuberculosis and other diseases during recent years, and referred to the pending conflict with small-pox. He next referred to the enlarged scope of the Marine Hospital Service, and discussed the comparative merits of the two bills before Congress, concluding with an argument for the establishment of a thorough public health service, which should have complete control of all matters pertaining to sanitary regulations, quarantines, and the like measures for public safety.

The Second Day.-Following the routine of announcements, Dr. Probst, the Secretary, submitted a resolution agreed upon by the Executive Committee, which was later adopted, incorporating Cuba into membership with the American Public Health Association, and asking the President of the Republic to appoint representatives to the next convention. Another resolution submitted and subsequently adopted instructing the Executive Committee to do all in its power to secure uniform registration of deaths in all the countries conjoined in the Association. A memorial resolution on the death of Dr. Robert Clark Kedzie, of Michigan, was offered by Dr. Henry A. Haigh, of the same State, and referred. Dr. U. O. B. Wingate, of Wisconsin, Chairman of the "Committee on Legislation," reported in detail the action of the com

mittee in its prolonged effort to obtain a National Department of Public Health, and the final result in a compromise creating the "Public Health and Marine Hospital Service of the United States" (as per act of Congress, SANITARIAN, Vol. xlix, p. 116), of which he gave an analysis. In the discussion which followed, Surgeon-General Wyman said that the report of Dr. Wingate was, to him, a subject of much gratification.-Dr. F. S. Munoz, Mexico, presented a paper on "The Cause and Prevention of Infant Mortality."-Dr. R. N. Prado one on "Wet Nurses and Their Hygienic Importance." These papers were read by interpreters and attracted close attention. That of Dr. Prado, in particular, brought out the ideal for motherhood-that each mother should nurse her own child-but called attention to and described the conditions when she should not, when it became the duty of the physician to define and decide upon the quality of the wet nurse, constitutionally as well as hygienically.-"Disinfectants and Disinfection" was the next topic, the report of a special committee, Prof. Francis Robinson, of Brunswick, Me., chairman, but he being absent, the report was read by Dr. Hibbert Hill. It, for the most part, consisted in a summary of conclusions on the proper use and relative efficacy of formaldehyde gas and carbolic acid, as several times reported upon heretofore by the same committee. Dwelling upon the special advantages of formaldehyde for closed areas and how it can be most effectually used. In the discussion which the report elicited, William Fawcett Smith, of the Army of Mexico, mentioned a "rough and ready" method of disinfection occasionally used, when the means were not available. In Porto Rico, upon the occurrence of glanders among the stock, the walls and floors of a large stable were cleansed by "flashing" with keroThe method was efficacious and did no harm to the building or fittings. Dr. J. J. Kinyoun gave the results of some experiments he had made in regard to the uncleanliness of railroad cars, which showed these vehicles to be less dangerous than they were sometimes thought to be. The drinking cup, he considered, was the most likely source of nearly all the contagion to which railroad cars are liable.-"National Lepers' Home," by Dr. S. H. Durgin, of Boston, was the next paper. He stated, in substance, that, contrary to general belief, there were no American-born lepers in the Northwestern States, where the population is made up largely of Scandinavians and their descendants, this belief cannot be maintained, "for I now have knowledge of three young men,

sene.

American born, who have contracted leprosy in Minnesota. There is but one institution in the United States known as a home for lepers, and it is in Louisiana." After giving a sketch of the provisions in Canada, Mexico and Cuba, beginning with the early settlements of those countries by Europeans, the recent effort of the Marine Hospital Service to obtain a census of the lepers in this country, and its recommendation that "sites covering broad areas be selected, in healthful localities, where lepers can have unlimited outdoor exercise and occupation. That these homes should be made attractive and comfortable, so that the unfortunate victims of this disease, instead of hiding their condition, may make it known and request admission to these public institutions." And added: "With our present knowledge of leprosy in the countries which we represent, and the methods employed in its care, it seems to your committee advisable that the resolution adopted by this Association at the Indianapolis meeting, 1900, be reaffirmed; and that the work of pushing legislative action bearing upon this action be referred to our legislative committee."-The resolution referred to pledged the Association to do all in its power to secure the establishment of a national home for lepers.

The afternoon was devoted to an excursion on the river. Third Day. The morning session began with miscellaneous business and action upon pending resolutions.-Dr. C. P. Wilkinson, on behalf of the Local Committee of Arrangements, presented to President Holton a gavel made of the wood of a Louisiana orange tree and bound with an inscribed silver band. Two reports of committees that had been deferred at the previous day's session-"Dangers to to Public Health from Illuminating Gas," Dr. S. H. Durgin, chairman; and "The Transportation of Diseased Tissue by Mail," Dr. F. F. Westbrook, chairman-were read. Next followed papers: "Tuberculosis and Agricultural Colonies," by Dr. Felix Formento, of New Orleans; "The Relative Immunizing Value of Human and Bovine Vaccine," being the report of a committee, Dr. P. H. Bryce, of Toronto, Can., chairman; "Only Asepsis Necessary in Vaccination," by Dr. Jesu Gonzalez Urena, of Mexico; "Human Vaccine as a Preventive of Small-pox," by Dr. E. Licéaga, of Mexico; "Experiments in Revaccination in Mexico," by Dr. Jose Ramirez, of Mexico.-Secretary Probst reported favorable action by the Executive Committee on the resolution looking to the establishment of a national sanatorium for consumptives, adopted. The resolution asking for the abolition of quarantine in virtue of