As required by the law governing the State Board of Health, I have the honor to submit to you the report of the Board's transactions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1915. Transactions of the State Board of Health From July 1, 1914 to June 30, 1915. Below are presented the proceedings of the State Board of Health for the fiscal year which begins July 1, 1914, and ends June 30, 1915. We here extract from the proceedings of the Board such matters only as seem to be of public interest. The Board during this period consisted of the following members: Dr. W. W. Golden, President, Elkins, W. Va., Dr. J. E. Robins, Charleston, W. Va., G. D. Lind, Greenwood, W. Va., J. L. Pyle, Chester, W. Va., J. H. Shipper, Gerrardstown, J. A. Rusmisell, Buckhannon, W. Va., H. M. Rymer, Harrisville, W. Va., H. A. Brandebury, Huntington, W. J. Davidson, Parkersburg, H. A. Barbee, Pt. Pleasant, and S. L. Jepson, Wheeling, Secretary and ex-officio Commissioner of Health. Dr. Geo. P. Daniel of Marshes was appointed a member but never qualified. The first meeting of the Board for the year 1914 was held on July 15th at Hotel Gassaway, Elkins. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH. Dr. Golden presided. Other members present: Drs. J. E. Robins, G. D. Lind, J. L. Pyle, J. H. Shipper, H. A. Brandebury, J. A. Rusmisell and S. L. Jepson, Secretary. The Secretary reported that he, President Golden and Dr. Rusmisell conducted an examination of applicants for licensure in Elkins on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, adding a practical examination to the usual written and oral. The grade sheet of the applicants, 34 in number, was presented by the Secretary to be examined by the Board, with the result that the following named applicants passed with a grade sufficient to entitle them to certificates to practice medicine: Robert E. Davis, Charles B. Rohr, David T. Williams, Victor L. Glover, James R. Agnew, Manley H. Eames, Mason B. Caldwell, Charles G. Willis, Romeo H. Walker, W. B. Richardson, John H. Robinett, (Osteo) Frank Dwyer, Lief E. Walton, A. T. Gordon, Robt. N. Cox, David Abshire, Martin Luther Steele, Clyde A. Scott, J. J. Jenkins, Homer A. Walkup, Mark Sutphin, Heber G. Morgan, T. H. F. Bess, Thurmond E. Vass, Ozro H. Bobbitt, James O. Williams, Walter L. Brown, R. E. S. Taylor, Carter S. Fleming, Arthur N. Altringer, Robert F. Sayre, Russell D. Ice, (osteopath.) A number of reciprocity applications were presented and considered, and the Secretary was directed to send certificates to the following: Gertrude O. Reeves, Osteopath, Elkins; Marmaduke Atkinson, Newport News, Va.; John Constass, Washington, D. C.; Carol A. Davis, Arrington, Va.; L. M. Davis, Eliston, Va.; John D. Hubbard, Baltimore, Md.; Hannes Inberg, Monesson, Pa.; Glen Johnson, Thealka, Ky.; I. B. McComas, Greenville, Tenn.; D. A. McGregor, Cleveland, O.; Felix R. Newman, Memphis, Tenn.; Harry Stunkard, Steubenville; Jos. Q. Stout, Washington, D. C.; Henry I. Stout, Washington, D. C.; R. John Styers, Richmond, Va. On motion of Dr. Robins, the Secretary was directed to ascertain from each applicant for reciprocity whether or not he has ever practiced medicine in this State without a license. It was ordered that the secretary and resident member of the Board, in the place of examination, conduct the next examination, and that on one day they shall be aided by the president or other member who may be designated, in conducting a practical examination. For the coming year the following members were appointed to prepare questions on the subjects indicated: Anatomy, Dr. W. J. Davidson. Chemistry & Medical Jurisprudence, Dr. G. D. Lind. Physiology & Histology, Dr. H. M. Rymer. Ostetrics & Gynecology, Dr. J. L. Pyle. Practice of Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. J. E. Robins. Surgery, Dr. W. W. Golden. Special Medicine, Dr. H. A. Barbee. Oral, Dr. J. H. Shipper. Dr. Glen Harper, County Health Officer of Randolph County, was present, and reported an outbreak of smallpox and scarlet fever in and near the town of Horton. The Secretary was instructed to visit the locality and aid in the suppression of the disease. The questions for the next examination were then selected. Dr. Golden, Chairman of the committee on legislation, read a report of the work thus far done and presented the following correspondence: (This correspondence is so voluminous that we can not find space for it. It shows the great activity of Dr. Golden, President of the Board of Health, in efforts to secure revised health legislation. With the co-operation of Gov. Hatfield he was enabled to secure the active aid of the U. S. Public Health Service and a very excellent public health law was framed and presented to the legislature of 1915 and by it passed in a modified form, from which, unfortunately, some of its best features were eliminated. Too great credit can not be given to Dr. Golden for his activity in having this law framed, nor to Governor Hatfield for his active efforts in securing its passage.) The Secretary reported that plague had entered the country and that he had received a communication from the Surgeon-General of the U. S. Public Health Service, urging that a rat extermination campaign be at once inaugurated in the State. He stated that he had sent a communication to the health officials of all the towns in the State along the Ohio river, urging the importance of a campaign for the destruction of rats, and explaining that they were a frequent means of communicating the disease to human beings. He asked that Dr. Arkin, our Bacteriologist, be sent to the river towns to inaugurate a rat-killing campaign. After some discussion, on account of the uncertainty as to the amount of our appropriation unexpended, the suggestion was not adopted. Dr. J. N. Simpson, Director of the Hygienic Laboratory, present by invitation, presented a full report as to the laboratory equipment and work, and also of the progress of the hookworm investigation as conducted by Dr. Schultz by direction of the Board. The report showed a marked in |