The latest and most complete statute laws creating or regulating health boards are: England, 38 and 39 Victoria, chap. 55; United States (National Board of Health), 20 Stat. L., 484, suppl. to U. S. Rev. Stats., chap. 202, passed March 3d, 1889; Mass., chap. 79, Mass. Rev. Stats.; Pa., Laws of 1885, chap. 56; New York (State Board of Health), 2 N. Y. Rev. Stats., 1195; Local Boards, id., 1191-1193, chap. 270, Laws of 1885. The statutes of New Jersey are considered in Lozier v. Newark, 19 Vr., 453. In Missouri the power to license physicians is conferred upon the State Board of Health, and the Supreme Court of that State has held that the act of that board in granting or refusing a license is discretionary and its action in such a matter will not be enforced by a writ of mandamus (State v. Gregory, 83 Mo., 123); and a similar doctrine prevails in Minnesota, State v. State Med. Board, 32 Minn., 324. The latest and best work on the general subject of the organization and powers of boards of health is Parker & Worthington’s “Public Health and Safety,” M. Bender, publisher, Albany, N. Y., 1892.
[162] Consult, as to this, Parsons on “Contracts,” vol. ii., p. 56.
[163] Of course in those States or countries in which statutes of fraud render void, contracts for personal services for a longer period than one year (or any period named in the statute), unless such contracts are in writing and duly signed, contracts should be drawn and entered into with regard to those statutes.
[164] See also “Field’s Medico-Legal Guide,” 208-210, where the following cases are cited as sustaining this doctrine: New York, Carpenter v. Blake, 60 Barb., 488; same case on appeal, 75 N. Y. Court of Appeals, 12. Connecticut, Landon v. Humphrey, 9 Conn., 209. Iowa, Smothers v. Hawks, 34 Ia., 286. Indiana, Long v. Morrison, 14 Ind., 595. Maine, Leighton v. Sargeant, 27 Me. (7 Fost.), 468; Howard v. Grover, 28 Me., 97. Illinois, MacNevins v. Lowe, 40 Ill., 209. Kansas, Teft v. Wilcox, 6 Kan., 46. Massachusetts, Com. v. Thompson, 6 Mass., 134; Small v. Howard, 128 Mass., 131, 35 Am. Rep., 363. Pennsylvania, Potter v. Warner, 91 Pa. St., 362, 36 Am. Rep., 668. Wisconsin, Reynolds v. Graves, 3 Wis., 416. Vermont, Briggs v. Taylor, 28 Vt., 180.
[165] See Shear. & Redf. on Negligence, 440; Elwell on Malpractice, 55; Carpenter v. Blake, supra; Rex v. Long, 4 C. & P., 422; Slater v. Baker, 2 Willes (Eng.), 259; Ordronaux on Jurisp. of Med., pp. 29 et pass.; 20 Am. Law Rev., 82.
[166] On the points here suggested cf. Edington v. Life Ins. Co., 67 N. Y., 185, same case, 77 N. Y., 564; Grattan v. Life Ins. Co., 80 N. Y., 281; Dilleber v. Life Ins. Co., 87 N. Y., 79; Westover v. Life Ins. Co., 99 N. Y., 56; People v. Murphy, 23 N. Y. Weekly Digest, 42; same case, 101 N. Y., 126; Hunn v. Hunn, 1 T. & C., 499; Pierson v. The People, 79 N. Y., 432-435; People v. Carlyle Harris, 136 N. Y., 424.
[167] Patten v. Wiggin, 51 Me., 594.
[168] See on this question also Bigelow’s “Leading Cases,” on Torts, 295-303.
[169] Stevenson v. The New York, etc., Railroad Co., 2 Duer, 341; same case, 1 Am. & Eng. R. R. Cases, 343; Cincinnati, etc., R. R. Co. v. Davis, 43 Am. & Eng. R. R. Cases, 459.
[170] Bronson v. Hoffman, 7 Hun, 674; Williams v. Glenny, 16 N. Y., 389, and see Ordronaux on “Juris. of Med.,” supra, p. 46; but see also Danzinger v. Hoyt, 46 Hun, 270.