By these and other means the Board must seek so to instruct and interest the public mind generally, and especially the medical profession, as among other results, to insure the establishment of an efficient Board of Health in every city and town in the State. It is suggested that some of the most important topics be assigned to different members of this Board, to be reported upon at some future meeting, in such brief form as to admit, when printed, of cheap and general distribution, and to insure as far as possible the perusal of such reports by all, even the busiest man and woman in the State. A general discussion of the topics suggested in the address followed, and of the methods best adapted to render this organization of practical utility to the people. With reference to that point in the address, on motion of Prof. Brewer the secretary was directed to address direct communications to the various medical organizations in the State, inviting their coöperation. On motion of Mr. Burr, the secretary was directed to correspond with other State Boards of Health, and authorized to visit, personally, any societies or neighboring State Boards, if the interests and working of this Board would be directly promoted thereby. On motion of Dr. Lindsley the secretary was directed to prepare a circular letter to registrars, advising them of the changes in the law, with such instructions as were necessary, and to report at the next meeting. The following standing committees were then appointed: Sanitary Legislation-A. C. Lippitt. Protection of Buildings from the Gases of Decay-Prof. W. H. Brewer. Vital Statistics-Prof. C. A. Lindsley, Dr. C. W. Chamberlain, ex officio. Pollution of Rivers and Water Supply-Prof. W. H. Brewer. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases-Dr. R. Hubbard, Dr. C. W. Chamberlain, Prof. C. A. Lindsley. On By-Laws and Regulations-Dr. J. S. Butler, Dr. C. W. Chamberlain. Present, A preliminary session was held June 20th, at 2.30 P. M. Drs. Butler, Lindsley, Prof. Brewer, A. E. Burr, A. C. Lippitt, and Dr. C. W. Chamberlain. The minutes of the preceding session were read and approved. The secretary reported a plan for a postal-card system of correspondence, prepared to serve both as a return of the mortality and of prevalent diseases. The irregularity with which returns were made to the registrars rendered both systems necessary. The following draft of a letter sent to the various medical societies was presented: As known to most of you, the Legislature, at the last session, passed the Act creating a State Board of Health and Bureau of Vital Satistics, thus adding this State to the number recognizing the value of the aid rational medicine can give in securing true prosperity to the State. The majority of the States of the Union now possess such organizations, and the number is yearly increasing. The success of this Board must at the outset depend largely upon the hearty coöperation of the physicians, not only individually but in their associated action and in their relations to society. We earnestly commend the subject to your consideration and discussion, and would suggest that you appoint a Committee on Public Hygiene to act more directly as our auxiliaries. We ask also your individual assistance as correspondents, and in securing prompt and regular returns of vital statistics. We also take this opportunity of soliciting careful attention and prompt replies to such circulars of inquiry as may be sent from the Board from time to time. By order of the Board, C. W. CHAMBERLAIN, M. D., Secretary. The following circular was sent to registrars throught the State: [Circular No. 1.] STATE OF CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD, CONN., June, 1878. To the Registrars of the State of Connecticut: Gentlemen,-As you are probably aware, the superintendence of the system of Registration of Vital Statistics passes into the hands of the State Board of Health July 1, 1878. All applications for blanks after that date, and for record books, forms for abstracts, etc., should be addressed to the Secretary State Board of Health. We desire your hearty coöperation in our endeavors to secure a better execution of the registration laws and a complete return of the vital statistics of the State. The especial points we ask your immediate attention to are these, and we will do all in our power to assist in their accomplishment: 1. To secure prompt returns, every month, of births, marriages, and deaths, as the law directs. 2. To diminish the number of deaths reported as from " cause not stated" or "ill-defined" which forms too large a proportion of our returns. If the cause of death be not stated, the reason why it is not stated should be given, and no incomplete certificates should be accepted when possible to secure the facts required by law. We desire regular correspondents among the registrars concerning not only vital statistics, but all matters relating to public hygiene. All stationery, blanks, etc., for this purpose, will be furnished by the Board. Any person, interested in sanitary matters, who can thus aid us, are requested to send names to the secretary, and any suggestions concerning their localities that may be of use to the Board. C. W. CHAMBERLAIN, M.D., Secretary State Board of Health. A quarterly meeting of the State Board of Health was held July 6, 1878, at 2:30 P. M. Present, Drs. Butler, Lindsley, Hubbard, and Chamberlain, and Prof. W. H. Brewer. On motion of Dr. Hubbard, the proceedings of the preliminary sessions were ratified. Dr. C. W. Chamberlain was elected treasurer, and Dr. J. S. Butler, Prof. W. H. Brewer, and the treasurer were elected as financial committee. The following By-Laws were reported, and adopted unanimously: BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS. No paper shall be published in the annual reports unless ordered by a majority vote. All papers shall be published over the author's signature, who shall be considered as responsible for all statements of facts and opinions therein contained. No bills shall be paid unless endorsed by two members of the financial committee. The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the board from time to time such general and special circulars as he may deem expedient. Any member or committee appointed for any special purpose by the board shall have free use of all blanks, forms, etc., requisite for use in securing such object, and the Secretary may extend such courtesy to any one not a member of the board who will give the right of the publication of his researches to this board, provided that such researches be directly connected with the work of this board in some of its departments. The election of those officers which are chosen annually shall be held in January. The following shall be the regular order of business in the stated meetings of the board: Dr. Hubbard presented a plan for studying the diseases prevalent in any place, with reference to area of sewerage, altitude, drainage, soil, etc. It was voted that Dr. Hubbard prepare a report for the city of Bridgeport upon such a basis. Upon motion of Professor Brewer, the secretary was directed to prepare a digest of the requirements of the registration laws for general circulation. The pamphlet on diphtheria was submitted by the secretary, and after discussion and amendment, ordered printed for general distribution. The committee on vital statistics presented a form of death cer tificate, which, after discussion and amendment, was adopted as follows: STATE OF CONNECTICUT. CERTIFICATE OF DEATH. To be returned to the Registrar of the Town in which the Death occurred within the first week of the month after death. I certify, from the best information which I can obtain, that 1. Name, in full. [Maiden name, if a married woman or widow.] 2. Place of Death, Town, No. [If a tenement house, by how many families inhabited.] Street. 15. Disease or cause of Death, First or Primary, Secondary (if any.) Signature and address of attending Physician or other person mak *If other than white.—(A.) African; (M.) Mulatto; (I.) Indian. If other races, specify what. + If a Married Female or Widow, state of whom she was the Wife or Widow. The attention of physicians is earnestly invited to the following list of diseases, in reference to which the particulars specified are essential to the proper classification of causes of death, and consequently to the accuracy and usefulness of our statistics of mortality. It is respectfully suggested that a negative statement is often as important as positive one—for instance. 'Abortion-at two months-Metritis-no cause discoverable." "Cancer 66 "" 66 66 of Stomach-not hereditary, as far as known." "Erysipelas of Head— not of traumatic origin.' Gangrene of Leg-no definite cause.' Metritis-not puerperal." Small-pox-patient never vaccinated." "Ovarian Tumor-no operation, etc." By secondary is meant the immediate cause of death,- -e. g., hemorrhage,-in consumption; phthisis would be the primary hemoptysis the secondary cause of death,-meningitis or congestion of the brain the secondary, cholera infantum the primary, etc. Abcesses-Location and cause, if any. Aneurism-Vessel involved, and mode of death. Whether operation. * Abortion and Miscarriage-Cause, mode of death, and period of gestation. Cerebro-Spinal-Meningitis-Variety, whether probably Zymotic (Cerebro Spinal Fever), or a simple inflammation. Childbirth-Circumstance producing death. Cancer-Variety and seat; whether hereditary or not. + Calculus-Mode of death; whether after operation, and if so, what one. Carbuncle-Location. Congestive Fever Variety. Continued Fever-Whether simple continued fever or other variety. Dentition-Mode of death. Disease of Heart-Variety. Valves involved, if any. Dropsy-Variety and cause. Enteritis and Gastro-Enteritis-Cause if known; whether Diarrhoeal or not. * Erysipelas-Seat and cause; if Traumatic, how produced. *Fractures-Cause and mode of death. (State nature of accident, etc., clearly.) * Gangrene-Seat and cause. Gastric Fever-Whether Remittent, Typhoid, etc., or simple Gastritis. Gastritis-Whether simple or from a definite cause. + Hernia-Variety and mode of death; whether any operation. Insanity-Variety and mode of death. Intermittent Fever-Variety, as Quotidian, Tertian, etc. Jaundice-Cause. Malarial Fever Variety. Malignant Pustule-Location and cause; whether probably dependent on contagion or not. Malformation (Congenital)—Variety. Metritis Variety and cause; (whether Puerperal or not.) Necrosis and Caries-Seat, original cause, and mode of death, |