228 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
rence; since then the death rate has been much reduced. The 
death rate from typhoid is now under 4 %\ while the death rate 
from tuberculosis is nearly 8 %. Continuing - , he said this asso¬ 
ciation ought to be the first to put itself on record as recognizing 
tuberculosis as a contagious disease. 
Dr. Emerson thinks the idea of conferring with the State 
Board of Health is a good one. 
Dr. Becket said he had been somewhat surprised lately to 
see in insurance reports an article congratulating the companies 
and the public on the fact that according to insurance reports, 
people are getting longer lived, and that deaths from tuberculo¬ 
sis are gradually decreasing. 
Dr. Parker stated that the reason given for the seeming fall¬ 
ing off in deaths from tuberculosis was because the establish¬ 
ment of Post Graduate schools, and the consequent better edu¬ 
cation of country practitioners had resulted in greater strictness 
in examination; fewer poor risks had been taken by the insur¬ 
ance companies with the result that in the insurance commission 
reports, the death rate from tuberculosis had decreased. 
After a further discussion, Dr. Winchester moved that a com- 
1 
mittee be appointed from members of the association to approach 
the authorities on the subject. 
Dr. Burr wished to point out that in the City of Boston the 
by-laws required that each animal shall have IOOO cf. Many of 
the other points suggested by the essayist were at present in 
force in the city. He thought the cattle commissioners were 
doing all in their power with the force at their disposal. The 
amount of work they had to do was very great. 
Dr. Howard thinks if anything is to be done in the matter, it 
should be well discussed, statistics should be looked up, and the 
association should be sure of its ground. He then moved that 
the discussion should be continued at next meeting. Seconded 
by Dr. Winslow. 
Dr. Parker moved as amendment that a committee be ap¬ 
pointed, consisting of members of the association who have had 
experience with tuberculosis, to report at next meeting on the 
