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Jackson; Miss.; 187p. 
I)BA.n SIM: The State Board of Health wishes to secure information 
in reference to the prevailing diseases in different parts of the State, so as 
to form an idea of the general health of the State, and perhaps for use in 
the first ann ual report of the Board. 
We are entirely dependent upon the medical profession for this inform- 
ation, and hope you will have the hindness to answer the following 
inquiries: 
1. Has there been in your locality a notable increase, or decrease, either 
of sickness or of death from all causes, for the year ending October Ist, 
1877, compared with previous years ? 
2. Have any diseases been especially prevalent in your locality during 
the past year ? 
S. If so, please name such diseases in the order of their prevalence, 
stating the type of each, whether mild or severe? 
4* Can you discover any causes for the prevalence of these diseases ? 
o. If you cam, do you believe that such causes are in any degree pre- 
ventable or removable ? And if so, how ? 
G. Have any diseases been attended with unusual fatality ? If so, 
please name them ? 
7. Please give as nearly as possible the number of cases of any endemic, 
epidemic or contagious diseases, and especially state whether there have 
been any cases of smallpox. How many ? Had these eases been previously 
vaccinated ? What was the result (death or recovery ?) 
8. Give your opinion as to the proportion of the inhabitants of the 
locality included in your report, who are thoroughly protected against an 
attach of small pox by vaccination and, re-vaccination (h, i, \) ? 
0. Can you suggest any method of improving the general sanitary con- 
dition of your locality ? 
The board while desiring explicit answers to the above questions, will, 
if you are unable to give such answers positively, be glad of your opinion 
(stated; as such) on any of the questions; and any additional information 
you may be pleased to give, will be thankfully received, and, the name of the 
writer and locality referred to omitted' from our report if so (Requested. 
In your reply to these questions it will not be necessary to repeal them, 
but simply to refer to them by number. 
Please let your report be understood to cover the year ending October 
Ist, 1877. All replies should be mailed to this office by November Ist. 
Hoping to hear from you, 1 am 
Yours very truly, 
WIRT JOHNSTON, M. D., 
Secretary State Board of Health.