Fourth- By its efforts to obtain prompt information on all subjects connected with public health, the origin and spread of epidemic and contagious diseases, and the collection and publication of mortality records from all countries, special reports, communications and valuable data bearing upon the public health; and

Fifth-By its investigation into obscure points connected with the relations existing between insanitary conditions of air, water, soil, etc., and the evil effects suggested as consequent thereon; and

Sixth-By its co-operation with and its demonstrated ability to co-ordinate the actions of State Boards of Health, thereby producing effective action against imported disease and impure and dangerous indigenous conditions which could not otherwise be attained with equal promptitude and certainty; therefore,

1. Resolved, That this Board earnestly represents to the National Legislature the importance of speedily removing the limitation placed upon the work of the National Board of Health by the 10th section of the Act of June 2, 1879, and such other restrictions as have been placed thereon by Congressional action.

2. Resolved, That the refuge system inaugurated by the National Board of Health should be enlarged to meet the necessities of all unguarded but important portions of the coast line.

3. Resolved, That the small-pox inspection service be carried out in full as originally planned by the National Board of Health for the prevention of importation by foreign and spread by inter-state travel and traffic.

4. Resolved, That the National Board of Health Bulletin and other publications of the Board be continued.

5. Resolved, That the seeming attempt at encroachment upon the great work assigned to the National Board-the establishment of quarantine, etc.-by the Marine Hospital Service, is greatly to be regretted as tending to destroy the usefulness of both these important arms of service, while increasing, no doubt, the public expense for their support.

6. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the Senators and Representatives of the State of West Virginia, with the request that they be introduced into the two houses of Congress for consideration pending legislation on the public health.

The Board then adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.

SECOND DAY.

The Board met Saturday morning, January 13, at the State House, pursuant to adjournment; present, the same members.

The first business disposed of was the question of propriety of asking the Legislature, now in session, to make sundry amendments to the health law, namely:

First-A penalty for failure by physicians to report all acute infections and contagious diseases.

Second-The control of the State's supply of vaccine to each congressional district.

Third-The complete transfer of the collection and record of vital statistics from county assessors and clerks of the courts to the office of the State Board of Health.

Fourth-The discontinuance of the privilege of applications for medical certificate under the ten years' experience-clause of the law. Fifth-Making it the duty of any justice of the peace or sheriff to inquire into the right of any person to practice medicine in the State.

But notwithstanding the desirability of all such amendments. to the law, the danger of unasked-for and pernicious meddling, was deemed a sufficient reason to ask of the friends of public health in both branches of the Legislature that no change whatever be made in the statute, and it was so resolved.

The next business was the auditing of sundry bills, after which HON. A. R. BARBEE offered the following preamble and resolution. of thanks to the Secretary:

WHEREAS, This Board has received many very high compliments from distinguished sources for the manner in which it has performed its difficult labors-notably, for its efforts to elevate the standard of medical education in West Virginia; and

WHEREAS, It is always just and proper to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due; therefore,

Resolved, That this Board is fully sensible of the eminent services of its Secretary, DR. JAMES E. REEVES, to whom belongs, in great measure, the credit of directing its successful labors, and in all things upholding its good name by his faithful energics and labors alike for the State and the medical profession.

The Board then adjourned to meet in regular session the second. Wednesday in July, 1883, or sooner at the call of the President.

SIXTH MEETING OF THE BOARD.

The State Board of Health convened at Martinsburg, Wednesday, July 11, 1883, in annual session; present the following named members: Geo. B. Moffett, M. D., President; Lawrence Carr, M. D.; Geo. H. Carpenter, M. D.; C. T. Richardson, M. D.; James E. Reeves, M. D., Secretary.

The Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting which were approved, and then followed his report of the business of his office during the preceding six months.

The next business was the presentation and hearing of a correspondence between the Secretary of the Board and R. A. Harrison, Esq., of Columbus, Ohio, legal counsel for Columbus Medical College; and the action of the Secretary in relation thereto was fully endorsed.

SMALL-POX IN THE COUNTIES OF MERCER, M'DOWELL AND WYOMING.

The outbreak of small-pox in the counties of Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming was the subject next considered. The action of the Local Boards of Health in those counties in successfully stamping out the disease was shown to have been one of the good and grand results to the whole people of West Virginia of the State Board of Health law.

But for the specific powers granted under this new law and its energetic administration both by the officers of State and County Boards of Health, the whole southern portion of the State would have been swept by small-pox, from its starting point in Mercer county; and at a cost, both of life and property, impossible to estimate correctly.

From the office of the Secretary of the State Board very particular instructions were sent to the local health officers in the scourged districts, all of which received commendation of the State Board.

THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY BOARDS.

The attention of the Board was called to the change in the law concerning the establishment of Local or County Boards of Health. Under the law of 1881 the manner of their creation was, first, the nomination of three persons by the State Board of Health for each county. These nominations so made were either approved or rejected by the county courts. Now, under the amended act of 1882, the manner of establishing County Boards is exactly reversed; and the county courts nominate and the State Board confirms or rejects, as its wisdom directs. The term of office (two years) of the present County Boards expires with this month, and it will be in order for county courts to make their nominations for such officers to the State Board.

On motion of DR. RICHARDSON, the Secretary was instructed to bring the matter, by circular letter, to the attention of the counties, and at the same time urge upon physicians full compliance with the

law in relation to the duty with which they are charged of promptly reporting to presiding officers of County Boards all classes of acute contagious and infectious diseases under treatment.

Four applicants for medical certificates presented themselves for examination, of which number Dr. Hoffman, of Keyser, was the only gentleman whose examination warranted the granting of authority to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery in West Virginia.

The question of the reputability of several medical colleges was next considered, and to the list of medical schools whose diplomas. the Board had already refused to recognize, was added the American Medical College, of St. Louis, Mo.*

DR. LAWRENCE CARR presented sundry documents concerning the improper registration of Dr. J. W. Davis, of Coal Valley, Fayette county, and offered the following preamble and resolutions which, after being fully discussed, were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, Evidence of indisputable character has been produced to the State Board of Health of West Virginia that J. W. Davis obtained his diploma from the American Medical College, of St. Louis, in a disreputable manner; and

WHEREAS, The State Board of Health, of West Virginia, was imposed upon by the said J. W. Davis, in this: that he procured his registration on the basis of a diploma which he had dishonorably obtained from the said American Medical College of St. Louis; therefore

Resolved, That the certificate numbered "429," granted by the State Board of Health of West Virginia to J. W. Davis, in 1881, be and the same is hereby revoked.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Board be and he is hereby instructed to furnish a copy of these proceedings to J. W. Davis, under the seal of the Board, that he may have due and proper notice thereof

After auditing sundry bills, and fixing the next place of meeting— Charleston-the Board adjourned.

*Since this action, the Trustees and Faculty of American Medical College have given assurance of future good work, and the diploma of the College will hereafter be recognized.

HOW TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

The law establishing the State Board of Health provides for the registration of three (3) classes of legally qualified physicians and surgeons in West Virginia.

I.-GRADUATES IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

"All persons who are graduates of a reputable medical college in the school of medicine to which the person desiring to practice belongs. Every such person shall, if he have not already done so and obtained the certificate hereinafter mentioned, present his diploma to the State Board of Health, or to the two members thereof in his congressional district, and if the same is found to be genuine, and was issued by such medical college as is hereinbefore mentioned, and the person presenting the same be the graduate named therein, the said board or said two members thereof (as the case may be) shall issue and deliver to him a certificate to that effect; and such diploma and certificate shall entitle the person named in such diploma to practice medicine in all its departments in this State."

NOTE 1.-Minimum requirements for a medical college to be held in "good standing" by the State Board of Health of West Virginia.

At a meeting of the State Board of Health of West Virginia, held in the city of Parkersburg, on Wednesday, July 26, 1882, there were present Geo. B. Moffett, M. D., President of the Board; Geo. H. Carpenter, M. D.; C. T. Richardson, M. D.; Gabriel McDonald, M. D.; Lawrence Carr, M. D.; Wm. M. Late, M. D., and James E. Reeves, M. D., Secretary, the Hon. A. R. Barbee, M. D., being the only absent member.

By a unanimous vote the following preamble and resolutions were adopted, defining the words "reputable medical college," as they occur in the law creating the Board:

WHEREAS, It is one of the special duties of the State Board of Health of West Virginia to protect the people against incompetent medical practitioners; and,

WHEREAS, The said Board is charged with authority of law to reject applicants for medical certificates who are graduates of disreputable medical colleges, unless they, the said applicants, shall appear before the said Board, and pass a satisfactory examination; and,