36 Background of Work and Study in Public Health 



Early in 1882 the editor and publisher of the School Moderator 

 arranged with Smith to have charge of a " Scientific and Sanitary " 

 department of the publication. In June of that year he was em- 

 ployed as a correspondence clerk by the Michigan State Board of 

 Health, and moved from Ionia to Lansing. He was probably 

 recommended for this position by Dr. Robert C. Kedzie who, 

 although professor of chemistry at Michigan Agricultural College, 

 was also a doctor of medicine and an influential figure in the state 

 medical society and the state health board; a past president of 

 both organizations. 



In 1876 Dr. Kedzie had been chairman of the section of public 

 hygiene and state medicine of the American Medical Association. 

 He was a graduate of the first class of the medical department of 

 the University of Michigan, had distinguished himself as a student 

 then, practiced his profession for a time, but, because of his 

 predilection for chemistry, had accepted a teaching position in that 

 subject at the agricultural college, and become one or the founders 

 in America of the science of agricultural chemistry. Smith valued 

 his acquaintance with him and secretary Henry B. Baker of the 

 Michigan health board, both men doctors of medicine and workers 

 for the cause of public hygiene and health. In 1881 Dr. Baker 

 had a column in the Michigan School Moderator. This was 

 entitled, "Health in Michigan," and was usually based on health 

 bulletins recently published by the board. 



Smith's "scientific and sanitary" department of the Michigan 

 School Moderator covered many subjects. Two of his early con- 

 tributions v/ere on " Cheap aquariums " and " Meteoric fossils." 

 But soon many notes on botany, astronomy, physics, chemistry, 

 geology, and zoology began to appear. Those on botany ranged 

 from comments on Asa Gray's Synoptical Flora of North America 

 to Edward Tuckerman's study of lichens; from cross-fertilization 

 of plants by insects to insectivorous or "carnivorous" plants; 

 from the Michigan flora including its ferns to garden plants and 

 seed catalogues. Paragraphs or brief articles dealt with such sub- 

 jects as the solvent power of water, silk production in Italy, stellar 

 immensities of space, comets and superstitions, light velocity, the 

 earth's motion, the electric light, minuteness of particles of matter, 

 fire prevention in buildings, and much else.^' Smith's interest in 



^" " Scientific and Sanitary " department notes, data, and articles began in January, 



