Proceedings of the quarter-centennial celebration of the establishment of the Michigan State Board of Health : held at Detroit, Michigan, August 9, 1898.
- Michigan. State Board of Health
- Date:
- 1898
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Proceedings of the quarter-centennial celebration of the establishment of the Michigan State Board of Health : held at Detroit, Michigan, August 9, 1898. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![It is to be kept ever iu mind that, although the State Hoard of Health is an executive bodv, it is not clothed with mandatory powers, its func- tions are wholly advisory. The great work which it has accomi)lished it has achieved almost entirely by educational means, and this Labor- atory will stand, as it has stood ever since its establishment, an object lesson, extending, illustrating and emphasizing the teachings of the Board. The great future of ])ublic sanitation it is difficult—aye, impossible to ])i-edict. Some writer, gifted with a ])ro])hetic mind, whose words I can only quote from memory, has said: “I saw a vision, a civic })roces- sion of great ])omp and elaborate display, in which appeared in person all the lugh dignitaries of State, surrounded by their respective staffs, emblazoned with the full official insignia of their rank. These were on foot, marching in stately measure to the grandest music; and Ihere was still another officer, apparently one of still higher rank, wearing his official roltes, and seated in a chariot of most costly structure, to whom all seemed to render obeisance and honor. I asked who is this? The re])ly was, ‘That is his High Excellency—the Commissioner of Health.’ ”■ Chniniinn Wrlln—Will .TiulfiP ^loAlvay take the chair for a short time? Actinii ninirniaii McAlrni/—The next subject this afternoon is Sanitary Conven- tions. by Benjamin Lee, M. D.. President of the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of Nortli America, and I take pleasure in introducing Doctor Lee:— STATE 8AXITAKY COXVEXTIOXS. BY BENJAMIN LEE, A. M., M. D., PH. D,, SECRETARY OF'THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND HEALTH OFFICER OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. The provei'bial unwisdom, not to say, presumption, of the merchant “who carried coals to X'ew C.istle,” was both sagacity and modesty com- jiared with the audacity of one who dares to a]»pear before the Board of Health, now grown to adolescence and maturity, of this great State, and niake pretense of saying anything new, and interesting, or convey- ing information to its members, on the topic on which I am announced to s])eak. I can only say in self-defense, that the subject is not one of niy own selection. I deem it indeed an unusual com])liment that the Secretary of your Board, himself a veteran in management of meetings of this character, should have.recpiested me to speak to you with regard to this valuable means for disseminating infoianation among the peo])le in reference to the jireservation of life and health, not the least import- ant among the manifold duties assigned to your Board and mim*, and ]>robably to all State and Provincial Boards of Health. Let us consider for a moment the history of this movement: The first State Sanitaiw Convention of which we have authentic records, was held on Xovember 1, of The year before Chi ist 1451, in the midst of a large ])lain about equi distant from five consid(*rable towns lying on or near the river Jordan. The sessions lasted moi'e than a week, and were attend(*d by immense audiences. The juincipal address on this occasion Mas delivered by a Ilebri'w savant nanu'd ^lesu or Closes, the most](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22335213_0055.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
