Michigan was the first State to pass legislation providing for a comprehensive system for notification of diseases (1883). Massachusetts followed in 1884. Modern legislation in the several States either specifies the diseases to be reported, designates that certain classes of diseases shall be re ported, as "all contagious diseases," or confers on State health departments the right to promulgate regulations covering the subject. Requirements vary as to whom the report is to be made.
Virginia, in 1632, passed a law requiring burials and christenings to be reported annually by a minister or warden from every parish. The Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1639, adopted a requirement for recording births and deaths, and Massachusetts, in 1692, passed a law putting the registration of births and deaths on a definite basis. All States have such legisla lation. With respect to births, the usual requirement is that the attending physician, the midwife, or in their absence, the parents or head of the household shall report to a designated official information regarding the child and its parents. With respect to deaths, the usual requirement is that a certificate giving cause of death and certain other information shall be filed with a desig nated official and this filing is generally made a condition prece dent to the issuance of a burial permit.
These diseases are made reportable in every State. With the exception of Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada, in all States compulsory examination and quarantine of suspects are authorized. The advertising of cures for gonorrhea, syphilis and chancroid is prohibited in 28 States (Alabama, Cali fornia, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Vir ginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming). The sale of such cures, except on a physician's prescription, is prohibited in 18 States (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyo ming). The right of venereally infected persons to marry is f or bidden or restricted in 20 States (Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine [syphilis only], Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire [syphilis only], New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Vir ginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming).
A Federal act (1902) pro vides for the purity of vaccines, serums and analogous products.
U.S. quarantine regulations require vaccination of persons enter ing the country from localities in foreign countries where small pox prevails and of subordinates at quarantine stations.
Compulsory general vaccination is authorized in 13 States (Ala bama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming) and the District of Columbia. Vaccination of school children may be required in 18 states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mass achusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia) and the District of Columbia. During the prevalence of smallpox, unvaccinated children may be excluded from school in ten other States (Iowa, Kansas, Louisi ana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin).
Michigan, by State board of health regulation, was the first State to require tuberculosis to be reported (1893). The disease is now reportable in every State. Massachusetts (1895)
the first State tuberculosis sanatorium. New York and Ohio (1909) passed first county sanatoria laws. In 31 States, State hospitals or sanitoria have been established (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Ver mont). In 28 States, county hospitals or sanitoria have been established (Alabama, California, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, In diana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minne sota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin). In nine States municipal hospitals or sanatoria have been estab lished (Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Tennessee). In five States dis trict hospitals or sanatoria have been established (Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio and Oklahoma). Some other types of legislation adopted have relation to spitting, examination of sputum of suspects, tuberculosis nurses, sanitation of premises, segregation of recalcitrant patients, establishing of clinics, educa tional measures, State commissions and safeguarding milk sup plies.