MINUTES OF THE BOARD. Special Meeting February 26, 1898. A special meeting of the State Board of Health was held at the Executive Office, Philadelphia, Saturday, February 26, 1898, at 2.30 p. m. The members present were: George G. Groff, M. D., President, in the chair. Samuel T. Davis, M. D. Richard Y. Cook, Esq. Benjamin Lee, M. D., Secretary. Members present. accounts. Accounts were then presented, covered by vouchers Presentation of numbered 1010 to 1026 inclusive, amounting to $998.81 which had been audited by the Executive Committee and found correct. On motion, the accounts were approved. granting additional quarantine power. Attention was then called to a bill now before Congress formerly known as the "Caffery Bill" but now known as the "Hepburn Bill" having for its object the The Hepburn bill regulation of sea-coast and inter-state quarantine, and the conferring of additional powers on the United States Marine Hospital Service, section 6 of which reads as follows: 66* * * after treatment of any infected vessel or inspection of any vessel not infected, at a National Quarantine Station, and after certificate shall have been given by the United States Quarantine Officer at said station, that the vessel, cargo and passengers are, each and all, free from infectious disease or danger of conveying the same, the said vessel shall be permitted to enter and admitted to entry at any port of the United States, named within the certificate." The Secretary cited as an illustration of the manner in which this bill would work, our own (Delaware) river., The United States has a quarantine station at the mouth of the bay. It also has a station at Reedy Island. That at the mouth of the bay is almost useless from the fact that it is impossible to board vessels there in stress of weather. They consequently have to pro ceed up to Reedy Island, where the United States has a disinfecting plant, about fifty miles above the other station and from forty to forty-five miles below Philadelphia. They pass a vessel at that point; it comes up to our State line; and there, our quarantine physician makes another inspection, and if anything is found dangerous to life or health, the vessel is either kept there until safe, or sent back to the National Quarantine. This bill, if passed would completely overslaugh our quarantine of observation, and we should have no other protection than the United States Quarantine Stations thirty or eighty miles farther down the bay. As illustrating the importance of our quarantine of observation, about three weeks ago, a schooner arrived at quarantine. Our physician found two very suspicious cases on board. One man convalescing but still very ill. The detained the vessel. The history of the case was such as to make our quarantine physician and deputies positive that it was yellow fever. It was then discovered that the United States Quarantine Station at Reedy Island was given up because they could not keep a vessel there on account of the ice and the powerful current. The consequence was that the United States was quarantining (on paper) at a point fifty miles below, but in reality had sent its officer to Philadelphia, and the vessel would not have been examined until it arrived at Philadelphia. This makes it clear that the State is right in maintaining a quarantine service of its own. Dr. Davis stated that this vessel had been thoroughly fumigated, cleaned up and the sick taken care of, and her officers had confessed that they had had yellow fever on board and had come from a port where the disease was prevalent all the year round. He then presented the following resolution, which was, on motion, adopted and ordered to be sent to the Senators and Representatives at Washington, with a statement of the facts as above rehearsed. Whereas, The bill before the United States Senate, now known as the "Hepburn Bill" but originally known as the "Caffery Bill," having for its object the regulation of sea-coast and inter-state quarantine, and the conferring of additional powers on the United States Marine Hospital Service, contemplates the exercise of arbitrary authority on the part of that service within the jurisdiction of State and municipal boards of health, and quarantine boards without consultation with such boards; therefore, Resolved, That the State Board of Health of Pennsylvania respectfully memorializes the Honorable the Senate of the United States against the passage of said bill without such modifications as shall recognize the rights of local health authorities and more especially of the State Board of Health and the State Quarantine Board of Pennsylvania. The Secretary then presented a letter from His Excellency, the Governor, enclosing correspondence from Hanover, York county, complaining of a long-continued prevalence of diphtheria, with several deaths, and requesting an inspection by the Secretary, of the infected borough. The Secretary, on receiving the communication, had at once telegraphed to the Governor, stating that he would reach Hanover on the evening of the 26th, and had telegraphed to the authorities at Hanover, appointing a conference, and also to Dr. I. C. Gable, the county medical inspector to accompany him. The Secretary further stated that he considered it desirable that a resolution should be adopted by the Board, directing an inspection to be made, and also authorizing the president to accompany the Secretary. It was, therefore, Resolved, That the President and Secretary of the State Board of Health be requested to visit Hanover, York county, for the purpose of making a thorough investigation as to the cause of the continued prevalence of diphtheria in that borough. Diphtheria at county, Pa. Hanover, York secretaryship. Mr. Cook then stated that, as all were aware, the Health officer and Secretary had been appointed Health Officer of Philadelphia, and there has been more or less fear that the Board would lose his services as Secretary. This has also raised a question as to whether he can legally serve as Health Officer and at the same time remain Secretary of the Board. It had occurred to Mr. Cook that the Board should make a record that steps had been taken to determine this point definitely. The following resolution was then presented and, on motion, adopted: Whereas, Competent advice has determined that no legal or constitutional objection exists to the continued Dr. Groff, delegate to the National Pure Food and Drug Congress. Adjournment. discharge of the duties of the office of Secretary of this Board by Dr. Benjamin Lee, because of his recent appointment as Health Officer; therefore, Resolved, That it is the sense of the Board, and they so request, in view of the marked ability and great experience of Dr. Lee in all matters pertaining to the office, that he shall continue to discharge the duties of Secretary of the Board. Dr. Lee replied to the resolution as follows: "I cannot express, Mr. President and Gentlemen, the feeling of deep satisfaction which your action has given me; not so much as enabling me to continue the position, but as showing the confidence which you repose in me. I value most deeply the opinion of the Board. I have been associated with every member of it so long, that I feel that each is a personal friend, and if I can believe that I have merited their approval, it is a source of intense gratification to me. I thank you for your action." It was then stated that the National Pure Food and Drug Congress would convene at Washington, March 2 and 3, and on motion of Dr. Dudley, the President, Dr. Groff, was appointed a delegate to represent the Board. The meeting then, on motion, adjourned. BENJ'N LEE, Secretary. Thirty-ninth reg ular meeting, May, 1898. Members present. Thirty-ninth Regular Meeting. The thirty-ninth regular meeting of the State Board George G. Groff, M. D., President, in the chair. Samuel T. Davis, M. D. John Fulton, C. E. J. H. McClelland, M. D. Benjamin Lee, M. D., Secretary. The Secretary presented a typewritten order of busi Order of business. ness, which was, on motion, adopted with the following additions: ular meeting. Report of Dr. Groff's inspection of York water supply, and report of Dr. Groff as a delegate to the Pure Food and Drug Congress, at Washington, D. C. The Secretary presented the minutes of a regular Minutes of a regmeeting, held at Harrisburg, Thursday, November 11, 1897, and moved that, as copies had already been sent to each member of the Board, the members be requested to suggest such corrections as they may have found necessary, and the reading be dispensed with. The motion was carried, and the minutes were approved. Minutes of a spe The Secretary presented the minutes of a special cial meeting. meeting held in Philadelphia, February 26, 1898, copies of which had been sent to each member of the Board. The same motion was made with regard to these minutes, which was carried, and they were approved. Report of the Secretary. Secretary. The report of the Secretary being in order Dr. Lee Report of the reported that, immediately after the last regular meeting of the Board in November, 1897, he had given his attention to matters referred to him by the Board for action, as follows: Matters referred to the Secretary for attention at his discretion. The resolution requesting "The Commission to Erect a New Capitol Building" to consider the subject of providing accommodations for the Board had been forwarded to Hon. Benjamin J. Haywood, Secretary of the Capitol Building Commission, at Harrisburg. A formal acknowledgment of the receipt of this resolution was received by the Secretary. In view of the fact that the Commission has recently given out the contract for the erection of the building, the Secretary again forwarded copies of the resolution together with a communication to the new Secretary of the Commission, as well as to the architect, informing them that certain suggestions had been made on behalf of the Board. Rooms for the use of the Board in Capitol Build ing. sylvania. The resolution suggesting the expediency of com- Anthrax in Pennmunicating with the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States with the view to the establishment of a more thorough inspection of hides before shipment from foreign ports, had been sent to his Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania. The Governor has since forwarded documents re |