The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-20
Medical Police of New Orleans.

The following communication, from one Of the
distinguished members of the medical profession of
New Orleans, will be found worthy of perusal by
our readers. The views and sentiments of the writer
will, we think, meet with general Appreciation:
ORLEANS MEDICAL DIsPENsARY,5
Eds. Crescent: March 10. 1S49.
With the reading community the public preu. The daily
newspaper be rapidly taking the place of books
and periodicals of general information; and
therefore request small in your valuable paper for
few brief remarks upon the Medical Police of our city.
In the March number Of the New Orleans Medical and
Surgical Journal have read with much interest the able
report Of the Board of Health the sanitary condition of
this city for 18S and conceive that the facts and arguments
therein forth far at least they relate the Medical
Police of the city should command the immediate attention
and active cooperation of Municipal authorities in the
execution of what the report has clearly pointed out
essential the future health and prosperity of New Orleans
The act Of Legislature creating Board of Health
Sec 8h makes it the duty of SAID Board suggest to the
General Council such measures for the improvement of the
general health they deem necessary and proper
This they have faithfully discharged. 1t remains for
the Municipalities to carry out those suggestions. Has
step yet been taken VIII be done? We believe not
we fear not-uness the take the subject and
its Importance upon public attention unless the medca
philosopher point out with the degree of certainty
the cause causes of epdemics and their removal that
the City engineers the of
in the Levee and how to stop it.
Now. however much it is to be regretted that Medical
Science has not and perhaps VIII reach that degree OF
certainty by which the nature origin. cause of epidemic
diseases be with mathematical accuracy determined
although we have test delicate detect their phys
cal properties, yet there thanks be to the philosophy of
mind, ultimate standard by which can determine
with almost absolute certainty, these difficult questions in
Medical EtOlogyand that standard derived from expert
ence and observation.
In this connection. it pleasing observe the singular
coincidence and uniformity that have marked the reports of
the experience and observation of the learned Medical Com
missions home and abroad, the causes of the cpl
demc which has Just passed but which still fingers
in the outskirts of the city With their reports
peence and observation perfectly coincide Indeed all
satisfied of its local origin. that native and to
the manner born" and its causes in the main, an impure
and humid atmosphere, produced by the nnwashed and
filthy condition of city particularly in those parts where
ragged with greatest violence. From these facts and other
cOoboratng evidence the executive authorities of the law
in each and all the Municipalities. should see that the
sanitary measures recommended by tbs Board Of Health
be speedily and rigidly enforced
Let not supinely wckedly neglect profit by the
perience which this distressing calamity has taught Let
not permit to from minds those that
produced aggravated the disease. exertons
until those removed and the recurrence of that
fnghtul pestence. be hereafter prevented. CENCI.