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with the intent to deceive, as A. Edwards at that time was editor, and L. Hitchcock publisher of the paper in which he falsely said his letters were printed.

In addition to the letter of enquiry of Dr. Billings, I also received one from Dr. H. B. Baker, Secretary of the State Board of Health of Michigan, asking about the Edinburg University of Chicago, as he had been written to from England.

GENERAL SANITATION.

Owing to a want of time and means, not as much attention has been paid to general sanitation as was desirable, although some progress has been made in the investigation of the pollution of streams, and the water supply of cities and towns. The latter is the most pressing work for the coming year, especially that of Springfield, Peoria, Quincy, Rock Island and Rockford. The diseases of our domestic animals, especially those of an infectious or contagious character, demand our attention from a sanitary, or directly from a commercial, standpoint. A growing interest in local sanitation is manifest throughout the State, and it is clearly the duty of the Board to encourage the same by the formation of local boards of health.

Within the last year repeated applications for the investigation of food adulterations have been made, but for the reasons already alluded to, nothing could be done. In many instances, no doubt, good can be accomplished, but there are others which have no sanitary bearing, and none strictly come under police supervision. It is important that the vital statistics of the State be collected and prepared for publication. In January and February the Board overhauled the record of vital statistics of Chicago, and by notification caused the return of about two thousand births that had been omitted. For the last three months, as time permitted, we have been examining the returns of Sangamon county, but have not finished the investigation. Both in Cook and Sangamon counties too little attention is paid to the returns of vital statistics.

SANITARY CONDITION OF THE STATE HOUSE.

It

For the last two years my attention has repeatedly been called to the sewer gas escaping from the water closets in the State House. This is most marked when the wind is from the Northwest, and certain atmospheric conditions obtain. No provision has been made for their ventilation, nor do I think they are properly trapped. is surprising that so little attention should have been paid to so important a subject in a building so recently constructed. I endeavored to get the plans of the plumbing and sewerage of the building, but no one seemed to know where they were, and in their absence the only obvious remedy would seem to be to connect the sewer with the smoke stack of the heating apparatus.

STATEMENT SHOWING EXPENSES OF ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1880.

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$5,557 72

Balance remaining in State Treasury to the credit of the yellow fever or contingent appropriation

3,107,47

REPORT OF A. L. CLARK, TREASURER ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1880.

To the President and Members of the Illinois State Board of Health:

Your Treasurer begs leave to present the following report of the receipts and expenditures of his office for the period commencing with the date of his last annual report, September 30, 1879, and ending September 30, 1880:

GENERAL ACCOUNT.

1879.

January 1

Balance on hand to credit of general account at date of last report.
November 1. Rec'd of Dr. J. H. Rauch, Sec'y, receipts of his office for Oct., 1879.
December 1.
1880.

$573 34

Nov., 1879.

51 00 19.00

31.

Dec., 1879.
Jan., 1880.

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Feb., 1880.
M'ch, 1880.

31 00 42.00 23 00

140 00

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April, 1880.

155 00

May

31.

May, 1880.

78.00

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August 31.

Aug., 1880.

20 00

September 30.

Sept., 1880.

44.00

Total

$1,290 34

9

91

9.

31.

There have been paid out by order of the Board the following sums:

1879. October

9. By order No. 19. N. Bateman.

20. A. L. Clark

21. W. M. Chambers

18. H. Wardner..

22, J. H. Rauch, office expenses.

November 30.

23.

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$19 15

29 25

26 15

26 10

66 94

11.30

22.75

19.80

49.80

February

78.05

March

64 68

April..

79 18

May

38.25

June.

34.00

July

29.05

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Leaving a balance on hand to credit of general account...

At the date of last report there was on hand to the credit of con-
tingent fund, and upon which there have been made in drafts
during the year, the sum of..

Making a total balance on hand at date of this report of..

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STATE MEDICINE IN ILLINOIS.

By H. Wardner, M.D.

The subject of State medicine is, at the present time, attracting much attention from the medical profession and from the public. For a long time the State has exercised certain functions that are now included in our definition of that term. In Illinois it has legislated against nuisances detrimental to health. It has conferred upon local health boards authority to establish and maintain quarantine, and in other ways it has done certain things which are included in our modern conception of the functions of State medicine.

These things, however, have been only the germs of a later growth. They have been the temporary expedients of immediate necessity, resorted to with no fixed and permanent purpose, and abandoned as soon as the pressure of the immediate necessity has been removed. State medicine has, indeed, grown out of these germs, but it differs from them as the tree differs from the seed from which it sprang. The modern system, so far as it has taken form, is a systematic effort to work certain reforms, protect the public against certain evil practices, and to accomplish certain ameliorations of the harsher conditions of modern life; it is an organized, consistent and persistent effort; a permanent force, acting steadily toward the accomplishment of well defined ends. Upon the medical profession devolves, in a large measure, the duty of executing the will of the State in this matter. Upon the wisdom or the reverse, shown by physicians, will depend the efficiency of the work, and the escape of the system from public condemnation for failure to accomplish needed good upon the one hand, and unnecessary interference with the private rights of the citizen upon the other. If censure is incurred upon either hand, the system must suffer, and the beneficent work which it contemplates must be, in some measure at least, circumscribed. It is worth our while, therefore, while the system is still in its infancy, to consider with care its functions and limitations.

The

It should be borne in mind that the right of the State to interfere in this matter is derived from the duty of the State. right is, therefore, sharply limited by the duty out of which it grows. In other words, the State cannot do more than it is in duty bound to do without transcending its right and trespassing upon the domain of private effort. Our whole American system of government, of life, of civilization, rests upon the principle of individuality. It is our wise custom to hold every man responsible for himself,

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