"If we multiply these figures to represent the annual mortuary account, we will have, in a population of 6,000,000, nearly 14,000 deaths from diseases incident to early life, of the contagious and infectious type alone. This death-rate, we must bear in mind, does not represent the true number of cases of disease of the class just named; but for a more satisfactory presentation of the number of cases occurring, we may refer to the statistics of the city of New York, with a system of Health Board and vital statistics as nearly perfect as is practicable, and reach an approximation to the truth, which can be made applicable to our own city and village population so nearly, that we will not fail seriously in reaching a conclusion as to their importance, and the duty of the State to her citizens, to provide some relief, by the direct or indirect appointment of local Boards with authority suited to local necessities, for the removal or stamping out of the causes of at least some of our infectious and contagious diseases. For the five months inclusive, from July 1st to November 26th, 1879, we find reported by the city authorities the following number of cases:

"In one city, therefore, we have a report of no less than 2,664 cases in five months, of that class of diseases alone which are peculiarly liable to occur in early life, and hence probably largely affecting those likely to be found in schools, both public and private. This, too, in a city where the untiring industry of its health officers aided materially by school authorities, has been to a considerable extent successful in its mission, and such labors give promise of greater future usefulness. It is to be regretted that our own system has not yet reached a point of perfectness adequate to the recording of all cases of disease with the same exactness as our death record, and cannot, therefore, be resorted to and made available for exact statistical record, but our death-rate warrants the conclusion that our largest cities and smaller towns will not, in the aggregate, fall anything short of the above, in proportion to their populations.

"It is not claimed that, in these figures, we have reached a point of exactness, but one of probable approximation, which is more likely to be seriously increased than pleasantly diminished, if the whole could be obtained. In the absence of any records on this subject, connected with school management, we are unable to say how much of infectious spreading may have been due to carelessness or entire disregard to the danger of converting endemic into epidemic increase of malignant disease, both on the part of school authorities and private families. It

has too frequently happened that indifference in this matter has spread death, dismay and domestic distress, together with pecuniary loss, to individual families and whole communities.

"Where no legal restraint has been imposed, the experience of every observer records the fact that children who have been detained from school by illness, for even a short time, have been hurried back to studies often by foolish ambition to recover lost positions in their classes, and in many cases to remove them from the irksome care of domestic supervision, the germs of disease being carried with them in the clothing worn, or, as in scarlet fever, by means of the desquamating cuticle adhering to the person. For the correction of this evil, we ask for authority with legal power to enforce it in every hamlet and school in the State.

"Pertinent to this matter is the consideration of an apparent indifference to danger in our day, which has frequently made our halls of learning pestiferous propagators of disease and death. For the truth of this statement the testimony of scores of observers stands pledged. We need not spend time in multiplying illustrations when we can turn to the report of our own State Board of Health concerning the Jamesburg disaster, which was of very recent occurrence. In pursuing this study, let us profit by the lesson taught in the investigation made by that industrious sanitarian, Dr. E. Harris, into the causes of a fearful scourge, which sent death and dismay into the homes of no less than twenty families in the township of Newark, Vermont, last spring, through the district school, and by means of only two pupils, carelessly and too early returned to the school after an attack of diphtheria. The investigation tells us that from so insignificant an origin, of ninety-two persons residing in the families affected, forty-eight suffered with the disease. If healthfulness of natural locality could contribute anything to prevent such an issue, we can find it there. The doctor tells us that although located amidst the steep hills of Vermont, in one of the most salubrious regions, where the annual death-rate seldom exceeds fifteen in the thousand living inhabitants, and where nature proffers the purest air and water, with ample nourishment and separateness of families, are witnessed the combination and progress of the causes which enter into the most rapid and destructive propagation of malignant disease;' nor are we informed that by the law of natural selection the disease weeded out only the feeble and left a more vigorous race to populate the desolate region. More probable is it that in many cases some organic lesion is still telling the story of wasted physical power baffling the best scientific

skill."

A valuable paper on "The Domain of Sanitary Legislation," by E. S. Atwater, of Elizabeth, which was read at this meeting, has since been published in the report of this Board.

In a paper on "What has been Done and what Neglected as to

Sanitary Reform in the Oranges, Bloomfield and Montclair," J. C. Bayles, C.E., editor of the Iron Age, detailed various efforts that had been made to remedy evils arising from the disposal of excretions and garbage, from the absence of a sewer system, and from the need of a more reliable water-supply.

It is believed that this paper, together with other local efforts, has contributed much to awaken the attention of the citizens of these districts to their sanitary necessities, some of which have since been well provided for.

At the next annual meeting, held at Elizabeth, the address of the President, L. B. Ward, C.E., of Jersey City, was a historical survey of the progress of sanitary science and legislation abroad and in this country. He He gave a clear and exhaustive history of sanitary legislation in England, which we have not space to reproduce. It regulated streets and buildings, the water-supply, sewerage, drainage, sewage utilization, nuisances, adulteration of articles of food and drink, analyzation of food, and penalties for adulteration and other matters of a similar character. From time to time, various acts were passed touching these matters with ever-widening authority, until there has grown up a vast sanitary system, the details of which will bear the most careful examination and application here, as far as our circumstances will permit.

The President then dwelt upon the importance of the National Board of Health work, which owes its existence to the yellow fever epidemic. Sanitary administration in this country is still in its infancy, and its object has hitherto been principally to collect information for future deductions, and local Boards are clothed with little more than police powers. But governmental powers should be expansive and progressive in this respect, and reference was here made to the varied and progressive experience of England in the application of sanitary laws. This legislation was influenced by and began with three outbreaks of cholera, which led to investigations of the means of preventing or mitigating infectious diseases.

The early work of Massachusetts was then traced and its valuable relations to the progress of sanitation shown. Also, the history of our own State Board was outlined, and its work reviewed and commended.

In addition, the special work of the Bureau of Vital Statistics was alluded to. As to the death-rate, except in Hudson county, Paterson and Newark, nothing certain was known in regard to it, previous to

the passage of the existing law. Returns of births, marriages and deaths were generally very loosely made. Under the present law, the returns of vital statistics are made to a competent officer, who shall examine them carefully and prepare the proper tabulated statements as to the causes and sources of death, sources of social progress and deterioration, and report annually to the State Board of Health, which reports shall be published as part of the report of the Board. By this means, the reports of deaths are now believed to be practically correct. Mr. Ward next dwelt upon the sources of water-supply in the northern part of the State, and thought that the establishment of private water companies should be fenced around with proper safeguards and restrictions. Among the powers which the Legislature must intrust to local authorities is that of borrowing money on the security of local resources, for the construction of works necessary for the public health or desirable for the advancement of the community. As he had given personal attention to a study of the water-sheds of the State, his remarks on the subject were of much value.

In addition to the matters discussed in this address, the inspection of buildings, the subsoil drainage of cities and towns, the examination of wells and control of their use in cities, the diseases of animals in their relation to human diseases, and drainage for health and the power to condemn lands for this purpose, were the topics which came up for consideration.

As to the inspection of buildings, reports were made as follows:

J. C. Bayles, of Orange, among other things, said: In making a thorough inspection of a house, let us begin with the cellar. It needs to be dry and clean to be safe. Not many cellars in city houses have perfect drainage and ventilation, and such as have not should be given a thorough cleaning. The main drain, leading to the sewer, should be iron, extending at least through the basement wall, and the outlet should be free and the pipe without leakage, else it causes dangerous saturation of, the soil. Next in importance is the soil-pipe, which rises vertically from the cellar. Each joint should be inspected, and it will do no harm to call in a plumber to your assistance. It should be condemned when not found tight, or when not carried through the roof. The fixtures of the closets are often the cause of great trouble, and he would condemn all the closets that are built in small pantries that have no ventilation, and open only into a hall or bed-room. The custom is to waste baths and basins into the nearest closet traps, but such traps are what their names designate.

There should be vent for every trap in the shape of an air-pipe, and with this vent and an open air-pipe there is no danger from closets in houses. All the branch wastes need looking after, and it is better to give them a vertical waste-pipe of their own. Slop hoppers on the upper floors, though seemingly necessary, are causes of trouble, and should be flushed out.

Some additional points were presented by Prof. Jacob Cooper, of New Brunswick: His subject was, "The Proper Sanitary Conditions of Buildings in the Country." In treating it, he said he would consider, first, the natural location; second, the interior structure; third, the artificial surroundings. Level plains are less likely to be healthy than undulating country. The house should front the south, and be located west or south of a public road, on a slope, yet not at the bottom of a hill. Drainage is a prime condition of health. The well should be a little higher than the house, and the sewers should be carried far away. No sane person will construct a cesspool in the vicinity of any building for man or beast. Natural forests should be on the northwest, north and northeast, but no trees very near the house on either side, and no sunlight should be cut off. Regard should always be had to sunlight, and the kitchen should be toward the sun, while the parlor and spare rooms, less used, should be on the north side. The internal structure of the house should compass drainage and ventilation. It is hard to fight against nature; water-closets should never be in the house, but in an addition, not opening in it nor in connection with it, but reached by a covered way, and should be such as can be disinfected all the time. The contents should not pass into a subterranean drain. Such closets do no harm and do much good. The bath may be in the house but not in the water-closet, and though it is not so convenient to have the closets outside, the annoyance is in no proportion to danger of having them in the house.

Ventilation in the country presents but few difficulties. There should be in every room a fire-place, whatever the means of heating the room. It is worth more than any other method, and an open fire, by blaze of wood or the coals of fire, causes the circulation of the air to be perfect. It is the most simple system devised. In reference to cellars, Professor Cooper said they needed more precaution than care. They are not to be used for all the vegetables of the farm, nor for more than are needed for the present, for the evaporation is disagreeable and dangerous when they begin to decay. The dish-water and other waste water of the kitchen can be used to feed grape vines,