THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE OF PUBLIC HYGIENE

The growth of a better understanding among nations is well shown by the recent establishment of an international office of public hygiene at Paris. The idea of having such an office for the purpose of collecting information concerning the communicable diseases, especially cholera, plague and yellow fever, was first presented for consideration at the International Sanitary Conference of Paris in 1903. At that conference there was signed an international sanitary agreement, which, among other things, contemplated the creation of an international office of public hygiene, and the task of organization was left to the French government. Plans for the organization and conduct of the proposed office were accordingly prepared and made the subject of a conference held in Rome, Dec. 3-9, 1907. As a result of this conference an arrangement and organic statutes were edited and signed by delegates from twelve countries. This instrument was ratified by the President of