ANTHRAX.

The reappearance of anthrax during the past summer in Cumberland and Salem counties again suggests the advisability of supplying from the State laboratory of hygiene the immunizing material which is the main reliance for arresting the spread of this most fatal of all diseases affecting cattle in New Jersey. Several years ago this question was presented in these reports, and the subject was given some consideration, but no action was taken by the legislature. Because of the liability of causing a small proportion of deaths among cattle which are treated with an immunizing fluid of a reliable strength, and the consequent danger of suits for damages which is incurred by private manufacturers if they supply anthrax vaccine having a potency which can with certainty be depended upon to protect cattle and horses against the development of anthrax after exposure to the infection of this disease, immunizing vaccine of sufficient strength cannot be bought in the market. It has been learned in the State of Pennsylvania that recurrences of anthrax can be prevented only by providing, free of cost, a quality of vaccine which can be relied upon to fully immunize the animals. This has been done in Pennsylvania and outbreaks of anthrax have been greatly diminished in that State. Proposals by this board to purchase anthrax vaccine of reliable strength from the State authorities of Pennsylvania have been refused, for the same reasons which apply in the cases of private manufacturers. We, therefore, recommend that the anti-anthrax vaccine which is needed in New Jersey shall be prepared under the direction of the State laboratory of hygiene, and that this material shall be furnished by the State, without cost, for the uses of owners of cattle. All cattle in the infected districts should be immunized early every spring, before the animals are turned out to pasture, and before any case of anthrax has developed among them. It is estimated that the cost to the State for the manufacture of anthrax vaccine would not exceed $1,000 annually, after the plant has been provided, and that the cost of the necessary building and equipment would probably not exceed $15,000.

THE MERIT SYSTEM.

The merit system, in selecting employes for the public health service in New Jersey, was adopted by the State board of health April 10th, 1896, and since that date permanent appointments have been made only after the applicant has been tested for fitness for the duties to which he is to be assigned. Following is the record of the action of the board governing this matter:

"1. That a new standing committee shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 10 of the by-laws, and that to this committee shall be assigned the duty of conducting suitable examinations for fitness in the case of all persons who may hereafter apply for appointment to any position within control of this board.

"2. That hereafter every applicant for appointment by this board to any official position shall be of good moral character and shall make application in writing upon blanks furnished by the board.

"3. All examinations to be written, as far as possible, and all examination papers and ratings to be preserved for reference.

"4. Appointments to be made from an eligible list of applicants, certified by the said committee to have passed a satisfactory examination in the line of service required.

"5. All applications to be submitted upon the blank forms furnished by the board, and they should include the following facts: Name of applicant. Age. Sex. Residence. Previous employment (during preceding two years)."

In the following pages a statement of the work of the board during the year is presented, including also the annual statistical report.

Respectfully submitted,

SAMUEL D. DICKINSON.
ROBERT H. MCCARTER.

HENRY B. KUMMEL.

WILLIAM H. MURRAY.

GEORGE P. OLCOTT.

LABAN DENNIS.

CYRUS F. BRACKETT.

WILLIAM M. LANNING.

HENRY B. RUE.

HENRY MITCHELL.

Secretary's Report.

To the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey:

GENTLEMEN-The number of certificates of births received during the year ending December 31st, 1905, was 39,689, this being 938 more than during the previous year. A legislative bill having for its purpose the improvement of the system at present employed to secure reports of births, marriages and deaths, was passed by both houses during the last session of the legislature, but in the form in which it was presented it did not meet with the approval of the Governor and it was vetoed. The neglect of those who professionally attend at the births of children to report the facts to the local registrar is believed to be due in part to the long period (thirty days) which, under the present law, may elapse before the certificate is required to be transmitted and filed, and to overcome this defective feature the new bill named five days in place of thirty. If the physician or midwife knows that a whole month may lawfully pass before the certificate is prepared, those who are inclined by nature or training to procrastinate are liable to overlook the duty altogether, while if only five days is allowed in which to perform this service, it appears to have better chance of attention. The actual time consumed in preparing the certificate, except in very exceptional cases, does not exceed five minutes, and there is no good reason for long delay in attending to a matter which is a most important public duty, and which is often of great value also to the individual whose birth is recorded. The bill provided for an increase in the registration fee to twenty cents for every birth certificate received by the local registrar of vital statistics. This provision was incorporated in the bill for the purpose of stimulating the local officers to more active efforts to collect the certificates.

TABLE 2.-SHOWING POPULATION, NUMBER OF BIRTHS REPORTED, NUMBER OF MARRIAGES AND NUMBER OF DEATHS IN NEW JERSEY, WITH BIRTH-RATES, MARRIAGE-RATES AND DEATH-RATES FOR THE TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1905.

* Estimated except for census years. NOTE. The reports of births are not as complete as are those for marriages and deaths, hence the above table does not represent with accuracy the relation between birth-rates and death

rates.

NOTE. The large number of marriages reported during the years 1886-1897 was due to the unrestricted authority contained in the laws for the performance of the marriage ceremony in the case of non-residents, and the marked decrease in the number of marriages which occurred in 1898 was directly consequent upon the enactment of the law requiring a license in cases where both parties are non-residents of the State.