The State Board of Health and a quarter century of public-health work in Michigan / by Theo. R. MacClure.

  • MacClure (Theodore R.). 1869-
Date:
[1898]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The State Board of Health and a quarter century of public-health work in Michigan / by Theo. R. MacClure. 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.

    69/78 (page 43)
    years could have always “smoothed the fur the right way”, aud the State Board of Health is no exception; it lias made some enemies but vastly many more friends. Its lines of work have tended to antagonize certain individuals and corporations, but it is believed that at the present time it has as many staunch friends as has any other State Institution. Almost every session of the legislature the animosity against the Board is shown by the introduction of a bill or two to abolish the office; hardly a session has passed without such proposed legislation: but sometimes the activity and pressure for such legislation is more than usual. There are different reasons for the animus which prompts such hostile legislation: (1) For many years the Board endeavored to maintain a safe test for illuminating oils used in the State, and it is easy to understand why those,interested in the sale of oil should be represented in the legislature by agents and lobbyists; (2) during the World’s Fair and at a time when cholera and other diseases were likely to be brought into this country, the Board maintained a State inspection of immi- grants and travelers at the Michigan border, and it is not difficult to understand why certain officials of railroads should not wish the State Board all happiness; (8) from time to time clerks have left the office for cause* and it should not be diffi- cult to see the reason why such discharged clerks should come to the legislature and labor for the abolition of the Board; and (4) disgruntled physicians who may have been prosecuted for veilating the public-health laws, and misinformed persons who have been beguiled to do things which they would not have done had they been correctly informed. A few such reasons have caused the Board some trouble. However, the last effort-.to abolish the Board was made in 1895, the attack was vigorous and annoying. When the onslaught was most vigorous, the Board asked for an investigation of the office, and the request was granted. The investigation was long, expensive and tiresome, but the outcome was most satisfactory. Re- print No. 4<>2 gives a detailed statement of the attack against the Board, the pro- ceedings of the investigation, and also gives the finding of the legislative investi- gating committee. The result of the investigation is probably concisely told in the first paragraph of the report, that reads: *|We find that the charges against the State Board of Health as set forth have not been proved, in substance or in spirit, in general or in particular. And we characterize them as unfounded, and undoubtedly prompted by ill-will; and so far as made on the floor of the House they must have been the result of deception practiced upon members. The Friends of PiibIic=Health Work. Following up a statement of the opponents of the Board, it is well to make a passing tribute to the friends of the State Board of Health and of health work in Michigan. Those who esteem the high character of the work that has been done, and at- tempted to be done, are numerous, and space would not permit mention of each one who lias aided the humanitarian work of the Board. A brief allusion to one may serve as an example of the others. Among the many and long-continued services