work so well that there is danger, I think, of overloading him with extra-official duties and responsibilities, such as the control of Coast Quarantine and Sanitary Inspections, with their complex entanglements, National and inter-State-duties which were not embraced, or so delegated, "in the bond" establishing that service. But however active and efficient this valuable service may have become under the administration of its able director, Dr. Hamilton, it is not proportioned to meet the need of a permanent and well-supported National Health Bureau, which humanity, the spirit of the age, and the progress of sanitary science in this country demand shall be established, either as an independent branch of the public service or in connection with the Departments of Agriculture and Education. Without such national recognition and liberal support, it is impossible to bring sanitation in this country up to the level of its rapid advancement in Europe; and surely this great government of ours ought not be behind the sister governments in such good work."

The Association then adjourned until 9:30 A. M. next day.

Wednesday Morning-Second Day's Session.

Just before the morning session began, the members of the Public Health Association were photographed in front of Willard's Hall, After the meeting was called to order the usual routine business was disposed of, and the reading of papers commenced. The first paper read was entitled "Small-pox in Canada, and the Methods of Dealing with it in the Different Provinces," by Dr. P. H. Bryce, Secretary of the Provincial Board of Health, Toronto, Ontario. After stating that he felt like a lawyer before a criminal court pleading for a criminal who has boldly declared himself "not guilty" of an epidemic of smallpox, the speaker proceeded to relate the circumstances of the outbreak of the present year, stating that it was not until a prominent politician had died from that disease that the entire outside world, and Montreal herself, awoke to the situation. The number of deaths was about 3,100, or about one to every infected house. Unfortunately, the epidemic was not confined to Montreal alone.

This paper was discussed by Drs. A. N. Bell, of New York; O'Connor, of Massachusetts; B. James, of Pennsylvania; Jas. A. Stuart. Newell, Jenner, Conn, H. T. Armstrong and others, all of them advocating vaccination and re-vaccination

A valuable paper on "Impure Air and Unhealthy Occupations as Predisposing Causes of Pulmonary Consumption" was then read by

Dr. C. W. Chancellor, Secretary State Board of Health of Maryland. It was discussed by Dr. Bell, of New York, and Dr. B. James, of Pennsylvania.

The Executive Committee reported that it had not deemed it expedient to adopt the resolution offered on the day previous by Dr. Reed in the matter of securing legislation for the prevention of the sale of diseased meat.

The Secretary reported that the Cosmos Club of the city had extended a cordial invitation for the members of the Association to call upon them at any time during their stay in Washington.

Additional active and associate members were elected, and the Association adjourned until 3 P.M.

Afternoon Session.

In the afternoon there was an extra session for the reading of the report of the Committee on State Boards of Health, by Dr. Granville P. Conn, of Concord, N. H. The report stated that Maine, Kansas and Pennsylvania had completed the organization of their State Boards of Health since the last meeting. All the other previously existing Boards were in a flourishing condition. The Conference of Boards, through a committee appointed the day previous, had adopted the following propositions :

"1. That it is necessary to have a Conference of Delegates from State Boards of Health at least once a year for the purpose of consultation, and to promote unity of action on matters essential to public health, the prevention of epidemics, and the most efficient means of instructing the people in sanitation.

"2. Suggesting that the meeting be held at the time and place of the annual meeting of the A. P. H. A.

"3. Any conclusions of this Conference that are of interest to the public shall be reported by the Secretary to the American Public Health Association through the standing committee on State Boards of Health." The Association then adjourned until 7:30 P.M.

The Evening Session.

The evening session was opened by the President, Dr. James E. Reeves, shortly after 8 o'clock, and Dr. E. M. Hartwell, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, was invited to read his paper upon the "German System of Physical Education." The audience, composed of scientific and medical men, with a fair sprinkling of ladies, com

fortably filled the hall, and listened with unflagging attention to the very interesting proceedings of the meeting.

At the conclusion of Dr. Hartwell's paper, Gov. Gray, of Indiana, was introduced and made a brief address.

Dr. O. W. Wight, Health Officer of Detroit, Mich., then read a paper on "Experiences in Disinfecting Sewers." He gave an amusing account of his crusade against the sewer gases in his city. He used 300 pounds of copperas and three tons of burning brimstone with the good result of a marked decrease in diphtheria and scarlet fever. "However," concluded Dr. Wight, "the use of disinfectants affords only a temporary safeguard, and in case of a threatened epidemic could never be safely considered an offset to the fearful danger arising from. defective sewerage."

Dr. J. H. Raymond, of Brooklyn, commented favorably on Dr. Wight's essay, citing some experiments of his own in which chloride of lime had been found a successful disinfectant.

A good-natured discussion here arose in regard to the distinction of. the fungi in sewers. Dr. Wight was asked if many of these fungi were not powerful scavengers, and if it were altogether desirable to destroy them.

Dr. Wight said in reply: "I have no doubt that among the millions of microscopical fungi there are many innocent germs among those which are poisonous, but I believe when necessary to destroy cholera. germs, or scarlet fever germs, we should not be too particular about slaughtering the innocents."

Dr. Benjamin Lee, of Philadelphia, then read an interesting and exhaustive essay on the "Debit and Credit Account of the Plymouth Epidemic."

The meeting then adjourned until 9:30 A.M. next day.

Thursday Morning-Third Day's Session.

The first announcement at the morning's session of the American Public Health Association Thursday was from Dr. Townsend. Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements, who informed the members that an oyster roast would be held for their edification at 2 o'clock in the afternoon at the Eleventh street wharf. Routine business next claimed the attention of the meeting, after which Dr. John H. Rauch, Secretary of the State Board of Health of Illinois, read a paper on Maritime Quarantine from the Mouth of the St. Lawrence to the Rio Grande." It was a very valuable paper, describing in detail the means

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taken at every seaport along the coast from the St. Lawrence to the Gulf to prevent the introduction of disease into the country.

Dr. Joseph Holt, President of the State Board of Health of Louisiana, next spoke upon the Sanitary Protection of New Orleans, municipal and maratime. His paper was an eloquent one, describing the means which had not yet been taken by New Orleans for the sanitation of the city, but toward which he said the people were being educated by the Health Board and by the intelligent public press.

He spoke at length in regard to the success of inoculation for yellow fever, earnestly advocating it as a most important means of prophylaxis. He offered a series of resolutions to the effect that the Association would recommend the appointment of a commission of three members, one recognized for his ability in biological research, and two eminent for their attainments in practical medicine, who should at once proceed to Rio Janerio and investigate this subject. The resolutions ask for an appropriation of $30,000 from the General Government, and fixes the sum of $5,000 each as a recompense to each member of the commission.

The concluding paper was read by Dr. S. T. Armstrong, of the United States Marine Hospital Service, on "Maritime Sanitation," in which the subject was considered from the stand-point of the sailor, the passenger, the cargo, the vessel, and the port.

Additional active and associate members were elected.

The Executive Committee presented a new draft of the resolution offered by Mr. Lamb at the session of the day previous, and it was adopted, as follows:

"That the American Public Health Association respectfully recommends to the Commissioner of Statistics and Labor the appointment of one or more commissioners or experts, whose duty it shall be to visit the principal factories and workshops in this country, to examine them carefully with reference to the provisions made in them to insure the safety and health of the employes, and to report on the same with recommendations."

The Philadelphia Board of Health asked the Association to pass resolutions that rags should not be admitted to this country until dis infected.

An Auditing Committee was appointed by the President, consisting of Drs. C. W. Wight, of Detroit; S. W. Bailey, of Louisville; and T. F. Wood, of Wilmington, N. C.

Dr. Raymond, of Brooklyn, here offered a resolution that the subject of the practicability of the disinfection of sewers be referred to the Committee on Disinfection, with a request to report at the next meeting. It was referred to the Executive Committee.

The Association adjourned to call upon the President at the White House, according to a special arrangement.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee immediately after the adjournment of the morning session at 1:30 o'clock, it was decided that the next annual meeting of the Association should be held at Toronto, Ont. A strong plea was put in for Memphis, Tenn., and it is probable that will be the place selected for the year 1887.

Adjourned until 7: 30 P. M.

The Evening Session.

At the evening session Dr. J. M. Toner stated that not having been present during the discussion of Dr. Chancellor's paper, he wished to say in regard to the prevalence of pulmonary diseases in Washington that it was due in a great measure to the large number of colored people in the district who, on account of their careless mode of living, without sufficient shelter and proper food, are predisposed to consumption; and, further, that many of the deaths occurring here do not really belong to our population, as they occur among people already fatally affected, and only stopping here on their way to a more southern and genial climate.

A special committee was appointed to consider the resolution offered in regard to the importation and disinfection of rags, as follows: J. Howard Taylor, Philadelphia; A. N. Bell, New York; Henry B. Baker, Michigan; C. W. Chancellor, Maryland; and H. B. Horebeck, South Carolina.

The committee appointed to award the Lomb prizes was then called. Dr. C. W. Chancellor, chairman of the committee to award the prize for the best essay on "Healthy Homes and Foods for the Working Classes," reported that of the thirty-six essays submitted not one was found of sufficient merit to deserve the first prize, but the second prize of $200 was awarded to Victor C. Vaughn, of Ann Arbor, Mich.

The committee which considered the essay on "The Sanitary Condition and Necessities of School-houses and School-life," had carefully considered the twenty papers presented. Bodily punishment is opposed in all of them except in very extreme cases, as it is affirmed that lethargy, idleness, and disobedience may come from evils in the schools