REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.* As Secretary and executive officer of the State Board of Health, I have the honor to transmit the first annual report, embracing the work of the first seven months' existence of the Board, for the year ending April 30, 1882. The following is a history of the Board and a brief synopsis of proceedings and general character of work performed since our organization, together with papers and reports from other sources relating to subjects of vital interest to the welfare of the people of the State. AN ACT to establish a State Board of Health. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: SECTION 1. The governor, with the advice and consent of the council, shall appoint four persons, three of whom shall always be physicians and one a civil engineer, who with the governor and attorney-general of the state shall constitute a State Board of Health. Of the four persons first appointed, two shall serve for two years and two for four years from the time of their appointment; and the shall thereafter in the same manner governor biennially appoint two persons to be members of the board to hold their offices for four years; and all vacancies shall be filled in the same manner for the unexpired term. SEC. 2. The board thus formed shall meet in the state-house at least once in every three months, and three members shall constitute a quorum for business. They shall organize by electing one of their number president, and shall appoint a suitable person, who shall be a physician and may be a member of the board, to be their permanent secretary and executive officer, who shall hold his office at the pleasure of the board so long as he *The anachronisms which appear are due to the fact that we did not go to press till August, and, to complete the record of some matters which otherwise would not be clear, some later dates are used than that which properly terminates the fiscal year of the Board. shall faithfully discharge the duties thereof. They shall institute the necessary rules to govern the organization and establish the amount of salary that the secretary shall receive; and no member of this board shall receive any compensation for services except the secretary, save that the actual expenses incurred while engaged in the duties of the board. which shall be rendered in an itemized account, after being approved by the finance committee of the board and the state treasurer, shall be paid out of an appropriation made for its support. The salary of the secretary shall be paid quarterly in the same manner from the same appropriation. SEC. 3. The governor and council shall designate a room in the state-house, suitably appointed. as a place for the board to hold their meetings, and to be used as an office for the secretary of the board. This room shall be kept open for the benefit of the public the same as the other public offices of the state, and information pertaining to the sanitary condition of the state, or any suggestions or regulations necessary to guard against epidemic or contagious disease, shall be furnished from this office to citizens, or to town or county authorities, without expense; and the board shall also take cognizance of the sanitary condition of all public buildings, hospitals, and grounds within the state that are now occupied as penal institutions, almshouses, or reformatory institutions, whether state or county, without other remuneration than such as is provided for in section two of this act. SEC. 4. The board shall take charge of the vital statistics of the state, and enforce the provisions of chapter one hundred and eighty-one of the general laws. SEC. 5. The board shall, whenever directed by the governor and council, assist selectmen to enforce the provisions of chapter one hundred and sixteen of the general laws, with compensation as provided in section two of this act. SEC. 6. The board shall take cognizance of the interests of health and life among the people of the state, making sanitary investigations, and advising and assisting local boards of health in conducting special investigations into the cause of epidemics and the sources of mortality; and they shall collect such information in respect to these matters as may be useful to the people of the state, and report the same through the governor and council, in the same manner as other state officials are now required to do. SEC. 7. The report to the governor and council shall also contain a detailed statement of the expenses of the board, including the salary and expenses of the secretary; but the total amount paid for the expenses of the board shall not exceed three thousand dollars in any one year, which amount is hereby annually appropriated for this purpose, to be paid by the state treasurer as specified in section two of this act. SEC. 8. This act shall take effect from the date of its passage, and all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. Approved August 16, 1881. In accordance with the provisions of this act, His Excellency the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Honorable Council, Sept. 16th, 1881, appointed the following named persons to constitute the State Board of Health, with the Governor and Att'y-General, who by virtue of office are members of the Board: Hon. James A. Weston, Manchester. Granville P. Conn, M. D., Concord. Carl H. Horsch, M. D., Dover. Irving A. Watson, M. D., Northumberland. A meeting of the State Board of Health was called for the purpose of permanent organization, Tuesday evening, Oct. 4th, 1881. Members present,-Governor Charles H. Bell, AttorneyGeneral Mason W. Tappan, Hon. James A. Weston, Dr. Granville P. Conn, Dr. Carl H. Horsch, Dr. Irving A. Watson. The meeting was called to order by His Excellency Gov. Bell, and the following officers and committees were chosen : President, Dr. G. P. Conn. Committee on Finance, Gov. Bell. Committee on Sanitary Engineering and Topography, Ex-Gov. James A. Weston. Committee on Legislation and Legal Questions, Attorney-General Tappan. Committee on Registration and Vital Statistics, the Secretary. Committee on Inspection of Public Buildings, the physicians of the Board and Sanitary Engineer. Committee on Sanitary Matters, Epidemics, and Contagious Diseases, the physicians of the Board. Rules and regulations for the government of the Board were adopted, and the future work amply discussed and considered. The President and Secretary were instructed to issue such circulars as they deemed best to place themselves in communication with local boards of health and the people. CHANGE OF BASE. By the provisions of the law creating the Board, a public office is to be kept open at the state-house the same as other state offices, that the greatest advantages from such a source might at all times be available to the people of the state; consequently it became necessary for the Secretary, in order to give his entire time to the work and comply with the provision mentioned, to take up his residence at Concord. It was thought best not to issue any circulars till such change could be made. In the meantime correspondence was opened with many of the physicians in the state, local boards of health, and private individuals. The change of residence was soon completed, though no assignment of an office had been made. Room No. 1 at the state-house was temporarily occupied while waiting for the assignment of a per manent room. COMPLAINTS. same. As an illustration of the necessity of such a Board and the readiness with which people avail themselves of the opportunities offered, it may be mentioned that we received complaints of sanitary grievances, or supposed grievances, even before the Board was organized, subsequent to the passage of the act creating the When certain conditions become the subject of contention between parties who cannot compromise their casus belli, they are quite ready to appeal to the State Board for an adjustment of difficulties. Such cases, primarily, should come before local boards of health, an appeal from the decision of which, should it be made, will be entertained by our Board. In all cases, however, it is the aim to get a just and equitable decision, independent of any personal considerations. This subject will be further discussed under another head. FIRST CIRCULAR. Early in November the first circular was issued. It carries with it its own explanation. Copies were sent to all the physicians, and town and city authorities or health boards, in the state; also to all the state newspapers and journals. [Circular No. 1.] STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, To Local Boards of Health, Physicians, and others interested in Sanitary Science: At the last session of the legislature a bill was passed to establish a State Board of Health. We are now organized according to the provisions of the law. We ask the earnest and hearty coöperation of all who desire to better the sanitary condition of our state, who would alleviate human suffering, and lessen death. Most prominent in our work will be the instruction of the people relative to the causes and prevention of disease; to study local conditions affecting health, soil, water supply, ventilation, drainage, climate, productions, race, population, and social conditions; to obtain correct and reliable vital statistics; to watch the invasion of contagious and infectious diseases, to study the conditions that produce and maintain them, and to devise and recommend methods for their control; to systematize the work throughout the state by coöperation with the local boards of health, and all interested in sanitary science. We believe that every person has a legitimate right to nature's gifts,-pure water, air, and soil,-a right belonging to every individual and every community, upon which no one should be allowed to trespass through carelessness, ignorance, or other cause. Within a few years the public mind has been somewhat enlightened as to the connection of filth and disease: we trust the knowledge may increase and pervade every household. many doubts obscure the public intelligence, that have, and may, impede the progress of sanitary science and the operation of the law. We confidently look forward to the time of general public enlightenment in these matters, and we look to you to give aid and assistance. Still We would call your attention to some of our laws upon this vital subject: Chapter 40, Sec. 4, of the General Laws provides for a local board of health in every town in the state. Chap. 111 gives abundant law for the removal of all nuisances, and indicates the course of procedure. Chap. 112 refers to contagious and infectious diseases, and also the law on vaccination. Chap. 113 is the law of quarantine. Chap. 181 on registration of births, deaths, and marriages, by enactment of last session, is to be enforced by this Board. We call attention to the fact that we shall |