THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH ACT.

IX

date of their occurrence, all births and deaths which may come under their supervision, with a certificate of the cause of death, and such correlative facts as the BOARD may require, in the blank forms furnished as hereinafter provided.

REPORT OF BIRTH OR DEATH IN ABSENCE OF PHYSICIAN OR ACCOUCHEUR: Sec. 5. Where any birth or death shall take place, no physician or accoucheur being in attendance, the same shall be reported to the county clerk within thirty days from date of [its] occurrence, with the supposed cause of death, by the parent, or if none, by the nearest of kin, not a minor, of if none, by the resident householder where the death shall occur, under penalty as provided in the preceding section of this act.

CORONERS TO REPORT DEATHS: Sec. 6. The coroners of the several counties shall be required to report to the county clerk all cases of death which may come under their supervision, with the cause and mode of death, etc., as per forms furnished, under penalty as provided in section four (4) of this act.

DISPOSITION OF PENALTIES: Sec. 7. All amounts recovered under the penalties herein provided shall be appropriated to a special fund for the carrying out of the object of this law.

COUNTY CLERKS TO KEEP REGISTERS AND RECORDS: Sec. 8. The county clerks of the several counties in the State shall be required to keep separate books for the registration of the names and postoffice address of physicians and accoucheurs, for births, for marriages, and for deaths; said books shall always be open to inspection without fee; and said county clerks shall be required to render a full and complete report of all births, marriages and deaths to the Secretary of the BOARD OF HEALTH, annually, and at such other times as the BOARD may direct.

BOARD TO PREPARE FORMS FOR REPORTS: Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the BOARD OF HEALTH to prepare such forms for the record of births, marriages and deaths as they may deem proper; the said forms to be furnished by the Secretary of said BOARD to the county clerks of the several counties, whose duty it shall be to furnish them to such persons as are herein required to make reports.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD: Sec. 10. The first meeting of the BOARD shall be within fifteen days after their appointment, and thereafter in January and June of each year, and at such other times as the BOARD shall deem expedient. The meeting in January of each year shall be in Springfield. A majority shall constitute a quorum. They shall choose one of their number to be President, and they may adopt rules and by-laws for their government, subject to the provisions of this act.

OFFICERS AND COMPENSATION: Sec. 11. They shall elect a Secretary, who shall perform the duties prescribed by the BOARD and by this act; he shall receive a salary which shall be fixed by the BOARD; he shall also receive his traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties. The other members of the BOARD shall receive no compensation for their services, but their traveling and other expenses, while employed on business of the BOARD, shall be paid. The President of the BOARD shall quarterly

X

THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH ACT.

certify the amount due the Secretary, and on presentation of his certificate, the Auditor of State shall draw his warrant on the Treasurer for the amount.

ANNUAL REPORT: Sec. 12. It shall be the duty of the BOARD OF HEALTH to make an annual report, through their Secretary or otherwise, in writing, to the Governor of this State, on or before the first day of January of each year, and such report shall include so much of the proceedings of the BOARD, and such information concerning vital statistics, such knowledge respecting diseases, and such instruction on the subject of hygiene, as may be thought. useful by the BOARD for dissemination among the people, with such suggestions as to legislative action as they may deem necessary.

APPROPRIATION: Sec. 13. The sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to pay the salary of the Secretary, meet the contingent expenses of the office of the Secretary, and the expenses of the BOARD, and all costs for printing, which, together, shall not exceed the sum hereby appropriated; said expenses shall be certified and paid in the same manner as the salary of the Secretary.

OFFICE ROOM: Sec. 14. The Secretary of State shall provide rooms suitable for the meetings of the BOARD, and office room for the Secretary.

CONCERNING PRACTITIONERS AND MODE OF PROCEDURE UNDER THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT.

UNDER the Act to regulate the Practice of Medicine in the State of Illinois, all persons practicing medicine in any of its departments are divided into two classes:-First, practitioners who had been practicing medicine ten or more years within the State, prior to July 1, 1877. Second, those who have been practicing medicine in the State for a period of time less than ten years, prior to July

1, 1877.

This second class is sub-divisible into two others—those who are practicing medicine, in any of its departments, who have neither a diploma nor license, and who are required by law to undergo examination by the STATE BOARD for its certificate entitling them to practice medicine and surgery in the State of Illinois. And, second, those who can furnish satisfactory proof of having received diplomas as graduates in medicine or licenses from legally-chartered medical institutions in good standing.

TO BE HELD IN GOOD STANDING in Illinois, colleges must comply with the following schedule of requirements. This schedule took effect at the close of the session of 1882-83. No diploma issued. since that date, is accepted as the basis for a certificate, unless the diploma was issued in accordance with the schedule. The only other mode of obtaining a certificate is through an examination by the BOARD.

SCHEDULE OF REQUIREMENTS.

I. Conditions of admission to lecture courses.-1. Credible certificates of good moral standing. 2. Diplomas of graduation from a good literary and scientific college or high school, or a first-grade teacher's certificate. Or, lacking this-A thorough examination in the branches of a good English education, including mathematics, English composition, and elementary physics or natural philosophy. II. Branches of medical science to be included in the course of instruction.-1. Anatomy. 2. Physiology. 3. Chemistry. 4. Materia Medica and Therapeutics. 5. Theory and Practice of Medicine. 6. Pathology. 7. Surgery. 8. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 9. Hygiene. 10. Medical Jurisprudence.

.

XII

1

DECISIONS UNDER THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT.

III. Length of regular or graduating courses.-1. The time occupied in the regular courses or sessions from which students are graduated shall not be less than five months, or twenty weeks, each. 2. Two full courses of lectures, not within one and the same year of time, shall be required for graduation with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

IV. Attendance and examinations or quizzes.-1. Regular attendance during the entire lecture courses shall be required, allowance being made only for absences occasioned by the student's sickness, such absences not to exceed twenty per centum of the course. 2. Regular examinations or quizzes to be made by each lecturer or professor daily, or at least twice each week. 3. Final examinations on all branches to be conducted, when practicable, by competent examiners other than the professors in each branch.

V. Dissections, clinics and hospital attendance.-1. Each student shall have dissected during two courses. 2. Attendance during at least two terms of clinical and hospital instruction shall be required.

VI. Time of professional studies.-This shall not be less than three full years before graduation, including the time spent with a preceptor, and attendance upon lectures or at clinics and hospital.

VII. Instruction. The college must show that it has a sufficient and competent corps of instructors, and the necessary facilities for teaching, dissections, clinics, etc.

CONCERNING the proviso by which physicians are exempted from the penalties of the Act, the Attorney General, J. K. EDSALL, in an opinion dated November 9, 1877, says: "The proviso in question is in these words: 'Provided, that the provisions of the Act shall not apply to those who have been practicing medicine ten years within the State.' I have no question that the effect of this proviso is to exempt all persons who fall within its terms, from the penalties imposed by the Act in question. But, considering the entire scope of the Act, I am of the opinion that the duty is incumbent upon your BOARD to ascertain, as far as practicable, the names of all those who are entitled to the benefits of that proviso; and that it is the duty of those who have thus practiced medicine ten years within the State to furnish_you, on request, evidence of the fact by affidavit, or otherwise. Your BOARD may, with propriety, issue in return some proper certificate, which will show their right to practice under that proviso of the law."

It is the duty, therefore, as well as to the interest of all who claim exemption from the penalties of the Act, in consequence of the fact of their having practiced medicine in this State for ten years previous to July 1, 1877, and who have not procured certificates, to make affidavit. concerning their period of practice, and file the same with the BOARD, thus establishing their status legally. SECTION four of the State Board of Health Act requires that all physicians and midwives, without exception, practicing in this State, shall register their names and post office addresses with the county clerk of the county where they reside. This registration is addi

APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES.

XIII

tional to, and independent of, the record of the certificate issued by the BOARD, and is obligatory in each county into which the physician's or midwife's practice extends.

APPENDED is all needful information as to the course of procedure to be observed in applying for a State certificate and complying with the law.

1. APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES, ETC.: Applications for certificates, or for blank affidavits, should be made to the Secretary at Springfield. The county clerks are also furnished with blank affidavits, or may obtain the same on application to the Secretary.

A special form of affidavit has been prepared for those who have lost their diplomas by fire or otherwise, and may be had on application as above.

Diplomas or licenses for verification, and affidavits properly filled out and acknowledged, together with the necessary letters of recommendation and fees for certificates, should be sent to the Secretary.

For convenience, diplomas may be presented to any member of the BOARD for verification. In such case the affidavit should be endorsed "Diploma verified," with the signature of the member, before being forwarded to the Secretary.

2. DIPLOMA OR LICENSE TO BE PRESENTED FOR VERIFICATION: In regard to practitioners of medicine who have been practicing in this State less than ten years, the law requires that those who are graduates in medicine, or who have licenses from legally chartered medical institutions in good standing, must actually present for verification, to the STATE BOARD, their diplomas or licenses; and, in addition, such other satisfactory proofs as may be necessary. Graduates may present their diplomas or licenses and affidavits by letter or proxy.

3. AFFIDAVITS REQUIRED: Affidavit must be made that the person presenting the diploma, or license, is the lawful possessor of the same. The affidavit should state date and place of graduation, and name of medical college; length of practice in this State, as well as present place of residence.

4. FEE FOR CERTIFICATES: is fixed by law at one dollar.

The fee for a certificate of graduation

5. EXAMINATION OF NON-GRADUATES: It is required by law that all persons practicing medicine less than ten years in any of its departments, who are not graduates in medicine or licentiates, shall be examined directly by the BOARD, which is authorized to issue certificates to those passing the examination.

6.

APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION: The candidate for examination must fill out a blank form, which may be obtained on application to the Secretary. This must be sent to the office of the BOARD, and, if approved, the candidate will be notified when and where to appear for examination.

7. FEE FOR EXAMINATION: Candidates for examination are required to pay a fee of five dollars, in advance--to be returned if the certificate be refused.

8. CHARACTER OF EXAMINATION: Examinations may be made, in whole or in part, in writing or orally; and shall be of an elementary