In addition to the letters from students, the colleges themselves have asked for information on various matters, the most important being those concerning

The right of a college to grant diplomas, after only one course of lectures, to men holding certificates of State Boards of Health based on years of practice prior to the passage of the MedicalPractice Acts.

The right of colleges to grant diplomas after only one course of lectures, to men who present evidence of a certain number of years' practice.

Some of these letters I have deemed it advisable to present to the BOARD, for its formal action during the present session, although I think the principles involved are already clearly defined. The following communication, however, I have already acted upon, to a certain extent, in a personal interview with the writer:

DEAR DOCTOR:-I desire your decision upon a point which has arisen in regard to the admission of students to our senior class who have attended one cou: se at the I do this because it is a question that might at some time come before your BOARD. These are the facts: The has a three-term course-we have two. Their junior class includes anatomy, chemistry, physiology, materia medica, histology, surgical anatomy, etc. Their second term includes, with these, pathological anatomy and principles and practice of medicine and clinics; surgery and obstetries are reserved for the last course, etc

Some of the young men who attended the junior course in that institution last winter are desirous of attending the They exhibit to me a matriculation shee in which they are credited with having attended only the lectures set forth in the curriculum for juniors. But they state they attended all the lectures except those on obstetries and surgery, and that they attended a portion of these. It seems that they have the benefit of lectures upon these two branches for but one term any way at that school. They would get that at the

The question is: Can we admit them to the as medical students, and permit them to come forward for graduation next spring, subject to examination as others? I learn that other colleges admit these same juniors. Shall we exclude them? We do not wish to take any unfair advantage of the school, nor do we wish to place ourselves "out of line" so far as the regulations of your BOARD are concerned. have, therefore, determined to submit the matter to you and shall await your reply before taking further action.

I met Dr. personally, during the early part of this month, and discussed the question with him. Fully convinced of his good faith, I suggested that-in view of the fact that students who had attended only one term of a three-years' graded course had not received the equivalent of a single term in a two-course college (that is, in the number of branches taught)-the only practical way to meet the difficulty, which occurred to me, would be by having an examination of the candidate in the branches that he had not attended the full number of lectures upon; and base his admission to the graduating class, other conditions being satisfactory, upon the result of such examination.

Such a plan, I admit, is open to objection. It must rest, very largely, upon the good faith and character of the college, and it should be so guarded as to prevent injury to the three-years' schools. I have now in my possession the names of three men who were graduated, at the last commencement of a two-years school, after attendance upon only one term of a three-years' graded course and the graduating course of the two-years' school. examination was held in these cases, but the tickets of the one term at the three-years' college were accepted in lieu of evidence of attendance upon a full course, without question. I have also infor

No

mation from good authority, that these gentlemen had not, at the date of graduation, completed the usual three-years' course of study required even by the two-lecture-term school. The granting of diplomas under such circumstances must be held to seriously invalidate the claims of the college to be held in good standing.

Should these gentlemen apply for certificates, I must decline to assume the responsibility of issuing them until the BOARD has determined whether a diploma granted in direct violation of the published conditions of the college itself, as well as of the general usages and requirements of colleges in good standing, is or is not "fraudulent," or is or is not "lawfully possessed," within the meaning and intent of the fourth section of the Medical-Practice Act. If the BOARD decide adversely, then the only way in which these gentlemen may legally practice medicine in Illinois will be by passing the examination of the BOARD, or by presenting diplomas granted after completing the usual curriculum and period of study and otherwise complying with the conditions of graduation exacted by medical institutions in good standing. If such laches upon the part of the college may not be taken cognizance of, the question still remains whether the case of the individual does not come within the scope of the tenth section of the Act.

Concerning the professional status of individuals, inquiries have been received from Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, Texas and California, as well as many from various parts of the State. One correspondent writes of the graduation of a man by an Ohio college after only one year's study. This graduate is not practicing in Illinois, and the information is furnished the BOARD as throwing light upon the methods of the college, with reference to the recognition of its diplomas in this State.

I have also been applied to for an official statement as to the status, before this BOARD, of a reputable regular college, for use in a foreign country.

Various sanitary matters, both in Illinois and in other States, have occasioned considerable correspondence; among these being the appearance of the Texas cattle fever at a number of points, the latest being at Sedalia, Mo.

Chicago Medico-Historical Society.

The following letter explains itself:

CHICAGO, SEPT. 1st., 1883.

DEAR DOCTOR: At a special meeting of the Chicago Medico-Historical Society, held June 28th, 183, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That any member knowing any "doctor" or "doctors" practicing in Chicago not mentioned in the Report of the STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, report the names of such "doctor" or "doctors" to the Secretary before the special meeting of the C. M-H. Society, to be held Tuesday evening, Oct. 9th, 1883.

This resolution was adopted in order that this Society should act with the STATE BOARD OF HEALTH in its legal efforts against quackery. PLYM. S. HAYES, Secretary.

I replied in substance, to Dr. Hayes' letter transmitting this, that I fully appreciated, on behalf of the BOARD, this, the first systematic, effort to co-operate in our attempt to suppress quackery in Chicago.

Other State Boards.

The Missouri State Board of Health has been organized since our last meeting, and during the month of July its Secretary, Dr. J. C. Hearne, spent a day in the Secretary's office for consultation, as well as for the purpose of familiarizing himself with the office methods, forms, blanks and other details. Full sets of the publications of the BOARD, copies of blanks, registers, etc., have been furnished, and whatever information seemed likely to be useful. I attended the first regular meeting of the Missouri Board, August 1, by invitation, as the representative of this BOARD. At this meeting the Missouri Board passed a resolution recognizing the efforts of the ILLINOIS BOARD. and pledging the fullest co-operation. Secretary Hearne was also instructed to invite my attendance at their subsequent meetings. I accordingly met with them again on the 30th of September, and on the 2nd and 3rd of October, and advised with them in the disposition of sundry questions which had arisen in the interims between their meetings. They have formally endorsed, and promulgated as their own standard, our schedule of minimum requirements necessary to entitle a college to be held in good standing.

The similarity of the laws under which the two Boards operate, and the community of objects in view, render the work already done by this BOARD of much value to the Missouri Board, as establishing precedents and formulating the principles upon which to base decisions in the many difficult and delicate questions which continually present themselves. For this reason, and also because the work of our own BOARD, in its efforts to improve the status of the profession, and to elevate the standard of medical education, is facilitated by harmony of action and views on the part of similar organizations, I have felt warranted in devoting more time to these first meetings of the Missouri Board than I should otherwise.

For the purpose of relieving medical men in good standing of the trouble of obtaining certificates from both Boards, where their practice extends into both States, and as a matter of comity between the two Boards, I would suggest that action be taken by this BOARD looking to the recognition of the certificates of the Missouri Board, where these are based upon examination, or upon the diplomas of colleges in good standing.

DURING the session of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Minneapolis, in August, I also met with the Minnesota State Board of Medical Examiners, and with members of the State Board of Health of Minnesota. The Minnesota Medical Practice Act is very similar to that of Illinois, and this informal meeting was had for purposes of consultation with the view of securing the desired concert of action. The Board of Examiners have the right to examine non-graduate candidates for certificates entitling to practice, and are authorized to pronounce upon the good standing of medical colleges, in the same manner and to the same extent as is this BOARD. They have, therefore, agreed to adopt the Illinois schedule of minimum requirements as their standard.

From the character of the Board, and the fact that the only teaching institution in the State-the Minnesota College Hospitalwill not examine its own candidates for graduation, but will refer them to that Board for examination, and will grant degrees only in accordance with the decision of the Board, I think the medical future of Minnesota promises well.

In this connection I would suggest that for the purpose of making the medical-practice acts and legislation of the different States. more efficient and their administration more uniform, this BOARD call a conference of those charged with the execution of these laws, or vested with authority, duty or responsibility under them. Delegates to such conference to be appointed by the State Boards of Health or of Medical Examiners, where such Boards exist, and elsewhere by the State Executives from among representative medical

men.

The Public Health.

At

The State has continued gratifyingly free from any epidemic disease of a serious nature. Scarlet fever, of a mild type, has prevailed in many localities, but with an unusually low death rate. In response to many requests, an edition of the Preventable-Disease Circular, No. 3, on Scarlet Fever, is being prepared in the German language, and will be ready for distribution in a few days. Diphtheria has been reported from a number of places, and many applications have been received for the pamphlet concerning its prevention. Small-pox cases have occurred at Chester, Randolph county, Aviston, Clinton county, and near Oakland, in Coles county. In Chester there were two cases in August, resulting from a St. Louis convalescent who removed to Chester about three weeks before the first case appeared. Neither had been vaccinated but both recovered. Reporter: Dr. W. R. McKenzie, Chester, attending physician. Aviston, the disease was imported from St. Louis by a German visiting his brother-in-law in the former place. He had been living in a block in St. Louis which was infected with small-pox when he left the city, and had had a "breaking out on his face and body before leaving, but only a few pimples." This man infected his brother æt. 45, vaccinated in Germany in childhood, not revaccinated until after exposure,-mild case of varioloid; and his nephew, æt. 13, no evidence of vaccination-typical case of unmodified small-pox, confluent on face; both recovered. Precautionary measures of the BOARD were enforced, and there was no spread of the disease. Total cost of the outbreak, $662. Reporter: A. de Buhrinan, M. D., attending physician. About the latter part of August a man returned from a visit to Cincinnati to his home near Oakland, Coles county. September 10, he was found to be suffering with varioloid. His wife and two children, all unvaccinated, contracted the disease, the wife and one child dying. All known to have been exposed were at once vaccinated, but two of the attendants had mild attacks of varioloid. No other cases have occurred. Reporters: W. M. Chambers, M. D., Charleston, consulting physician; W. J. Peak, M. D., Oakland, attending physician.

During July there was a severe outbreak of dysentery in the town of Watseka, Iroquois county. Dr. D. C. Jewett, in response to a letter from the Secretary, reported, August 14, that there had been about one hundred cases, with twenty deaths, thirteen of which were due to dysentery, alone, and the remainder to some fatal complication. The disease, however, at that time was already upon the decline, the alarm and apprehension subsiding, and, "with the rigid sanitary discipline which is now enforced throughout the corporation, we anticipate no further trouble." (Extract from Dr. Jewett's letter).

Dr. Jewett ascribes this outbreak to the result of the inundations from the Iroquois river and Sugar creek, at the confluence of which the town of Watseka lies. Last spring the high water from these two streams submerged fully one-half of the town, washing out the contents of privy vaults, cess-pools, etc., and polluting the wells. The exhalations from the wet earth under the summer sun, the poisoned water supply and malarial influence fully account for the outbreak. The occurrence is another illustration of the evils liable to result from the subterranean storage of fæcal filth.

To

Yellow fever has been entirely excluded from the Mississippi valley during the past summer, for the first time for many years. what extent this is due to the non-intercourse quarantine of Louisiana, to the river and rail inspection service, to the exclusion of infected vessels from the Mississippi river, to improved methods of sanitation; and to what extent to favorable meteorological and other non-adjustable conditions, it would be difficult to say. Doubtless all had some influence in the result. As among the measures in which the BOARD is most directly interested, the following details are submitted concerning the

River and Rail Inspection Service.

In accordance with the statement made in the report to the June meeting of the BOARD, supervision of this Service was assumed by the executive committee of the Sanitary Council of the Mississippi valley, on July 1, in pursuance of the action of the Council at its Jackson meeting. I found it necessary to visit New Orleans, in the discharge of my duties as executive officer of the Council in charge of this Service, in July (5th-10th) and August (8th-13th). The maintenance of the Service by the National Board of Health ceased June 30, for want of funds, but the Service was continued uninterruptly, until all danger had passed. The Sanitary Council maintained one inspector at the Mississippi river quarantine station below New Orleans, and two rail and two river inspectors in the city and port of New Orleans; the expenses being defrayed by contributions from the railroad, steamboat, and commercial interests through a committee of New Orleans merchants, except in the case of the railroads who paid their inspectors direct. No officer or member of the Sanitary Council received any compensation for his services in connection with this work.

In addition to the inspectors above enumerated, Mississippi maintained a station at Ft. Adams, and Memphis one on President's