270 Local Boards of Health — Hewitt. 



In 1881 it Wras evident that the delay was rather in the un- 

 willingness of local authorities to incur expense or responsibility 

 than anything else. The township boards, officered by farmers, 

 mostly, with occasional help from health officers, or the secre- 

 tary of the state board have been doing better work every year. 

 In 1883 we secured the sanitary code which is the basis of all sub- 

 sequent growth (Chapter 132, Laws of 1883). This act consoli- 

 dated the sanitary forces of the state, enforced compulsory notifi- 

 cation of infectious diseases of men, and defined not only the 

 powers of boards of health, but inflicted penalties for their 

 neglect to perform their duties. But increased responsibilities dis- 

 covered other defects in the laws, and in 1885 the legislature still 

 further enlarged the duties and completed the organization of the 

 local boards. The terms of members' service was so arranged as 

 to keep the organization perpetual, with at least two old members 

 always on duty, so that the experience of the board was continu- 

 ous. The care of infectious diseases of domestic animals was given 

 to them, with compulsory notification by owners and others; the 

 control of offensive trades and the duty of regular sanitary inspec- 

 tion of their respective localities, with power to deal promptly with 

 "nuisances, sources of filth or causes of sickness." In no other state 

 has this unification of duty and authority been so thoroughly 

 effected. The result of the legislation of 1885 was to increase 

 local activity wonderfully. In the country districts the in- 

 terest in infectious diseases of domestic animals drew to the sup- 

 port of the local boards many whose pecuniary interests had 

 suffered in that way, hitherto without help. It has resulted not 

 only in the very large reduction of death from these diseases, but 

 has enabled us to strengthen the work for the reduction of the 

 prevalence of the infectious deseases of men, in country districts 

 where before not an effort was made. The number of local boards 

 in direct relation with the state board were soon more than 1,000 

 in number, and some means must be found to keep up regular 

 communication between them. The secretary of the state board 

 asked permission to issue a monthly journal for that purpose. It 

 was granted and "Public Health in Minnesota" has ever since 

 proved a very great help to the common work. It has made that work 

 known all over the country and abroad, and set an example which 

 has been followed by most of the other state boards. In 1887 

 legislation put the collection of the returns of births and deaths 



