American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-15

EIrAL,m nrpAGrMEss. There is an ord:-
lance before the City Council! to restore tir
Board Of Health as il was originally Organic"
that is, with one health commissioner, tWho
may or may not be 4 physician one physician,
and the health officer. We do not consider
this to be an efficient Board OF Health The
duties of the health officer will prevent him
iTom giving personal attention TO any other
matter connected with the health OF the city
than the inspection Of vessels and passengers
arriving at our port--thc health commissioner
has never, NO believe, been selected from
amongst the medical faculty; so that, in reali-
ty, We shall have but one physician III the
| Board of Health. Before passing this bill it
would be well for the members Of the City
| Council to read pamphlet lately published by
DIR. John II. Griscom on the "Sanltaiy Con-
dition of The Laboring Population Of New
York, with suggestions for its improvement. p"
lie is physician to the New York City Hospi-
tai He states that she finds that at least Is
per cent. Of our Dispenslry patients arc either
Immigrants or the children of such. The ex-
traordinary causes of death among these peo-
pie are their domiciliary condition, the confined
spaces in which they dwell the unwholesome
air they breathe, and their filth and degrada-
ton. The poor, who, from their necessarily
confined accommodations, ought to know most
of sanitary laws and the influence of ventla-
ton, drainage, sewerage, and pure air upon
health, absolutely know the least
The population Of Baltimore is rapidly in,
creasing, aud the same causes which are so
fruitful Of disease in New York, will soon exist
here--tiat is, the crowding of various families
into one tenement--ond, as necessary conse-
queuce, filthy tenements foul yards, courts and
alleys. We apprehcnd that one physician will
be required from the Health Department. DR..
Griscom who has no doubt given this subject
great consideration, proposes the adoption ofan
entirely new plan Of organization for the NUM-
cpal health department of New York. ale
would divide the city into twelve districts, and
appoint over each respectable physician, to
be entitled Health Inspector: these twelve,
with the City Inspector aud his office assistants,
to constitute the ''Iiealth Police Of the city Of
New York. the city inspector, also respecta-
bic physician, to be its head. Every dwell
ing, or house, or room, court alley, or yard,
shall be subject at any time between sunrise
and sunset to the inspection Of the Health IN
spector in whose district it may be situated"
Premises thus inspected, and found to be I'M
tit for residences, shy reason ofdampness, dark
ness, dirt, or any other good cause" owners
shall be notified to remedy defects; and until
the order be complied with such room or pre-
misses to be forbidden to be occupied as a dwell
ing, If the suggestions of DR.. Griscom be a
dopted, We have no doubt that they will con-
duce greatly to tie preservation of the health
of New York, Let the regulations for Balt-
more be equally iudcious, and We may con-
tinue to maintain our position as the healthlest
city of the union.