such board there should always be one medical man. Ordinarily such a board should be appointed, and upon no other qualification than personal fitness for such position. Political considerations, or personal ends, should be wholly eliminated. A local health board has, in this state, in coöperation with the selectmen, almost unlimited authority within the province of their duties. It is, therefore, essential that such a board be composed of men of wisdom, sagacity, perception, good judgment, decision, and executive ability.

It is gratifying to record the fact that some towns have carefully considered this subject and wisely acted upon it. It is to be hoped that every town will take the subject into earnest and careful consideration. A health board is by many regarded as an aggressive, superfluous organization, seeking to discover some special individual condition for a basis of action, to the annoyance and expense of the owner of the premises.

Such is far from the purpose of such an organization. The general welfare of the public should define the cause of action. The investigation of the cause of disease, and its prevention, should be their constant and earnest study, and to such an end should receive the coöperation of every citizen. Should every town in the state create such a board for the sole purpose of studying the cause of the zymotic diseases in their town, and should annually report their observations and conclusions to the State Board of Health to be embodied in the annual report of the same, a vast amount of valuable information to the citizens of the state would be the result.

Probably but few, if any, towns in the state have been wholly exempt from epidemics which even laymen could but ascribe to local conditions, so conclusive has been the evidence. The production of typhoid fever from contaminated water has too many times resulted, to be doubted by the most skeptical. The development of diphtheria from filthy conditions, with terrible fatality, has many times occurred in New Hampshire, as elsewhere. How to avoid these and other dreaded and fearful diseases is a question which merits the most serious consideration of every community, every parent, and every individual. It becomes, then, not a matter of sentiment, or of dollars, but the plain, unequivocal duty of every town to create a board of health from its best

qualified citizens, and to extend to them every possible aid and encouragement in lessening disease and investigating its causes. It is unfair and unreasonable to attribute to such authority any motive other than that of intended good, however arbitrary and authoritative their rules and regulations may appear. No board is likely to subject itself to popular or individual criticism except in the attempted performance of such functions as investigation, observation, and experience have demonstrated to be a duty to the public.

Among the several "Rules and Regulations" of local boards which have been received at this office, the following are selected and given as the best in form and matter which have come to our notice, and are offered as a suggestive model for other boards to adopt, or to construct from, as local requirements may dictate: RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF

THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN.

In pursuance of authority given in Sec. 1, Chap. 111, General of the State of New Hampshire, we, the undersigned, officers of the Board of Health of the town of Franklin, do hereby establish and promulgate the following rules and regulations, which we deem necessary for the better preservation of the public health and the best interests and welfare of the community, namely:

Rule I.

PRIVIES AND VAULTS.

No person shall occupy, lease to or permit any other person to Occupy, any building as a dwelling-house, unless such building be provided with privies and vaults, and so constructed that none of their

or be

exposed to the light. No person shall erect, or continue,

such place of easement so near to any other dwelling that it may

become

used

offensive. Proper deodorizers or disinfectants shall be at all times, to prevent fermentation. All vaults shall be

cleansed and disinfected at least twice a year, in the spring not later than May first, and in the fall not earlier than the first of

October.

Any deviation from this order shall not be allowed ex

cept by permission of the board.

Rule II.

DRAINAGE.

Suitable drains and sewers shall be constructed for conveying sink-water, or any other liquid that may by exposure become

putrid and offensive, from all buildings-whether occupied as dwelling-houses or places of business-to the public sewer whenever there shall be one within one hundred feet. If no public sewer should be within reach, then such liquids must be conveyed away and disposed of in such manner that they may not pollute the water of any spring or well by saturating the earth in their vicinity, and if such refuse matter or sewage be collected in hogsheads, cisterns, or other receptacles, they shall be frequently emptied, and at all times be deodorized and disinfected thoroughly, so as not to disturb the comfort or endanger the health of any person living near.

Rule III.

COLLECTION OF OFFAL.

The collection of refuse matter in or around the immediate vicinity of any dwelling-house or place of business, such as swill, waste of meat, fish or shells, bones, decaying vegetables, dead carcasses, excrement, or any kind of offal that may decompose and generate bacteria or unhealthy gases, and thus affect the purity of the air, shall be considered the worst kind of nuisance, and must be removed or disposed of either by burial, burning, or conversion into fertilizers, and in such manner that it may not be offensive to the neighborhood wherever located.

Rule IV.

OVERCROWDING TENEMENTS.

The crowding of tenement houses will receive our special attention, as one of the greatest sources of danger in generating contagious diseases. Owners of such property showing a disregard of this matter will meet with the severe disapproval of the board, and, if any diseases shall arise from such cause, the owners will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the State Board of Health.

Rule V.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.

The following are contagious diseases: Small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever.

Rule VI.

ATTENDING PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

It shall be unlawful for any person who has become affected with any contagious or infectious disease, or who is recovering from such disease, to attend school, church, or any public gathering, or to mingle in society in any way, until the Board of Health, or some person designated by them, certifies that they are no longer liable to communicate said disease.

Rule VII.

Isolation of persons affected with contagious diseases will be ordered immediately upon the invasion of said disease, and be rigidly enforced.

No child shall be allowed to attend any public school without presenting a certificate of vaccination from a legally qualified physician, stating that said child [or person] has been vaccinated within the last seven years.

Rule IX.

REPORTS OF PHYSICIANS.

It shall be the duty of every physician who attends upon any person infected with the small-pox, scarlet fever, or diphtheria, to immediately report the same to the health officers of this town, together with the residence of such persons so afflicted.

Rule X.

NEGLECTING REPORTS.

If any physician shall neglect to report immediately any case or cases of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, he shall forfeit the sum of one hundred dollars, to be recovered by such health officers in the name of the town.

Rule XI.

REPORTS OF DEATHS.

It shall be the duty of every physician who has attended upon a person who has died of small-pox, scarlet fever, or diphtheria, to immediately report the death to the health officers of this town, together with the residence of said person.

Rule XII.

FUNERALS.

Public funerals are prohibited for any person who has died of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever.

Rule XIII.

If

part

OCCUPATIONS.

any person shall use or occupy any building in the compact of this town for a slaughter-house, fish-market, for trying

tallow, or for currying leather, or for the deposit of green pelts or skins, without permission in writing of the health officers of this town, he shall incur a penalty of ten dollars for each month in which said building shall be so occupied.

Approved March 27, 1882.

C. B. NICHOLS, M. D.,
WALTER STOLWORTHY,
CASSIUS M. CLAY.

LIBRARY.

It has been one of our efforts to gradually build up a library that would not only be necessary for the immediate requirements of the Board, but that would eventually be of value to the medical profession of the state, and all others interested in matters of health, vital statistics, etc.

We have already about 500 volumes, besides many pamphlets and papers, which have been secured by gift or loan.

The President and Secretary have placed in the library some valuable works from their respective private libraries.

We would also acknowledge the receipt of valuable matter from many medical men in the state; also publications from our representatives in Congress.

The present proportions have been reached without the purchase of a single book, though a small sum has been expended for binding.

We would be pleased to receive publications from any source for the library, with a view of making it a valuable one for reference, for the state.

The indexing of the volumes by subjects, upon the card system, has been commenced, which will greatly facilitate the finding of the literature of the library on a given subject, by those who may desire to avail themselves of the opportunity.