RS 40:10: Preparation for emergency

The state health officer shall at all times keep in readiness one or more medical inspectors and nurses, medicines, clothing, bedding, appliances, tents and other paraphernalia so as to repair to any place in the state that applies to him, when deemed necessary by the state health officer, or to any place in the state in which there is an outbreak of communicable disease, with the view of stamping it out. The legislature shall appropriate an annual sum for use by the state health officer for such emergencies. The local authorities shall keep up the work at their own expense after it has been started, if their funds permit.