Ecuador.-At Guayaquil from July 1 to December 31, 1916, 73 cases of yellow fever with 44 deaths were reported, and during the month of January, 1917, 17 cases with 7 deaths. The disease was present at Babahoyo and Chobo in November, 1916, with 1 case each; at Milagro from July 1 to October 31, 1916, with 6 cases, and in January, 1917, 1 case; at Naranjito, in August, 1916, with 2 cases. Mexico.-At Campeche, Mexico, a fatal case of yellow fever was reported September 15, 1916. At Merida from July 1 to October 28, 1916, 29 cases were reported with 9 deaths; at Progreso, 2 cases, occurring in August and October, 1916. At Tuxpam the disease was present in October, 1916. On June 23 a fatal case of yellow fever was reported at Peto, State of Yucatan.

INSULAR.

West Indies-Barbados.-During the period from September 17 to December 2, 1917, 20 cases of yellow fever with 8 deaths were reported at Barbados.

Martinique.-On October 23, 1916, a fatal case of yellow fever was reported at Fort de France, Martinique.

SANITARY LEGISLATION.

Court decisions and State and municipal laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to public health were published as in previous years until January 19, 1917, when their current publication in the Public Health Reports was discontinued owing to the scarcity of printing paper and the need for strict economy in printing. The collection and compilation of the laws, ordinances, and regulations, however, has been continued, and the material can be issued in annual volumes, as heretofore. This work is carried on for the information of legislators, officers of the Public Health Service, State, county, and city health officers, and others who are called upon to draft laws, ordinances, or regulations designed to protect the public against the ravages of preventable disease. The published volumes show the trend of legislation and make it possible to select laws and regulations which have proved workable and effective in actual practice. Requests for assistance in drafting public-health measures are complied with whenever possible.

SUMMARY OF STATE HEALTH LAWS AND REGULATIONS, 1916.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1917, the laws and regulations pertaining to public health, adopted in the several States during the calendar year 1916, were compiled and published in Reprint No. 406.

The series of these publications now includes five volumes, reprints numbered 200, 264, 279, 338, and 406. The laws and regulations were adopted during the period from July 1, 1911, to December 31, 1916.

The following is a summary of some of the more important publichealth measures adopted during the calendar year 1916:

MORBIDITY REPORTS.

Laws or regulations requiring the reporting of communicable diseases were adopted, or existing laws modified, during the year 1916 in the following-named States: California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In Colorado the State board of health adopted regulations requiring the reporting of cases of communicable and occupational diseases to local health officers by physicians and other persons in attendance on patients. Local health officers are required to make and file copies of the reports and to forward the original reports without delay to the State board of health. (Public Health Reports, Sept. 29, 1916, p. 2730.) State institutions are required to report annually to the State board of health such information as that board may require. (Ibid., p. 2746.)

A Maryland law requires physicians to report immediately to local health officers cases of communicable diseases under their professional care. Local health officers must report to the State board of health within 24 hours. (Public Health Reports, Jan. 19, 1917, p. 160.)

A law passed in Rhode Island requires every physician or person having knowledge of cases of communicable disease to report immediately, upon blanks furnished by the State board of health, to the health officer of the town in which the patient is located. Town health officers are required to report weekly to the State board of health the number of cases notified and to make reports at other times if required by the State board of health. (Public Health Reports, Aug. 18, 1916, p. 2237.)

Tuberculosis.-A law passed in New York makes it the duty of every physician in the State of New York to report to the local health officer by telephone, or in person, or in writing on a form to be furnished, the name and address of every person known by said physician to have tuberculosis. Such reports are to be made within 24 hours after the physician secures knowledge of the case. (Public Health Reports, July 7, 1916, p. 1806.)

Registrars of vital statistics in the State of New York are required by law to report to the local health officers the names and addresses of persons reported to them as having died from tuberculosis. Local health officers are required to ascertain whether such persons have been previously reported as having tuberculosis, and, if it is found that physicians repeatedly fail to comply with the provisions of the law requiring the reporting of cases of tuberculosis, measures are to be taken to enforce the penalty for violation of the law. (Public Health Reports, July 7, 1916, p. 1807.)

A law of the State of Mississippi requires physicians, hospitals, and institutions for the treatment of tuberculosis to report within seven days all cases of the disease which they are called upon to examine or treat. Such reports must be made in accordance with the instructions of the State board of health. (Public Health Reports, Nov. 10, 1916, p. 3147.)

Poliomyelitis.-A regulation of the Virginia State Board of Health requires attending physicians immediately upon making a diagnosis

of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) to notify the local health officer and the State board of health of the existence and location of the case. (Public Health Reports, Oct. 27, 1916, p. 3022.)

A regulation of the State Board of Health of Montana requires physicians to report by the quickest possible method to local or county health officers all cases of poliomyelitis as soon as a diagnosis is made. Local health officers are required to report to the secretary of the State board of health by telegraph or telephone as soon as any case of the disease is reported to them, or as soon as they have made a diagnosis in a case attended by them. (Public Health Reports, Sept. 1, 1916, p. 2379.)

Ophthalmia neonatorum.-Laws or regulations requiring the reporting to local health officers of all cases of inflammation of the eyes of infants under two weeks of age were adopted during 1916 in Minnesota, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.

Quarantine.-Rules for the quarantining of communicable diseases were adopted during 1916 by the State boards of health of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Tuberculosis.-Laws or regulations designed to protect communities against the spread of tuberculosis or to provide hospital treatment for sufferers from this disease were passed during the calendar year 1916 in California, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

In the District of Columbia a regulation adopted by the commissioners forbids the attendance at school of any person suffering from tuberculosis in a communicable form. (Public Health Reports, Oct. 27, 1916, p. 3017.)

The attendance at school of any person who is found upon examination of his sputum to have tuberculosis is forbidden by regulations adopted by the Iowa State Board of Health. These regulations also forbid the employment of tuberculous persons in places where foodstuffs are prepared or where "numbers of persons habitually congregate," as theaters, department stores, etc. (Public Health Reports, Dec. 22, 1916, p. 3479.)

The Legislature of the State of Massachusetts directed the State department of health to investigate "the matter of nonpulmonary tuberculosis with special reference to children and adolescents." (Public Health Reports, June 30, 1916, p. 1736.) Provision was made by law for paying to approved municipal or incorporated hospitals a subsidy of $5 per week for each patient who is unable to pay for his support. (Ibid., p. 1737.) Counties were required by law to provide hospital accommodations for tuberculous persons residing in towns or cities of less than 50,000 inhabitants, either by erecting hospitals or by making arrangements for the care of patients in existing hospitals. (Public Health Reports, Aug. 4, 1916, p. 2116.)

Regulations for the government of tuberculosis dispensaries were adopted by the Massachusetts State Department of Health. (Public Health Reports; Dec. 8, 1916, p. 3387.)

The Legislature of Mississippi made provision for the establishment of a State sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis, under

the management and control of the State board of health. (Public Health Reports, Nov. 10, 1916, pp. 3146-3147.)

A Virginia law authorizes circuit courts, upon the complaint of any member of a county or city board of health, to summon persons “suffering from tuberculosis who shall violate the laws prohibiting expectoration in public places and vehicles, or who shall deliberately and continuously place the health of any other person in danger of infection with such disease," and after a hearing to restrain such persons for a period not exceeding 12 months or place them under bond to cease the practices complained of. (Public Health Reports, Oct. 27, 1916, p. 3025.)

Provision was made by the Virginia Legislature for the establishment by counties or cities of tuberculosis sanitoria, to be under the control of the local board of health. (Ibid.)

The Virginia law authorizing cities and counties to provide funds for the purpose of assisting indigent persons to reach the State sanatorium and to help to maintain them while there was amended. (Ibid., p. 3026.)

ADVERTISING.

A number of States have recently adopted laws designed to prevent fraudulent advertising. The public-health feature of these laws has received little attention, but if enforced they will accomplish great good by preventing much of the advertising of so-called "patent" or "proprietary" medicines and by protecting the public against the consequences of extravagant statements of ability to cure venereal and other diseases, which are sometimes spread broadcast by quacks and unscrupulous practitioners. Laws of this nature were passed during the calendar year 1916 in Massachusetts, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

MUNICIPAL HEALTH ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS.

Another annual volume has been added to the series of Municipal Ordinances and Regulations Pertaining to the Public Health. The list now embraces seven volumes-reprints numbered 70, 121, 199, 230, 273, 364, and 388-which cover the period from January 1, 1910, to December 31, 1916.

While it is not possible, or perhaps desirable, to obtain all of the municipal enactments on the subjects included, the more important and carefully drawn ordinances and regulations are secured and published. In the annual volumes these are arranged by subjects, and the table of contents and index make it possible to secure ready access to the best measures relating to any phase of municipal public-health work.

SUMMARY OF COURT DECISIONS, 1916.

The publication of judicial opinions relating to matters affecting the public health was begun in the Public Health Reports in May, 1913. Their current publication was temporarily discontinued in January, 1917.

The opinions published prior to January 1, 1916, were compiled and published, with a digest, as Reprint from the Public Health

Reports, No. 342. Those published during the calendar year 1916 have been similarly compiled, indexed, a digest has been prepared, and they have been issued as Reprint No. 410.

The following is a digest of the more important opinions which were published during the calendar year 1916, omitting decisions which were referred to in the annual report of the Public Health Service for 1916:

HEALTH AUTHORITIES.

Powers of State legislature-Vaccination.-A State legislature has the power to authorize State or local boards of health to require vacccination of teachers and pupils as a condition to their being admitted to the public schools, even when smallpox is not present. [Ky.] (Public Health Reports, Dec. 29, 1916, p. 3551.)

Powers of State and local boards of health-Vaccination.-The Court of Appeals of Kentucky decided that when a smallpox epidemic threatens it is within the power of a State or local board of health to require all children attending school to be vaccinated. (Public Health Reports, Dec. 29, 1916, p. 3551.)

Powers of State board of health-Injunction.-Under the laws of Oregon the State board of health has authority to bring suit for an injunction to restrain the continuation of conditions which may endanger the health of the public. (Public Health Reports, Feb. 25, 1916, p. 465.)

Powers of State board of health-Taking of shellfish from contaminated waters.-A Massachusetts law prohibited the taking of shellfish from waters which had been declared by the State board of health to be contaminated by sewage or otherwise. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts decided that the law was constitutional and valid. (Public Health Reports, Sept. 1, 1916, p. 2377.)

Powers of cities and of local boards of health.-The Supreme Court of Oregon decided that the right of a State to enjoin a nuisance may be delegated to and exercised by a city or other power especially named for that purpose. (Public Health Reports, Feb. 25, 1916, p. 465.).

Employment of attorney by State board of health. The Supreme Court of Illinois decided that the Illinois State Board of Health was without authority to employ an attorney and that an appropriation for this purpose made by the legislature was void (Public Health Reports, Sept. 8, 1916, p. 2466.)

Orders of boards of health-Penalties must be fixed when order is made. Under the law of the State of New York, local boards of health are authorized to make general and special orders for the protection of the public health and to prescribe and impose penalties for the violation of such orders. The board of health of the village of Carthage issued an order prohibiting a resident of the city from pumping the contents of his cesspool over the ground, but the board did not prescribe the penalty to be incurred if the order was violated. After the order had been disobeyed the board fixed the penalty at $50. The New York Court of Appeals decided that the board had no right after the commission of the offense to determine what the penalty should be. (Public Health Reports, Apr. 7, 1916, p. 911.)