must be taken to see that human excreta, kitchen slops, and dry garbage are properly disposed of. A reiteration of advice on this subject, which has already appeared in the Bulletin, may not be out of place.

For the disposal of human excreta "the 'dry-earth' closet is the safest and often the most convenient method. It consists of a seat so arranged that a bucket may be placed under it, and a powdered earth tank placed above it with a slide-door to permit dry-earth to fall into the bucket." Old mother earth is one of our best sanitarians. The soil bacteria which dry-earth contains break up the bowel discharges into their inorganic constituents, and also absorb the moisture and odors. Each day the bucket contents may be spaded into the ground, where these bacteria continue the process of disintegration. Kitchen refuse if not handled properly is a source of attracting and breeding innumerable flies and mosquitoes. A most satisfactory method is to throw this refuse each day into a pit, which has been dug for the purpose. The pit should be covered with cheese cloth, and loose earth and pine needles thrown in daily. The coarser leavings from the table should be burned in the campfire. The destruction by fire of dry garbage will be found to be a most efficient method of disposal.

It is strange that it has taken man so many years to realize the dangers of soil pollution. It is common knowledge among farmers that if live stock is kept for long periods of time in the same pasture, the animals will not thrive. The time will also come when they will sicken and die, but these facts are not brought home to ourselves. It is sometimes found that more care is taken of animals than of human beings. Vacations are a necessity. Change of scene, climate, surroundings, must be a part and parcel of every year of our busy lives. Let us see, then, that in taking our much needed rest we make no sacrifice of the most essential feature of all-good health.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH LEAGUE.

VARIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS OF THE STATE MEET AT SACRAMENTO AND UNITE FOR THE COMMON CAUSE.

Possibly the most important meeting which has ever been held in the State of California in the interests of public health was called to order at Sacramento on April 18, 1910.

The necessity for coöperation and coördination of effort on the part of the various organizations within the State doing public health work has been illustrated so many times that the economy and harmony which could thus be gained was generally appreciated by all.

The meetings were largely attended, and so much interest was manifested in the subject that it is believed that the formation of this League will be of great benefit to health conditions within the State.

The first order of business was a discussion of the Owen bill providing for the establishment of a National Department of Public Health. After a lengthy discussion of the aims and purposes of such a department, Dr. W. Le Moyne Wills, Vice-President of the State Board of Health, introduced the following resolution, which had been adopted by the State Board of Health, and which was duly seconded and adopted by the League:

We, the members of the State Board of Health of California, are opposed to the establishment of a Department of Public Health, as proposed by the Owen bill (U. S. Senate No. 6049), for the following reasons:

First-Because there is no assurance that such a department would be anything more than a political bureau, without settled policy or stability, or that it would be presided over by a medical man of high standard, and training to enable him to cope with public health and quarantine problems.

Second-Because we believe that the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service has in the recent past most efficiently handled grave crises involving the public health and business, and has thus amply proved its ability to continue so to do, and no State owes more to this Service than does California.

Third-Because we believe in the condensation of all the bureaus relating to public health, except the Medical Corps of the Army and Navy; and we suggest that the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service be made the initial unit, about which all these Federal Services can be grouped to national economy and advantage.

Signed:

MARTIN REGENSBURGER,
W. LE MOYNE WILLS,
WILLIAM F. SNOW,
JAMES H. PARKINSON,
O. STANSBURY.

[At a meeting of the State Board of Health on May 7, 1910, the following supplementary resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the action of the conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health in unanimously endorsing the principle of the Owen bill for the establishment of a National Department of Health, to be presided over by a secretary, who shall be a member of the President's cabinet, be approved by the California State Board of Health.

Be it further resolved, That this resolution shall be construed as an expression of confidence in Senator Owen and in the need for the department which he proposes to establish, but shall not be construed as rescinding the previous resolution of this Board which expresses its belief that the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service should be made the unit of unification, and that a physician should be secretary of the proposed department.]

A Committee on Constitution, consisting of Dr. Geo. H. Kress, C. M. Goethe, Dr. R. A. Archibald, Dr. N. K. Foster, and Dr. R. G. Brodrick, was appointed, and as a result of their conference the following constitution was adopted:

NAME.

The name of this organization shall be THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH LEAGUE.

OBJECT.

The object shall be the coordination of effort and the promotion of economy and harmony among all public health organizations and agencies in California.

REPRESENTATION.

All public health organizations and such other bodies as are working for the promotion of public health ends in California shall be entitled to representation in such amount as may be allowed by the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee, of this League.

OFFICERS.

The officers of this organization shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, and a Third Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, and a Board of Directors of forty members.

The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, the First, Second, and Third Vice-Presidents, the Secretary-Treasurer, and thirty-five other members.

The chairman of the Board of Directors shall be the President of the League. The Secretary-Treasurer shall preferably be the Secretary of the State Board of Health.

DUTIES AND POWERS.

The Board of Directors shall have authority to appoint an Executive Committee of nine members and shall have authority to delegate to this Executive Committee such of its powers and duties as may be deemed wise.

QUORUMS.

A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of nine members.

A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of three members.

The President and Secretary-Treasurer of the League shall be ex othicio members of the Executive Committee.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

The duties of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee shall be those which usually pertain to such positions.

The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee shall have power to act for the League between annual meetings.

MEETINGS.

This League shall meet annually, preferably at the same place and on the day preceding the annual meeting of the State Medical Society.

BY-LAWS.

The Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee shall have power to adopt such by-laws as in their judgment may be deemed best.

The Committee on Constitution also acted as a nominating committee, and as a result of their recommendations, the following officers were elected:

President..

First Vice-President.
Second Vice-President.
Third Vice-President.
Secretary-Treasurer...

.Mr. A. Bonnheim, Sacramento.
.Dr. F. C. E. Mattison, Pasadena.
.Miss Elizabeth H. Ashe, San Francisco.
.Dr. Geo. Aiken, Fresno.
.Dr. William F. Snow, Sacramento.

The following names were proposed as Directors of the League:
Mrs. H. W. Adams, President Women's Auxiliary White Crusaders.
Dr. Martin Regensburger, President State Board of Health.

H. J. McCoy, Secretary Young Men's Christian Association.

Dr. N. K. Foster, Medical Director Oakland Schools.

Dr. Benjamin Ide Wheeler, President State Red Cross Society.

F. W. Dohrmann, President San Francisco Red Cross and Relief Funds.

Dr. W. Jarvis Barlow, Founder Barlow Sanatorium for Indigent Consumptives. Duncan McKinnon, City Superintendent of Schools, San Diego.

Dr. Geo. H. Kress, Secretary State Tuberculosis Society.

It has been ordered that a letter be sent to each society doing public health work asking if it is the desire of the society to join in the League, and if so, to suggest the name of a member to represent that society.

It has been suggested that the matter of finances and the working plans of the League be left in the hands of the Executive Committee, and that they also be empowered and instructed to take such steps as may be necessary to effect this organization, and to arrange details for a meeting to be determined upon by them.

It was decided that the State Board of Health be requested to set aside a space in its monthly bulletin, the pages of which shall be devoted to the work of this League.

A resolution was passed that it be the sense of the California Public Health League that the supervision of the milk supplies of the State be carried on under the direct control of the California State Board of Health.

A résumé of the work of the League will be published from time to time in this Bulletin.

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY AND PREVENTION OF SYPHILIS AND GONORRHEA.

At a meeting of the members of the Educational Committee it was decided to come to a common agreement as to work to be undertaken and ways and means of carrying it on. It was further agreed that the committee should collect and approve such facts as should be presented (a) to parents' and mothers' clubs, (b) to boys and girls of high school age, (c) to educational gatherings.

The plan herein suggested is then that each member of the committee send at once to C. E. Rugh, room 201, California Hall, Berkeley, a careful statement of

(1) What facts should be presented to mothers' clubs. materials and sources of materials.)

(Suggest

(2) What instruction, if any, should be given to high school boys, and by whom?

(3) Same for girls.

(4) What facts should be presented at teachers' institutes.

The facts thus gathered will be collated and resubmitted to the members of the committee for approval in order that we may as far as possible present a united front in attacking this great problem.

OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES.

Executive Committee.-Dr. Douglas W. Montgomery, San Francisco; Dr. H. E. Alderson, San Francisco; Dr. William F. Snow, Sacramento; Dr. John C. Spencer, San Francisco; Dr. R. A. Archilbald, Oakland.

Educational Committee.-Prof. E. C. Rugh, Berkeley; Mrs. May L. Cheney, Berkeley; Mrs. W. J. Patterson, Berkeley; Mrs. Evelyn W. Allan, Berkeley: Mrs. L. L. Fletcher, Berkeley; Mrs. Edith Stebbins, Berkeley; Dr. Jessica Peixotto, Berkeley; Mrs. Francis R. Wall, Berkeley: Dr. Sarah I. Shuey, Oakland; Dr. Mary Smythe, Stockton; Mr. Dane Coolidge, Berkeley; Miss Catherine C. Felton, San Francisco; Miss Kane, San Francisco; Dr. A. E. Osborne, Santa Clara; Dr. R. O. Moody, Berkeley; Dr. Fitch C. E. Mattison, Pasadena; Dr. A. S. Kelly, Oakland; Prof. F. H. Lange, Berkeley; Dr. Agnes Walker, San Francisco; Dr. Wm. L. Holt, San Luis Obispo; Mrs. C. H. Hawkins, San Francisco; Mr. J. C. Astredo, San Francisco.

Legislative Committee.-W. H. Donahue, Esq., Oakland; Miss Catherine C. Felton, Berkeley; Judge M. C. Sloss, San Francisco.

Publication Committee.-Dr. Martin Regensberger, San Francisco; Dr. William F. Snow, Sacramento; Dr. George C. Pardee, Oakland; Mrs. Frank Patterson, Berkeley; Mrs. Francis R. Wall, Berkeley.

Research Committee. Dr. Florence M. Sylvester, Oakland; Dr. Agnes Walker, San Francisco; Dr. Rachael L. Ash, San Francisco; Dr. H. E. Alderson, San Francisco; Dr. William F. Snow, Sacramento; Dr. Douglas W. Montgomery, San Francisco.

Finance Committee.-Dr. George Merritt, San Francisco: Mrs. John F. Merrill, Menlo Park; Mrs. May L. Cheney, Berkeley; Dr. John C. Spencer, San Francisco; Dr. R. A. Archibald, Oakland.

DEPARTMENT OF VITAL STATISTICS.

GEORGE D. LESLIE, STATISTICIAN.

VITAL STATISTICS FOR APRIL.

Marriages. The marriages reported for April number 1,966, as compared with only 1,699 for the same month last year. For an estimated State population of 2,056,190 in 1910, the April total represents an annual rate of 13.4, against merely 9.1 for March.

The April totals were highest for the following counties: San Francisco, 419; Los Angeles, 418; Alameda, 184; Santa Clara, 90; Sacramento, 79; Orange, 66; Fresno, 61, and San Bernardino and San Diego. each 54.

The aggregate for San Francisco and the other bay counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Mateo) was 699.

Births. For April there were reported 2,582 living births, representing an annual birth-rate of 15.3 per 1,000 population, as compared with 15.1 for the preceding month. The corresponding total for the same month the year before was 2,349.

The totals were highest for the following counties: Los Angeles, 586; San Francisco, 529; Alameda, 303; Santa Clara, 98; Fresno and Sacramento, each 93; and San Bernardino, 56.

Altogether 1,620 births were registered in the twenty-six freeholders' charter cities, the leading cities being as follows: San Francisco, 529; Los Angeles, 409; Oakland, 203; Sacramento, 66; Berkeley 50; Fresno, 44: Pasadena, 42; San Jose, 41; San Diego, 36; and Alameda, 25.

The aggregate for San Francisco and the transbay cities (Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland) was 807, and for San Francisco and the other bay counties was 902. Similarly, the total for Los Angeles and neighboring chartered cities (Long Beach, Pasadena, and Santa Monica) was 479, and for the entire county was 586.

Deaths. Exclusive of stillbirths, altogether 2,605 deaths were reported for April, this number including 191 delayed certificates for deaths in March or earlier months. The 2,605 deaths give an annual death-rate of 15.4, against 15.7 for the month before. The corresponding total for the same month last year was 2,616.

The April totals were highest for the following counties: Los Angeles, 557; San Francisco, 538; Alameda, 260; Santa Clara, 109; San Bernardino, 89; San Joaquin, 83; Sacramento, 80; San Diego, 69; and Fresno, 52.

There were altogether 1,525 deaths in the twenty-six chartered cities, the highest totals being as follows: San Francisco. 538; Los Angeles, 359; Oakland, 160; San Diego, 55; Sacramento, 47; San Jose and Stockton, each 40; Berkeley, 31; San Bernardino, 30; and Alameda and Fresno, each 25.

The aggregate for the urban district (San Francisco and the transbay cities) was 754, and for the entire metropolitan area (San Francisco and the other bay counties) was 881. Similarly, the total for Los Angeles and neighboring chartered cities was 412, and for the whole county was 557.

Causes of Death.-For April there were reported 427 deaths, or 16.4 per cent of all, from diseases of the circulatory system, and 420, or 16.1 per cent, from various forms of tuberculosis, heart disease thus leading tuberculosis slightly.

Other notable causes of death in April were as follows: Diseases of the respiratory system, 242; violence, 239; diseases of the nervous system, 221; diseases of the digestive system, 200; Bright's disease and nephritis. 167; epidemic diseases, 149; and cancer, 148.

The deaths from epidemic diseases were as follows: Whooping-cough, 36; typhoid fever, 33; measles, 27; diptheria and croup, 22; and all other epidemic diseases, 31. Typhoid fever, usually the leading epidemic disease, was surpassed by whooping-cough for April, as for March and February.