admit, that while some improvement has been made, the collection of vital statistics under the present laws of Louisiana is still unsatisfactory in the extreme, at least as concerns quite a large portion of the State. This subject is one of so much importance that it is contemplated to secure, if possible, certain changes in the law governing it.

The precise nature of the proposed changes is not yet fully determined upon, but is expected to take shape and form during the session of the General Assembly of 1908.

PROPOSED CHANGE IN LAW CREATING LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH.

While the transactions of the third State Health Conference at Alexandria, March 31st and April 1st and 2nd, 1908, do not come strictly within the scope of this volume, the report made by the Committee on Legislation at that meeting recommended a change of such importance in the law creating Parish and Municipal Boards. of Health as to call for special mention, since that Report was adopted and will form the basis of a bill to be presented to the General Assembly.

The Report in question has been given in full, but it may be said of its recommendations, to which exception has been taken by some, that the proposed change in the law by which the State Board of Health is given authority over the local Health officials of the State that really means something, merely carries out in the letter the spirit of Act 192 of 1898, which declares that Parish and Municipal Boards of Health "shall act under the supervision and advice of the State Board of Health," an utterly vain provision if the State Board can not compel proper action by its subordinates.

The Report of the Committee on Legislation is as follows:

RESOLUTIONS.

"Be it resolved, That it is the sense of this Committee that we do not wish to enact any laws conflicting with the present Boards of Health of New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge. Be it further "Resolved, That it is the sense of this Committee to recommend the enactment of laws incorporating the following ideas:

"That the council of each and every incorporated municipal government in the State having less than 2,500 inhabitants may select the names of two duly qualified and registered physicians in active practice to be sent to the State Board of Health, one of whom shall

be appointed by said Board and commissioned as medical inspector and health officer of said municipality. Such person so appointed shall not be a member of said council, or hold any offices in said municipality. He shall exercise and perform the duties usual and incident to such officers in similar organizations, can carry out the mandates of the sanitary code of the State. His salary shall be fixed by the State Board of Health, but shall not be less than $300 per annum, and, in addition thereto, not less than $5 per diem for his services during the prevalence of any epidemic disease.

"The said health officers shall be authorized to appoint a sanitary officer, whose duty it shall be to enforce the orders of the health officer and exercise such other power as is conferred by section 3 of Act No. 192 of 1898, upon inspectors, officers and employes of the State Board of Health. He shall receive not less than $3 per diem while in active service, such salary to be paid by the municipality, the number of days of such service to be determined by the health officers of the municipality.

"The Council shall provide ample means for the payment of the salaries of the health and sanitary officers and incidental expenses.

"The Police Jury of each Parish in the State, not later than the third regular meeting of the new Police Jury term, shall select the names of two duly qualified and registered physicians, in active practice, residents of the parish, to be sent to the State Board of Health, one of whom shall be appointed by said Board, and commissioned as health officer, whose term of office shall be for four years from the date of his appointment. His salary shall be fixed by the State Board of Health and paid by the parish. It shall not be less than $300 per annum, and be paid by the parish. In addition thereto he shall receive per diem of not less than $5 for his services during the prevalence of any epidemic. The said health officer shall appoint for each infected locality of the parish outside of the municipalities already provided for a sanitary inspector, whose duty it shall be to carry out the instructions of the health officer and to exercise the authority conferred by section 3 of Act 192 of 1898, upon like inspectors, officers and employes of the State Board of Health. The inspectors so appointed shall be known as local sanitary inspectors, and shall receive $3 per diem while in active service, said salary to be paid by the parish, the number of days of service to be determined by the health officer of said parish.

,'Your Committee further recommends that when, in the opinion of the President of the State Board of Health, the person so appointed as parish or municipal health officer is inefficient, incompetent or negligent in performances of his duties, the said officers shall be promptly removed by the President of the State Board of Health and his successor selected in the manner hereinafter recommended.

"Wherever the Police Jury fails to send in the names of two physicians as hereinabove provided, the State Board of Health, or its

President, shall appoint and commission a health officer from among the duly qualified and registered practitioners of medicine in the parish. All incidental expenses incurred by said health officer shall be paid by the Police Jury upon approval by the State Board of Health.

"That all members of the parish or municipal boards shall have been, for at least one year prior to their appointment or election, residents and voters of the parish or municipality in which they are to act, and his membership shall be vacated upon his removal from the parish of such member. No member of said Board, with the exception of the health officer, shall receive any pay or emolument, in any way, for services rendered as a member of said Board, and no member shall be, directly or indirectly, interested in any contract for supplies to be furnished or service to be rendered to said Board. Be it further

"Resolved, That it is the sense of this Committee that the above recommendations shall not come in conflict with the Board of Health of New Orleans, Shreveport or Baton Rouge,

"We further recommend that the above suggestions be framed under proper bills, by a legal mind, so as to be presented to the Legislature for enactment into law.

"It is further the sense of this Committee that the recommendation bearing upon these parish and municipal boards, as to their appointment and election, being residents and voters of the parish or municipality in which they are to act, etc., is intended to amend that portion of the law governing boards of municipalities having a population of more than 2,500 and less than the population of New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge."

RELATIONS WITH OTHER HEALTH AUTHORITIES.

From the day of entering into office this Board has occupied only the most harmonious relations with other State Health Authorities, each and all of whom have manifested a gratifying degree of confidence in its ability and sincerity. In thanking those Authorities for their confidence and good will, it affords the President of the Louisiana Board much pleasure to assure them all that their confidence and friendship have been fully reciprocated. While the Louisiana Board has had its differences with the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service and has not hesitated to make known its criticisms of the acts of that Service, such disagreements have been strictly official in character, and the President of this Board would fail to express what he feels toward the distinguished Surgeon General of that Service if acknowledgement were not here made of

his high personal regard for Dr. Wyman, together with appreciation of the Doctor's unfailing courtesy and genial kindness in all relations.

DELEGATES TO CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS.

In addition to taking a leading part in Health and Quarantine Conferences which have been held in New Orleans and elsewhere in Louisiana, the State Board of Health has been represented at other Health Conventions during the years 1906 and 1907 by the delegates severally named in the following list:

IN 1906.

Quarantine Conference, Washington, April 16th.-Dr. C. H.

Irion.

Annual Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health, Washington, May 23rd.-Dr. C. H. Irion.

Annual Conference of State Dairy and Food Departments, Hartford, Conn., July 17th to 21st.-Dr. C. H. Irion.

Second Southern Quarantine and Immigration Conference, Nashville, Tenn., November 12th to 14th.-Dr. C. H. Irion, Dr. G. W. Gaines, Dr. Fred J. Mayer and Major W. S. Ingram.

American International Congress on Tuberculosis, New York, November 16th and 17th.-Dr. C. H. Irion (elected President).

American Public Health Association, Mexico City, December 3rd to 7th. Dr. C. H. Irion, Dr. A. J. Perkins, Dr. Jno. N. Thomas and Dr. Fred J. Mayer. (Trip included an inspection of Mexican seaports.)

IN 1907.

Annual Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health, Washington, D. C., May 30th.-Dr. C. H. Irion.

Pure Food Convention, Jamestown Exposition (Norfolk, Va.), July 15th.-Dr. C. H. Irion.

American Public Health Association, Atlantic City, October 2nd to 4th. Dr. Whyte Glendower Owen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE PHYSICIANS OF NEW ORLEANS.

The President of the Louisiana State Board of Health wishes particularly to express to the physicians of New Orleans his sincere. appreciation of the kind manner in which he was received by them, individually and as a body represented by the Orleans Parish Medical Society, on taking charge as the executive officer of the Board.

While it is true that an official assuming the duties of that important position at such a time might be supposed to derive support from inward consciousness of a determination to perform those duties. fully and faithfully, it was none the less gratifying to a comparative stranger from a remote portion of the State to be received at once into full fellowship and confidence by his professional brethren of New Orleans, where as a new incumbent he might have been regarded somewhat in the light of an intruder.

Heaven be praised, the true physician is apt to be a good fellow, as those of New Orleans have shown themselves to be.

CONCLUSION.

In concluding this brief review of the more important incidents and transactions of the period that has elapsed since the present Board entered into office, its President desires to express to his fellow members the high appreciation in which he holds their services and to thank them, one and all, for their kindness and courtesy to himself. He feels that the Board has reason to exchange congratulations on the hard work that has been done with such good results. That this work is only begun he believes his colleagues will all agree, but if the same spirit with which the beginning has been made continues to pervade the work of the Board, the only obstacle than can retard its progress would be a lack of means, which it is confidently hoped a public spirited General Assembly, having at heart the protection and preservation of the public health, will not fail to provide. Respectfully submitted,

C. H. IRION, M. D.,

President Louisiana State Board of Health.