FORCE ON SMALLPOX. 



181 



the restriction and prevention of such diseases. This is believed to be 

 one of the most important laws ever passed by the Legislature in the 

 interests of public health, as it brings directly into the homes of the 

 people, through the many thousands of school children who attend the 

 public schools, the necessary knowledge for the restriction and preven- 

 tion of the dangerous communicable diseases. 



Some of the Results of the Work. 



That the early work of the board, and the work of later years, has 

 resulted in much good is shown by the Vital Statistics, published by the 

 Secretary of State, from which it is learned tliat the average deaths from 

 smallpox, per ten thousand inhabitants, during the five years, 1869-73, 

 before the board commenced its work for the prevention and restriction of 

 smallpox, was nearly six times as great as it was during the twenty -three 

 years, 1874-9G, after the board began its work for the prevention and : 

 restriction of the disease. This is graphically illustrated by diagram 

 [Plate 1129]. 



QPLATE 1129 ]] 



Some of the Present Work. — What is done whenever information is re- 

 ceived that smallpox is present in any locality in Michigan. 



Whenever information is received at the oflSce of the secretary of the 

 State Board of Health that smallpox is, or recently has been present in 

 any township, city or village, the source and date of information is at 



