As pertinent to this general subject, I call your attention to the operations of the National Board of Health.  Established by act of Congress approved March 3, 1879, its sphere of duty was enlarged by the act of June 2 in the same year.  By the last-named act the board was required to institute such measures as might be deemed necessary for preventing the introduction of contagious or infectious diseases from foreign countries into the United States or from one State into another.

The execution of the rules and regulations prepared by the board and approved by my predecessor has done much to arrest the progress of epidemic disease, and has thus rendered substantial service to the nation.

The International Sanitary Conference, to which I have referred, adopted a form of a bill of health to be used by all vessels seeking to enter the ports of the countries whose representatives participated in its deliberations.  This form has since been prescribed by the National Board of Health and incorporated with its rules and regulations, which have been approved by me in pursuance of law.

The health of the people is of supreme importance.  All measures looking to their protection against the spread of contagious diseases and to the increase of our sanitary knowledge for such purposes deserve attention of Congress.

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury presents in detail a highly satisfactory exhibit of the state of the finances and the condition of the various branches of the public service administered by that Department.

The ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, were: 

From customs — $198,159,676.02

From internal revenue — 135,264,385.51

From sales of public lands — 2,201,863.17

From tax on circulation and deposits of national banks — 8,116,115.72

From repayment of interest by Pacific Railway companies — 810,833.80

From sinking fund for Pacific Railway companies — 805,180.54

From customs fees, fines, penalties, etc. — 1,225,514.86

From fees—­consular, letters patent, and lands — 2,244,983.98

From proceeds of sales of Government property — 262,174.00

From profits on coinage — 3,468,485.61

From revenues of the District of Columbia — 2,016,199.23

From miscellaneous sources — 6,206,880.13

Total ordinary receipts — 360,782,292.57

The ordinary expenditures for the same period were: 

For civil expenses — $17,941,177.19

For foreign intercourse — 1,093,954.92

For Indians — 6,514,161.09

For pensions — 50,059,279.62

For the military establishment, including river and harbor improvements and arsenals — 40,466,460.55

For the naval establishment, including vessels, machinery, and improvements at navy-yards — 15,686,671.66