New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-30
Omcial Report Of the Medical Counsel OF the
Board of Health.

resolution having been adopted by the boafd
OF Health, calling on their Medical Counsel 70
state whether, IN their opinion, it would be con-
ducive public health that persons now living IN the
crowded tenements should be removed to temporary
buildings 70 be erected Of the public gFoanos
aud also 10 suggest such other sanitary measures As
| they may at this time deem important
In compliance with these resolutions the Gnoerhsn
cd beg leave respectfully report that the es'aON'h
nent o. Houses Refuge for the reception Of persons
living in unhealthy localities during the prevalence OF
| Cholera IL measure which has Oeen ADVISED ana
| adopted IN various cities IN Europe
| ms vas the case in Edinburgh IN 1872 where Il
Wa ssid 70 have been attended with marked 0eneht
To these houses " refuge, the sound members OF r
crooded hou.e in an u healthy situation were reinov
ed Ia order 70 secure them from some Of the chief
sorces u disease, and az the time 10 lessen the
dense population OF the place. The General Board Of
Health Of London within the last year advised tue t0p
tim Of 4 similar course, and recommended. whenever
cases Of Cholera occurred IN filthy and densey crowd
"a situations that the inhabitants OF the Injected
house Of the whole court -!ley, be removed
70 suitable well aired and comfortable houses, 20 q
more healthy locality while the injected district VA
thoroughly cleaned and the houses yenill7teo ana u"
no gated. II buildings suitable Tor the purpose co1n
10 readily procured IN this city and this plan could 20
fully carried eject the understand have 10 oou'i
that II would he nded with beneficial results but
they dou pract cabiy a accomplishing u before
the occasion Tor 10 viii have passed aNhy
Under t1ese circumstances, II is the opinion OF me
undersigned that a more important measure wOul1 o.
the establishment OF a sufficient number OF hospitals
in the upper Wards Of tie City within reasonable
dstabce thOse localities IN which Cholera Il ~ ths
time most prevalent This can be more readly &C
cOmpished than houses OF refuge couid De eIerVu,
which plan could not be carried into effect WITHOUT
mourning very heavy expense, which there Is reason
70 think might be more beneficial sppled IN anofo'
other equally important means 81 reAti 70 tue SIN
and destitute -
Among the most prominent of these, next TO the
establishment Of hospitals the Undersigned "ou'u
mention the appointment OF distHct Rhysciahs, aIo
they would respectfully suggest 10 the bOad 81 hean
the uropretv Of appointing sufficient number Of com
petent physcsns whose duty 1t should be- under the
speca direction Of the Board OF Health aud their med
zeal advisers to make, far as practicable Throughout
the districts under their charge daily house 70 mouse
vsitations among that class Of persons where such
services deemed most necessary. In the PERFORM
nnce Of this duty they could make inquiries respecting
the health and condition Of the inmates ana give snch
advice in relation diet and regimen and above all m
% the impor of attending 10 the early synptoms
disease and checking without delay On us nrst sp
pearance every attack OF diarrhca
In this wAy they are persuaded, invaluable good
may be effected and by thus preventing an attack O'
disease or by nipping It IN the bud hundreds oil HFes'
they doubt not may be preserved.
In ali cases where these physicians in visiting their
districts shall find unequiyocal evidence OF Cholera
having actually commenced, alter dong what may oe
in their power for the immediate relief OF the most ur
gent sympt0ns they should make every effort 20 nave
persons conveyed ut once To the nearest hospital
where every requisite attention and oil necessary sp
ulauCgs be iOund, ana more hufdulh-ftusig 'H-
poved than in the wreched aDOdes OF the poor ana
destitute where from the want Of these necessary
means of relief the suferngs Of the sick must be
greatly increased while their chances OF recovery are
in a like ratio diminished.
The same rule should apply equally 70 those physi
clans already appointed VINO are now attached to the
Station Houses both these classes should, so lar a.
practicable cOnhnc their attention 70 the treatment Z"
uretnoDitory symptoms while all those who are more
seriously affected. If they seen in time 10 admit Of
their removal with safety, should with the least posi-
BILE delay be sent 70 the hospital The London General
Board 81 Health strongly advocated that measure they
say that every unequivoca Cholera patient should be-
sent the hospital de should not be treat
ed in the vtated air OF his residence and perhaps
allowed die in a where whole family are CON-
PEELED TO sleep with tho dead body unremOved from
among them. We do not deny that there are disad
vsntsges attending the removal OF patients to hospitals
but IN London, not so great in our opinion as "Ouo
accompany the plan Of attending them in their own
homes"
1t might be well to call again the attention OF ply
sicans generally the earnest request OF the hospital
ply scans that they would not delay sending to hos
ptal such patients will probably require hospital
accommodations until it cannot be done without either
causing the death oil such patent before MS arrival
there AS has often happened or At least diminishing
the little chance there may remain of his recovery
In addition TO the assures which the undersigned
have thought proper 10 suggest to the Board OF Health
there others in which they think the Board OF
Health might with Propnety call upon their iello~clt
liens generally for their AID aud cooperation by whose
united exertiOns much might be done IN diminishing
the extension OF disease and relieving the necessities
of those who suffer from It's effects.
They might render essential aid by urging upon all
within their influence the great necessity Of attending
the advice given by the Sanitary Committee at the
commencement of the present epidemic IN relation 20
diet and regimen and by warning them II they would
escape the terrible effects Of a rapid and most fata
mAady of the absolute necessity OF attending to and
controlling those premontory symptoms which are wei
known TO prccede in great majority OF cases every
severe attack of Cholera. From the great neglect OF
which they cannot doubt hundreds OF hVes nave oee
heedessy sacrificed
An who are aware of the Importance of this advice
should feel il to be their duty not only TO adopt all
proper precautions themselves, but they should iu
press upon all dependent them, within their IN
haence who may be supposed TO be Ignorant OF the
necessity of attention the subject They should bo
reminded of the Importance mperance IA all lnihHs
ii, strict atten ton to diet, of sbstsnlng from fruits
and vegetables. which calculated 10 derange tht
bowels they should be advised 10 avoid late hours an
hearty suppers aud to ~ 10 check the
hrst symptoms Of darhea BY strict attention 10 these
precautions there Is reason 10 hope the ravages OF
Cholera may be check d. and that health may again be
fore long be- restored TO our borders
In accordance with the views above stated, the un
d.rsgped would beg leave 10 submit tor the considera
ton OF the Board of Health the adoption OF the follow
ing resolution ,,
B.areS That blank number Of physicians be appointed
hv his Board in conjunction with their medical advisers,
whose duty shall make house 10 house Ns taHons
among the poor the upper Wards OF tue Ciy "hefe al
rms pr from the greater prevalence 4 Cholera there Il
occasion for such inspection Ihrse W sIas sha ne
divided INTO convenient visiting districts 10 each OF which
one pbvsican shall appointed whose cuiy Il shall be
10 the special direction OF The medical advisers
OF The Board To this Board thew shall report from day
to day though the stanton houses, al Information the,
may deem important ~ 10 he condition Of tnelr seVera
disrets ne only IN regard the health Of The same but
also when cases OF peculiar distress and desutuuon are
found TO exist which require prompt assistance ano
.necal aid thew should be REQUIRED to give
the this Board order that such reei as ths
shs require may be speedily rs pVsso.e Ano'dea
All which Is respectfully submitted
MOORE. MD
JOsEPH SMITH NJ d.
sEIH GER MD
RfCH'D l. NORRIS, ND.