The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-01

The PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE CrY.-The subject
of the public health of our city 10 attracting great
deal of attic ntion. and the Grand Jury as the read
er has seen by their report in the Herald, two or
three days ago, have proposed new act for the
suppression OF nuisances giving the City Inspector
power to empanel jury immediately upon the
complaint OF a nuisance, and have it abated ac-
cording to the verdict-the guilty party to pay the
costs OF proceedings There does not appear to be
much necessity for this The City Inspector is sure
y able to determine for himself what nuisance is
and, as the head ola department. he has, ought to
have, the power to abate it. He ought, moreover,
to have the appointment of the health wardens,
and to possess entire control over them. The pc.
lice force ought not tobe employed in that service,
as they have duties of their own to perform, and
have often pleaded those duties as an excuse for
not abating nuisances. when directed to do 30 by
The City Inspector. 1t may be said that some of
the police can be spared for this purpose, and thus
a saving of expense be effected. But this Is not
the fact, for the force is to be increased. Let,
therefore, those policemen who formerly acted as
health wardens attend to their police Duties and
let health wardens be appointed, who will have
nothing else to do than to attend to the commands
of the City Inspector. The subject of new Board
of Health has been brought forward In the Coun-
ell but it is to be hoped that if any Board of
Health be appointed, 1t will consist of medical men,
standing high in their profession, and not men ig
norant OF medicine, Ignorant OF the laws OF the
human body, of chemistry, and the causes and ma
ture of disease. The Common Council have
hitherto appointed themselves but this is clearly
illegal, and they might as well appoint themselves
to the office of Comptroller, OF Counsel to the Cor
poration, and heads of the various departments.
They have quite enough to do, if they properly at
tend to the business of their own sphere, without
mixing up with it what does not belong to them,
and what they do not understand. Sanitary regu-
lations ought only to emanate from scientific and
medical men.
A thorough change is necessary, if we are not
to have repetition of the state OF things which
existed last year. There is no immediate cause
for alarm; but forewarned is forearmed, and pre-
vention is better than cure. Cholera is IN Wards
Island ; and as summer Is approaching, We may
again be visited by that scourge Of the ham an race.
Speedy action Is therefore demanded. The question
has been STAYED of from time to time In the Board
OF Aldermen. either by design, or the accidental
pressure of other matters of inferior Importance
On Monday evening 1t will be brought under con-
slderation again, and it is to be hoped it will meet
with the prompt attention it deserves, and that at
least the excellent report of the committee will be
adopted 1t is the desire Of the people, that in this
as in all the other departments, the whole control
and responsibility ought to be placed on the shout
ders of the City Inspector, that thus feeling the
entire weight of obligation resting upon him, he
will not only be in position to discharge his duties
fully, without let hindrance, but will willingly do
so, knowing that If he fails he will be exposed to
the just censure of the public. The responsibility
is now so divided and SO uncertain, between the
Mayor, Chief of Police, Captains of Police, the
policemen of the rank and file, and the Health War
dens, over whom the City Inspector has no CONTROL
and the City Inspector himself, that nobody knows
where to fasen It, and the public interests suffer in
consequence.