DEATHS OCCURRING IN STATE INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR THE BIENNIAL PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 1903 Institutions Male. Female Total. Soldiers' Home, Marshalltown... Institution for Feeble-Minded, Glenwood.. ....... ⚫96 41 181 Total for all institutions.. 2 508 235 743 *Does not include deaths outside of institution-of those absent on parole. The returns of marriages, births and deaths show the following for V DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH BY J. F. KENNEDY, M. D., DES MOINES, SECRETARY STATE BOARD OF HEALTH Local boards of health, whether in cities, town or townships, like the State Board of Medical Examiners, are a kind of wheel within a wheel. The latter consists of the physicians of the State Board of Health and yet finds its duties defined by a different statute entirely from that providing for and regulating the State Board of Health. So, too, boards of health are also councilmen with duties assigned under different statutes. In looking this matter up I was surprised to find that I was so long ignorant of the fact that the board of health of a city or town does not comprise all the members of the city or town council. I have been in the habit of stating to those making the inquiry, and our literature teaches, that the local board of health is composed of the entire council with the mayor. The statute relating to local boards of health, however, does not so read. The organization of local boards of health and a declaration of their duties is set forth in title 5, chapter 14, of the Code, beginning with section 1024 and ending with section 1046. Respecting the organization of the board in cities and towns section 1025 says: "There shall be appointed in every such city a local board of health consisting of five members, a majority of whom, including the mayor, shall be members of the city council. The mayor of the city shall be ex officio one of said members and the chairman thereof. The manner of appointment and duration of office of said board shall be determined by ordinance of said city. I was surprised in reading that section to find that however large the council might be, the board of health was limited to only five members and the mayor, and that two of the members need not be members of the council. Another surprise I found in section 1026, which declares that this board and not the council as such shall appoint the physician to the board. The city clerk need not necessarily be the clerk of the board of health. "The board of health with the consent of the council shall appoint all officers and agents necessary to execute their rules and orders and fix the compensation of these appointees, subject to approval by the council. The majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business and the exercise of powers conferred upon the board." It will be noticed that this direction as to the organization of boards of health in cities differs from section 2568 of the statute relating to the State Board of Health wherein it states that "the mayor and council of each town or city shall constitute a local board of health." I do not know and would be pleased to learn under which section of the Code local boards of cities are really organized. The duties and responsibilities as defined by the Code are as defined by the sections above referred to: To report to the State Board of Health at least once a year, the proceedings of the board and such other facts as there may be, and also to make special reports when required to do so by the State Board; make rules, regulations and orders respecting the connection of buildings with sewers; the approval of plans for plumbing; the inspection of all plumbing; the inspection of milk, provisions and all food products sold within the city and their condemnation and destruction when impure or diseased; the collection and disposal of garbage; the condemnation of impure wells and cisterns; the prompt report to the mayor and Secretary of the State Board of Health of infectious diseases; to investigate and remove all nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness within their jurisdiction, on all boats in its ports or harbors, or on railroad cars passing through such city; to make such rules, regulations and orders for the prevention of nuisances and the preservation of the public health as said board may judge necessary for the public health and safety, and shall from time to time report to the city council, for adoption, ordinances for carrying such rules, regulations and orders into effect, and for the appointment of the proper inspectors and officers necessary to enforce the same. Section 1029 empowers the local board to provide ordinances for the punishment by fine and imprisonment of any one who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any of the above-named rules, regulations or orders. Sections 1031, 1032, 1033 and 1034 give specific details as to "Sewer connections; plumbing and nuisances," as well as to the abatement and enjoining of the same. It would be well for every city official to carefully and prayerfully study these sections and to resolve that their responsibilities under the law relating to the public health shall be fully met. Section 1035 declares that rules and regulations for the public health when passed and duly signed and attested, shall be published twice in the official newspaper of the city. This is an important provision. The courts in several instances have dismissed cases against violators of such rules and regulations because it could not be shown that they had, after being adopted, been properly published. |