Wells near graves, in Massachusetts, analysis of water (Table), in Dresden, analysis of water (Table),

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, BOSTON, January 20, 1875.

Hon. GEORGE B. LORING, President of the Senate of Massachusetts.

SIR-I have the honor to present to the legislature the Sixth Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

CHARLES F. FOLSOM, M. D.,

Secretary of the State Board of Health.

GENERAL REPORT OF THE BOARD.

To the Honorable the Senate and the House of Representatives of Massachusetts.

The State Board of Health herewith presents its Sixth Annual Report.

Early in the past summer, the State Board of Health, the community, and sanitary science, suffered the great loss of the death of Dr. George Derby, who died June 20, 1874. How great this loss was only those can know who knew his untiring industry, his well-directed enthusiasm, his high sense of honor, and his devotion to his convictions of duty.

Resolutions of respect to his memory have reached us from both shores of our continent. "To a well-trained mind there were added an honesty of purpose, an enthusiasm for his work, a firmness of character, and a personal address which inspired others to help him in his good work, and won for him the respect and regard of his professional colleagues. The reputation of such a man is necessarily not so brilliant or widespread as that of one whose services have been of a more conspicuous character; but a slight consideration of what Dr. Derby accomplished, directly by his example in Massachusetts, and indirectly by his influence on public hygiene without regard to state limits,—an influence not yet spent, nor likely to be spent in this generation,-shows how richly he merits the long and grateful remembrance of his countrymen.”—The Nation.

At a meeting of the Board, June 22, 1874, the following address by the chairman, Dr. Henry I. Bowditch, was read.

It was also, by unanimous vote, printed in circular form for distribution :

Gentlemen of the State Board of Health:

A few days since, I warned you of the serious illness of our dear friend and honored Secretary, Dr. George DERBY. It is with great sorrow that I have summoned you again in consequence of his death.

Permit me to recall to your notice some of the more salient points in his history, with many of which, you, who have been associated with him in this Board, are already partially or perchance fully acquainted.

Dr. Derby was born in Salem, in 1819; he was the son of John Derby, an eminent merchant of that city.

He took his degree from the Harvard Medical School in 1843. For many years he practised very quietly in Boston, but was little known by the public, or to the profession, until the late war brought to light his latent energy, and his admirable character.

The first call of President Lincoln upon the patriotism of the country at the commencement of the civil war, found our friend prompt and determined to do his whole duty. He entered again with praiseworthy zeal into all the work of student life. He took special lessons in practical surgery from our most eminent surgeons, and, with more than youthful enthusiasm, studied out the improvements in medicine and surgery that had been brought forward during the many years since his pupilage, from 1838 to 1843. This act marked two of those traits of character which we, his associates on the Board of Health, have seen and admired so much during our intercourse with him, viz.: his conscientiousness, and his thoroughness in his dealings with any question. He was unwilling to undertake the care of our patriot soldiers without fitting himself in the most perfect manner for the task. He received from Governor Andrew the commission of surgeon of the 23d regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteers. He went through the whole war without a furlough, and was always ready to sacrifice himself for the good of the soldiers. He was fearless in the presence of danger, performing important operations on the field while under fire, with a perfect coolness and deliberation, when others, superior to him in authority, shrunk from the ordeal to which his sense of professional duty summoned him.

Having thus served, with a reputation for ability unsurpassed by any one, he left the army at the termination of the war, a man comparatively broken down in health, and with the prospect of commencing anew his professional life. For months, by most careful regimen, and the daily use of quinine, he had fought against the insidious encroachments of malarial disease.

When the war closed, the reaction took place, in a corresponding depression of his health.

The government, fully appreciating his worth, and desirous of aiding him in his perfect recovery, appointed him to the charge of the National Soldiers' Home, at Augusta, Maine.

After several months' residence there, having partially, at least, regained his vigor, he resumed practice in Boston. He came back to us a man of noteworthy fame, as a patriot, as an able and fully-practised surgeon, and a most high-toned gentleman.

Soon after his return he published some papers relating to hygiene, and he was called to fill the post of surgeon at the City Hospital. He also was made Professor of Hygiene, at Harvard College.