tion in a sanitary way, except the sewer, the fault there being on account of insufficient fall, and not enough water to flush the sewers. They are now building a water-tower and will hereafter have plenty of water, and it is very probable that this condition will be entirely changed. There is a moral wrong, though, with this institution, as well as with the Reform School, at Topeka. I am informed from reliable sources that there are inmates in both of these institutions that are guilty of no crime, yet they are sent. there by parents, guardians and officials simply because they are in the way and they want to get rid of them. I found this to be the case in both institutions. Officials and attendants in both places confirmed the story of several little girls and boys, from 9 to 12 years old, who said: "I had no home; my papa [or mamma] is dead [sometimes both], and I had no place to go, so they sent me here." This is morally wrong. It is criminally wrong to place an innocent child in these places, where they are compelled to be in company with, and daily associate with, some depraved girl or boy sent there for crime or misdemeanor. Who is it that dares say that this is right? Fathers and mothers of Kansas, do you want this to happen to your child? If not, then be up and doing; help these poor unfortunates to homes that are such as you would like for your child, and not have them in an institution where a large per cent. of the inmates on entering (especial reference is made here to the Industrial School for Girls, at Beloit) are affected with loathsome diseases. Further statements on this point I am pledged not to divulge, for the reason that I do not care to cast any further reflections on some of the former managers and employees of this institution.

There are many childless families in Kansas that would be only too glad to give many of our state orphans a home among them. There are many homes in this state, as in all others, where the child cannot be provided for because the parents are unable to do so, and not a few where the intemperate parent makes life almost unbearable to the child. These should have the care of our public, and should be looked after the same as I shall recommend hereafter.

The following article furnishes food for thought to the people of Kansas, for the reason that we have now about 300 orphans under state care, besides those that have no right in the Industrial School for Girls and Reform School for boys, and the many orphans in poorhouses and living in unsuitable homes all over the state:

The people should remember that Mr. Frederick King will be in Garnett January 17, with a party of New York boys from the orphans' industrial farm. These boys range in age from 12 to 17, and want homes with farmers in this county.

This is the manner in which our eastern friends impose on the Kansans' generosity. We ought not to allow this, but should take care of our own first. Now, then, the question naturally arises how are we going to care for the inmates in these institutions and in other places? I would suggest that there be a suitable person appointed by the governor, or have this work added to the duties of some of the other state boards, so that they might secure homes for these children, thereby reducing the number in the institutions, and in the long run be a saving to the state. The qualifications of a person choosing these homes should be such that they would never place the delicate and refined child in any other but a suitable home — in a home refined, not a rough, uncouth hovel, or the illiterate, rough-molded boy or girl in the home of the refined.

It would undoubtedly be necessary for the person or superintendent of this work to visit and spend a great deal of time at these institutions, making himself perfectly acquainted with the inmates of these institutions in regard to temperament, character, etc., so that when he had a call from different parts of the state for homes for these orphans he might be able, by visiting these places, to get proper homes for them. This would require much tact and skill on the part of the one who decides this matter, knowing the child, its temperament and capabilities, and a careful study of the family who asks for the child, so that they will be adapted to each other; and also that a trial be made for several months to see that they are suited to each other.

The inmates of the Reform School, Industrial School and the Hutchinson Reformatory should be so classified that the man, boy or girl who showed the greatest tendency to reform should receive “ rewards of merit," and be so classified that they would have more opportunities for advancement and be not hindered by being compelled to associate with one whose nature is vile, and in all probability will always remain vile. Elevate man's nature Elevate man's nature-strengthen his purposes, if they be good-if you wish to reform him. Place him where he will naturally become degraded by the associations around him and we will never accomplish any good. It is true that some may rise out of the "slough of despond" into which circumstances have cast them, but they are few. They need our most earnest efforts to reform them. Then let us make these institutions true reformatories. There should be something done whereby the boys at the Reform School would have a chance to learn a trade, thereby by their labor help to make them self-supporting and keeping them busy. Teach them. useful and valuable trades and arts, so that when they go out into the

world they will have something to depend on, and have confidence enough in themselves to become honorable citizens.

The present management of these institutions is all that can be expected, but they are hindered by want of room, means and conditions produced by former managements.

I take this oportunity of again extending my thanks for courtesies shown by the heads of these institutions as well as the employees. If I have helped them to better a single condition I am well paid for my work and my efforts, and will try to help them more in the future.

Referring to the law establishing the State Board of Health, there is a very lame place in it. That is in regard to vital statistics.

SEC. 5. The State Board of Health shall supervise the registration of marriages, births and deaths, and also the registration of forms of disease prevalent in the state."

The method of collecting registration of deaths by the physicians is the only one where there is a penalty attached. The collecting of information relating to marriages, births and deaths is made one of the duties of the assessors of personal property in the state, if the State Board so directs. This method is radically wrong because the powers of enforcing are too small, except the reporting of deaths. There must be a complete change in the system of registration of births and deaths before any useful results can be obtained from the collection of vital statistics. In view of the facts here presented, we respectfully urge that the act creating the State Board of Health be so amended as to give the Board control of all quarantine matters. It would not be wise to take from the local authorities the power to enforce quarantine rules, but such rules should be subject to revocation by the State Board of Health.

These

Attention is called to the needed revision of health laws. have been enacted from time to time, most of them prior to the establishment of the State Board of Health. Many of them are inadequate and unsuited for the present conditions, some are conflicting, and others are useless or undesirable.

The law regulating the practice of medicine in Kansas is defective. It was a good thing at the time of its passage had it been enforced; but as the profession advances in knowledge so should the law change, giving them such needed support that will be to the upbuilding of the profession in Kansas, thus bettering the condition of her people. The remedy we suggest is, that these rules, with such changes as may be deemed necessary, be enacted into law and thus made general, and save printing expenses of publication. It has been demonstrated to our satisfaction that under the law as it now stands not more than 50 per

cent. of births and 75 per cent. of deaths are collected; therefore the statistics secured are unreliable.

The demand for copies of our annual report is yearly increasing. Colleges, libraries, state boards of health and historical societies are calling for complete sets which cannot be furnished, because the first and second annual reports are completely exhausted, except one copy of each on file in this office. But 1,000 copies were allowed last year. This year there should be 2,000. While the annual appropriation was sufficient at first, being limited to $5,000 by law, it has since been reduced to $3,500, and at the same time the work has increased, and will so continue to increase. The demands upon the Board have become more numerous, so that much that might be otherwise accomplished must remain undone for want of funds to carry on the work. It is simply preposterous to think that this grand state of Kansas can handle her sanitary work for $500 a year. The state institutions have received in the past six months untold benefit from the inspections by the Board and the Secretary, the greater part of which has been done without compensation.

I am informed by the mail carriers that this office stands among the first in the state departments in receiving and dispatching of mail; therefore justice demands that our appropriation be enlarged, especially for sanitary work, and a reasonable amount for clerk hire, that the office may be well cared for in the absence of the Secretary. Last, but not least, the Board ought to have $3 per diem when attending the meetings, which are but once a quarter, unless in cases of emergency. This putting men of ability in these important positions without a fair compensation is, to say the least, an injustice.

I would respectfully urge that the law be changed regarding our appropriation, so that we may use our sanitary funds, as other states do, in sending delegates to the meetings of the American Public Health Association. The Board of Health, as representative health officers of Kansas, cannot afford to be relegated to the rear and be not represented in these national associations where America's best talent meets yearly to discuss what is the best for our people, and that Kansas, the "pride of the West," be not represented and receive the honors so justly due her.

While we have not had much scare from any threatened invasion of cholera in 1895, yet when this disease broke out at Honolulu last year the state of California gave its state board of health the privilege of using $50,000, if necessary, to keep it from their coast. To say that this was commendable is putting it mildly. It was noble; it was grand. Give the Kansas State Board of Health the law and a

reasonable appropriation, and we will prove to the state, as well as to all other states, that we are capable of demonstrating that as a Board we are not inferior to others.

I wish to call attention to the conditions injuriously affecting sources of public water-supply, which grows worse each year and the remedy correspondingly more difficult to apply. The population along our streams is rapidly increasing, and as villages grow into cities sewerage systems are introduced and the streams made use of for sewage disposal. Often the same stream affords the only available source of a public water-supply for such towns. Each is at the mercy of the town above, and is forced to drink water polluted with the excrement of its up-river neighbors. There can be no remedy for such conditions until the whole question of sewage disposal and public water-supplies is placed in the hands of a central authority.

The rights of the state to control this question cannot be gainsaid. There is perhaps no question which more nearly concerns the welfare of the state than the preservation of the purity of public water-supplies, and the matter is deserving of the serious consideration of the legislature. The presence of cholera in several parts of Europe teaches us the necessity of protecting our shores from this dread disease by protecting public water-supplies and enforcing strict municipal cleanliness. The attempt at concealment of the existence of any contagious or infectious disease, as is often the case, not only casts serious reflections upon the integrity of public officials, but is undoubtedly the means of spreading disease among the inhabitants. The practice of concealment in epidemic diseases is always hazardous, if not criminal, and cannot be too severely condemned. This state needs more stringent laws for quarantining epidemic, contagious and infectious diseases.

Much time and care should be given to the probable sources of bacteria in ground and river waters, and to the species present. This should be the work of our Chemist and Microscopist. These investigations are especially important in the large cities and towns along the streams where sewers empty and where garbage is dumped, but more especially in the large cities where the soil has long been contaminated by earth-closets, thus protecting the public from epidemics such as typhoid fever, diphtheria, etc.

Time and space prevent me from speaking of some faults connected with our public-school system in a sanitary way, as it is expected that some member of the Board will prepare a paper on "School Sanitation." I will say in 'conclusion that in this the eleventh annual report I have done the best I could; I have tried to do the work con