No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 215 



to bo detailed, oue nieniber each, fioiii the army, the navy, and the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry, to which five civilians api)ointed by the 

 Surgeon-General arc added for the purpose of taking part in an 

 annual conference for a period of not longer than ten days in any 

 one year. 



An annual conference of the health authorities of all the states 

 and territories and the district of Columbia, each to be entitled 

 to one delegate is made compulsory. The Surgeon-General may 

 also, at his discretion, invite a conference with health and quaran- 

 tine authorities from such states and territories as he deems desir- 

 able, as occasion ui-dj require; and, on the api^lication of not less 

 than five state or territorial boards of health, quarantine authori- 

 ties or state health officers, it becomes his duty to call a conference 

 of delegates from such states and territories. Provision is also 

 made for the national '"'registration of mortality, morbidity and 

 vital statistics." The system of health organization in this country 

 may now, therefore, be said to be complete and symmetrical, com- 

 prising a central Public Health Bureau at the National Capital, a 

 board of health in each state and territory, and local boards in every 

 municipality. 



THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF HEALTH AUTHORITIES. 



Having then the necessary machinery established, what are the 

 powers and duties of health authorities with reference, first, to the 

 causes of disease, and, second, to their avoidance, elimination or 

 destruction? 



The powers of boards of health in their relation to the individual 

 citizen, ought to be and in most cases are, autocratic and absolute. 

 The Czar of Russia, himself, scarcely possesses more unlimited au- 

 thority. This is necessary from the very nature of the case. The 

 matters with which they are concerned are those of life and death, 

 and the utmost promptness of action is often demanded in order 

 that life may be saved and grave disaster prevented. Under com- 

 mon law, the courts are the recourse for those whose lives or health 

 are threatened in any way whatever. To such the courts have 

 always been open. But the law's delays are proverbial, and. since 

 during such delays many lives may be lost and great calamities 

 may result, all legislators recognize the necessity for an authority 

 in this most important domain which may act promptly, independ- 

 ently, and autocratically within the limits of its jurisdiction. 

 Neither person nor property are exempt from its pains and penal- 

 ties. It may restrain the liberty of the one and destroy the other 

 on the simple ground that in its judgment, such action is necessary 

 for the protection of the public health. ''^Salm popvJi suprema 

 est ?(?«'." ''The health of the people is, indeed, the supreme law." 



