HEALTH AND DISCIPLINE. At no time since my last report has there been any cause for uneasiness as to the health of the convicts. On the contrary, the general health has been good, and it is quite gratifying so to state. Discipline has been successfully maintained without resorting to the severest punishment authorized by the honorable board of penitentiary commissioners-the spanking system-with a very few exceptions. This result is due to a general willingness on the part of the prisoners to perform the work assigned faithfully. Minor infractions of the rules are punished by the withdrawal of some privilege previously extended as a reward for more than average good conduct. All the prisoners are regularly employed. There are none allowed to be idle unless when sick or for some other sufficient cause; the regular employment being one of the principal factors in maintaining good health throughout the institution and tends in a great measure to further the general discipline. Respectfully submitted. Hon. MIGUEL A. OTERO, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe, N. Mex. H. O. BURSUM, Superintendent. BOARD OF HEALTH. TAOS, N. MEX., July 4, 1900. SIR: The New Mexico Territorial board of health has the honor to submit the following report: The general healthfulness of the Territory and climatic conditions has been such for the last year that there has been an entire absence of epidemics. The board has distributed, in Spanish and English, 2,000 copies of typhoid fever literature, and is happy to report that the dread disease (smallpox) at the present time is almost unknown in the Territory. The pamphlet treated of sanitary precautions and safeguards to be taken to prevent the disease, and also, if cases had occurred, what sanitary precautions should be taken to prevent its spread. All the licensed physicians in the Territory have received literature treating of bubonic plague, instructions for isolating cases, and copies of the various treatments used in such cases, through the courtesy of United States Marine-Hospital Service. There was a systematic investigation made by the Treasury Department through "The leprosy commission," as to the existence of any cases of leprosy in the various States and Territories, and we are happy to report that no cases of this disease were found in this Territory. During the last year there have been about 100 cases of smallpox in the Territory, but the board is not aware of the existence of a single case at this time. The mortality has been very small. General vaccination has been done all over the Territory, and we feel that the Territory is to be congratulated on the small number of cases. Most all the States and Territories, even Canada, have experienced a smallpox epidemic; in Ohio there were nearly 2,000 cases alone. The board of health distributed 2,000 copies of smallpox pamphlets, as to diagnosis, treatment, isolation, and quarantine, and recommending vaccination; with results that intelligent people in isolated hamlets were able to handle cases properly. Consumption. The fresh-air treatment of consumption in such resorts as Ragaz, Davos, and Saranac have proven to be a success. The Lancet (London) recommends the keeping of tubercular patients out of doors for the entire twenty-four hours. No more suitable place as to climatic conditions, altitude, sunshine, or perfect drainage can be found on the American continent than New Mexico to-day. The United States Government has recognized this fact by establishing a resort for its consumptive soldiers at Fort Stanton, N. Mex. As this Territory is fast becoming famous for its climate and many tubercular cases are coming here, the board has issued a circular on 66 Expectoration" to hotel and boarding-house keepers, to post in conspicuous places, and would recommend the following should be carried out in hotels, boarding houses, and other places of public entertainment: It is the safer way to subject to a careful cleansing and disinfection all rooms that have been occupied by consumptives. Particularly in rooms where strict sanitary rules have been observed, the need of disinfection is emphasized by the fact that the germ of tuberculosis retains its infective powers a long while, under favoring condi The bacillus of tuberculosis is hard to kill; use, therefore, only those disinfectants which are the most rapidly destructive of it when in its dry state. In fresh sputum the bacillus requires different treatment. In disinfecting a room that has previously been occupied by a consumptive, let the order of procedure be about as is recommended in the following, sorting out and disinfecting the clothing and other smaller things first: (A) Clothing.—Disinfect with steam or by boiling. Boiling for half an hour will disinfect any article that can be subjected to that process. Steam disinfection for one hour, properly done, is just as trustworthy and has the advantage of wetting and shrinking fabrics less. Steam disinfection on a small scale can be done in the common wash boiler by supporting above the water, with two bricks or otherwise, a false flooring of laths or thin board. Pour in 2 or 3 inches of water, place the articles to be disinfected above the false flooring, put on the cover and steam one hour after the water begins to boil, keeping the water briskly boiling all the time. To insure certainty of success there must be a brisk fire and the steam must be kept steaming through the articles all the time. After the steaming, carry the boiler into the open air and throw the things over a line to dry. In every town and city a portable steam disinfector should be available. Clothing can also be disinfected by soaking it twenty-four hours in solution of 6 or 7. Then rinse thoroughly. (B) Bedding.-Disinfect sheets, blankets, pillowcases, quilts, comforts, and spreads, as under (4). Pillows and feather beds are preferably disinfected with steam. They need not be ripped-the steam will penetrate. Empty straw beds, burn straw, and disinfect tick with steam as under (4). Burn cheap mattresses. A mattress worth the trouble may be disinfected with formaldehyde as follows: Make a tight box large enough to contain it; render it air-tight by pasting up all cracks and corners with stout, firm paper. Place the mattress in it and sprinkle or spray it with at least 4 ounces (1 gill) of formalin; put on the cover quickly, paste it up. Leave the mattress twenty-four hours. Or a mattress may be disinfected by spraying it with formalin and quickly and tightly wrapping it in large rubber blankets. Feather beds and pillows may be disinfected with formalin as is advised for mattresses. (C) Rugs and carpets.-Burn old ones and all that can not be surely disinfected. Steam disinfection is the surest. When that is impracticable formaldehyde in concentrated doses, as for mattresses, may be used for valuable carpets or rugs. (D) Upholstered furniture.-If the room can be disinfected with formaldehyde, spray or sprinkle the upholstered part with solution 7, just before the room disinfec tion, and leave in place. If formaldehyde gas is not available, spray or wash thoroughly with solution 7 or 6, then expose to the action of direct sunshine three or four days-the longer the better. (E) Rooms.-Avoid raising a dust. If the removal of a carpet leaves dust on the floor, remove it after sprinkling wet sawdust or with damp broom or damp cloths. With a damp cloth remove dust from furniture and other surfaces. Boil all cloths thus used. If formaldehyde disinfection is available for the room, wash in solution 7 all surfaces of walls or furniture that may have been soiled with sputum. Wash or spray the floor with solution 7, letting the solution soak into the cracks well. Then fumigate with formaldehyde, letting the stripped furniture remain. If formaldehyde is not available, wash very carefully in solution 6 or 7 floors and all surfaces where exposed to the danger of soiling with sputum. Complete the disinfection of the room with liquid disinfectants, repeating the washing, the interval between the two washings not necessarily exceeding half an hour. For the disinfection of rooms with formaldehyde, the new vaporizer devised by Professor Robinson, in which formaldehyde solution is used, is recommended by the State board as a simple, compact, and efficient piece of apparatus. It vaporizes solution of formaldehyde instead of wood alcohol. At least half a pint of formaldehyde solution should be used for each 1,000 cubic feet of space. Keep the room closed at least eight hours. In preparing for formaldehyde disinfection, the room must be made as tight as possible by closing the mouths of chimneys, other ventilating openings, chinking, or pasting cracks, etc. Solution 6: Corrosive sublimate, 1 dram; water, 1 gallon; mix and dissolve. Label "Poison." This is approximately a 1:1,000 solution. Its use should always be under the direction of some intelligent and careful person. This is not trustworthy as a disinfectant of fresh sputum. Destroys metals and gilding. Must be mixed in wood, glass, or earthenware. Solution 7: Solution of formaldehyde (formalin), 6 ounces; water, 1 gallon; mix. This mixture contains a little less than 2 per cent of formaldehyde. (The Sanitary Record, London, England, May 25, 1900.) There should be some adequate legislation in regard to the transportation through the Territory of dead bodies. The board has had valuable assistance from the New Mexico Medical Society, which is composed of about 95 per cent of the licensed physicians in the Territory. The restrictions set on the practice of medicine in this Territory have been carried out by the board with the result that the medical profession to-day contains men of professional ability and high integrity that will compare favorably with any of the Eastern States. The standard for the practice of medicine here is as high as any in the United States, and, although we are only a Territory, “quackery” is almost unknown. The high standard of ethics of the American Medical Association is rigidly enforced, and the ranks of the medical profession are much cleaner than some of the States with older medical laws. The next legislature should pass such laws as to make the New Mexico Territorial board of health a board in fact as well as name. Vital statistics should be kept, so that the world should know what a life-giving climate New Mexico is favored with. Respectfully submitted. T. P. MARTIN, M. D., Secretary. Hon. M. A. OTERO, Governor of New Mexico. BOARD OF PHARMACY. SILVER CITY, N. MEX., December 1, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the tenth annual report of the New Mexico board of pharmacy to December 1, 1899. Since my last report December 1, 1898, the board has held two meetings, one at Santa Fe, March 6 and 7, 1899, at which 4 applicants were examined, but 1 of whom was successful. Minor certificates were issued to 2. A meeting was held at Las Vegas on October 4 and 5, 1899, at which 1 applicant appeared for examination, who was unsuccessful. Other routine business transacted and various reports submitted, showing that the conditions were fairly satisfactory and that the provisions of the pharmacy law are being properly observed. A few instances of violation have come to the notice of the board, and due diligence has been exercised toward a satisfactory adjustment of the same. Lack of sufficient funds has always been a menace to the proper investigation of and adjustment of irregularities. However, in comparing the conditions of pharmacy in New Mexico with those existing in other States we find we compare very favorably in pharmaceutical proficiency and professional standing. Appended hereto is a list of the registered pharmacists and minor pharmacists on our register at this date, also financial statement of secretary and treasurer. Respectfully submitted. W. C. PORTERFIELD, Secretary and Treasurer. Dec. 1. By amount received for advertisement in report...... 58.00 8.00 467.40 |