Maryland. State Board of Health

Established in 1874, the State Board of Health consisted of five physicians appointed by the governor to "take cognizance of the interests of health and life among the people generally" and "make sanitary investigations and inquiries respecting the causes of diseases, especially epidemics, the sources of mortality and the effects of localities, employments, conditions, and circumstances on the public health" (Laws of 1874, ch. 200). The board served in an advisory capacity and lacked regulatory authority. It attempted to prevent or suppress epidemics through vaccination and inspection of sanitary conditions in towns, prisons, almshouses, and hospitals, as well as slaughterhouses and other places where foodstuffs were produced or prepared.

In 1880, the State Board of Health was reorganized and given regulatory power to establish local boards of health and respond to emergencies (Laws of 1880, ch. 438). Board membership was increased to seven, and included one civil engineer, three physicians, the attorney general, and the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. Another physician, who served as secretary and executive officer of the board, acted as the "superintendent of vital statistics."

Many counties neglected to report vital statistics to the superintendent. By 1898, however, all health officers, physicians, midwives, and ministers were required to record births, deaths, and marriages (Laws of 1898, ch. 312). Beginning in 1898, the secretary was named the "State Registrar of Vital Statistics of Maryland."

In 1910, the State Board of Health was renamed the State Department of Health and authorized to form bureaus (Laws of 1910, ch. 560).