CONCERNING MIDWIVES.. MIDWIVES are required by law 1. To register their names and post-office addresses in the offices of the county clerks in the counties where they reside. 2. To obtain certificates from the STATE BOARD OF HEALTH entitling them to practice their art: Provided, That they have not practiced the same for a period of at least ten years prior to July 1, 1877. Certificates entitling to practice are obtainable in the same manner as those for the practice of medicine and surgery, i. e., either by the 'presentation of "a diploma or license from a legally-chartered medical institution in good standing," with the necessary affidavit, letters of recommendation and fee of one dollar; or by undergoing an examination by the BOARD in the usual branches. EXAMINATIONS: Resolved, That any medical practitioner of the STATE BOARD OF HEALTH may examine midwives relative to their competency, and if found to be competent and qualified persons to practice midwifery, they shall receive the midwife's certificate of examination of this BOARD, upon the recommendation of such examiner.-Adopted, January 16, 1879. Resolved, That it is the duty of all midwives, and of all women practicing midwifery in this State, who are not authorized to practice under the Medical Practice Act, to report without delay to one of the following named members of the BOARD, for examination: H. Wardner. M. D., Anna*; J, H. Rauch, M. D., Chicago; R. Ludlam, M. D., Chicago; W. M. Chambers, M. D., Charleston*; A. L. Clark, M. D., Elgin.-Adopted, June 14, 1879. SCHOOLS OF MIDWIFERY: WHEREAS, Parties in this State have frequently taken out charters. under the State law. for the establishment of schools of midwifery, the recognition of which schools by the BOARD becomes a question; and WHEREAS, In many cases such parties have been without the necessary qualifications; therefore, Resolved, That, while not desiring to discourage any reputable efforts to increase the knowledge and ability of those practicing obstetrics in this State, the BOARD finds it impossible, at this time, to recognize the certificates or diplomas of such institutions as a substitute for examinations by the BOARD, or as a sufficient basis upon which to grant a State certificate entitling the holder to practice midwifery.-Adopted, June 30, 1881. *The successors of Drs. Wardner and Chambers, resigned, are Dr. W. A. Haskell, of Alton, and Dr. John McLean, of Pullman. REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE CHICAGO CONFERENCE ON SMALL-POX. JUNE 29-30, 1881. In response to the appended circular-letter of invitation, a conference of delegates from State and municipal boards of health with members of the National Board of Health, was held in the city of Chicago, June 29-30, 1881, to consider and adopt measures for united action by health authorities, in preventing the introduction of small-pox into the United States, and its spread from one State into another: Dr. : ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, You (or a representative of your Board) are respectfully invited to attend a conference of State and local boards of health, on June 29th, at the Grand Pacific hotel in Chicago. The question of concert of action between local and State boards of health and the National Board of Health, will be considered, and a plan submitted to prevent the introduction of small-pox into this country, and to prevent the spread of the same. It is unnecessary to say how much we are all interested in this subject. The prevalence of small-pox at this time is a disgrace, and unless more energetic measures are taken, it will continue to increase so long as immigration is pouring into this country as at present. Very respectfully yours. The following delegates were present: JOHN H. RAUCH, M. D., Secretary. H. B. BAKER, M. D., Secretary, Michigan State Board of Health. NEWTON BATEMAN, LL. D., Member, Illinois State Board of Health. A. H. BRIGGS, M. D., Health Officer, Buffalo, N. Y. A. L. CLARK, M. D., Member, Illinois State Board of Health. E. J. DAVIS, M. D., Member, Minnesota State Board of Health. OSCAR C. DEWOLF. M. D., Health Commissioner, Chicago. R. J. FARQUAHARSON, M. D., Secretary, Iowa State Board of Health. JOHN M. GREGORY, LL. D., President, Illinois State Board of Health. C. N. HEWITT, M. D., Secretary, Minnesota State Board of Health. E. LLOYD HOWARD, M. D., President, Maryland State Board of Health. HOSMER A. JOHNSON, M. D., Northwestern Member, National Board of Health. R. LUDLAM, M. D., Member, Illinois State Board of Health. JOHN MCLEAN, M. D., Member, Illinois State Board of Health. JOHN H. RAUCH, M. D., Secretary, Illinois State Board of Health. J. T. REEVE, M. D., Secretary, Wisconsin State Board of Health. STEPHEN SMITH, M. D., Representative of New York State Board of Health; Member, National Board of Health. JAMES A. STEUART, M. D., Health Officer, Baltimore, Md. H. B. STRONG, M. D., Member, Wisconsin State Board of Health. O. W. WIGHT, M. D., Health Commissioner, Milwaukee, Wis. Dr. John M. Gregory, of Illinois, was elected Chairman, and Dr. H. B. Baker, of Michigan, Secretary of the Conference. After being called to order by the Chairman, the meeting was addressed by Dr. Rauch, of Illinois, who read the call for the Conference and stated that invitations had been forwarded to the State Boards of Health of all the Western and Southwestern States; to many of those of the Eastern States; to the municipal health authorities of the large cities, and the health officers of the Atlantic sea-ports. Letters strongly favoring the objects of the Conference, had been received from many who were unable to be present, including Dr. W. H. Clark, Secretary, Tennessee State Board of Health; Dr. S. H. Durgin, Boston, Mass., Board of Health; the Hon. Charles W. Francis, Health Commissioner, St. Louis, Mo.; Dr. Elisha Harris, Secretary, New York State Board of Health; Dr. A. J. Miles, Health Officer, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. W. Snively, Health Officer, Pittsburg, Pa.; and Dr. Pinkney Thompson, President, Kentucky State Board of Health. The secretary read a communication from the State Board of Health of New York, setting forth that small-pox was widely spread through the chief ports of Europe, and that the prevalence of varioloid tended to show that vaccination, during several years past, had been less effectual than it should have been. The Board recommended a system of thorough inspection and vaccination at all the European ports of departure; an increase of efficiency in the American quarantine system; and a more thorough co-operation of the State and National boards of health, for the prompt suppression of small-pox wherever it might appear. The Board relied greatly upon re-inspection after landing, and the organization of complete lines of resistance to the exotic contagion; and promised everything in their power which would tend to the attainment of the object in view. Dr. Briggs, of Buffalo, said that a thorough system of inspection had been put into operation in that city. All the cases of smallpox in Buffalo this year had either been brought in by immigrants, mostly Polish, or had been contracted from them. He had learned that, despite this inspection and the removal of cases to their hospital from among immigrants going farther west, the disease had again broken out among them after they had left the city. Dr. DeWolf said that hundreds of immigrants came into Chicago every day. Whenever practicable, trains were met thirty miles out by the officers of the health department, and an inspection was |