ART. 43] EEGISTEAE OF VITAL STATISTICS. 1077

local boards of health throughout the State; he shall, when requested by
local boards, visit their respective districts, cities or villages to investi-
gate the cause of any existing disease, and shall, from time to time, and
whenever directed by the governor or legislature, make special inspec-
tions of public hospitals, asylums, prisons and other institutions, and
shall, at each session of the legislature, submit, through the board, a
full report of his investigations, with such suggestions and recommenda-
tions as he may deem proper; he shall, when required by the governor
or other proper authorities, advise in regard to the location, drainage,
water supply, disposal of excrement, heating and ventilation of any
public institution or building belonging to the State; he shall collect
information concerning vital statistics, prevailing diseases and the gen-
eral hygiene of the State, and through an annual report and otherwise,
as the board may direct, shall disseminate such information among the
people; he shall receive from the treasury, iu monthly payments, an
annual salary of twenty-five hundred dollars, to be paid on the warrant
of the comptroller out of any money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated.

1908, ch. 345.

6. The state board of health shall appoint a suitable person, who
shall have been actually engaged in this State as an analytical chemist
for at least ten years prior to his appointment, as chemist to the state
board of health, who shall hold office as long as he shall faithfully dis-
charge the duties thereof. The chemist, under the direction and control
of the state board of health and the secretary thereof, shall have charge
of the analyses and examination of foods, drugs and other substances
which shall be submitted to him for examination, and he shall report in
writing the result of his analyses and examination to the secretary.
The chemist shall annually make a report to the state board of health
of the work done by him for the previous year. The chemist shall
receive from the treasury, in monthly payments, an annual salary of
two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) to be paid upon the
warrant of the comptroller, out of any money in the treasury not other-
wise appropriated.

State Registrar of Vital Statistics.

1904, art. 43, sec. 6. 1888, art. 43, sec. 6. 1880, ch. 438, sec. 7. 1898, ch. 312.

7. The secretary of the state board of health shall be the state reg-
istrar of vital statistics for Maryland; he shall, under the direction of
the state board of health, prepare the necessary methods, books and
forms for accurate registration of births and deaths, and shall supply
the local registrars, health officers, ministers, physicians, undertakers,
mid-wives and other persons charged with any duty under this section.
the proper blanks, forms and books of record. The state registrar shall
collect, tabulate and preserve the records of the vital statistics of the
State. Annually, in the month of January, he shall prepare a general