The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-25
Prsssrvssis. Of N: P-eais Health;

sppeintsd to pres . aud Dr. G A Peters wss APP
pointed Secretary Doctors Issac Wood. ]. T.
Batchtider, ]. Caopeell ;uazt, and others, made
remarks upon the 0-fecsive administ alton Of the
Health DepartDe, = the city. and the urgent ne
eessty there exisss the election Of medical man
10 rho office OF Git. Inspector. II having boon
stated that tbs tn. incipal political parties had
put in nomination 'sdvidu ais deficient in the re-
quisite qualfcaSss ?, TOR neither Of whom csn tho
members OF the profession consistently vote, Il was,
On notion Of DR.. l., A sayre,
Resolved, Tia, ~ expedient asd proper fhst
separate nomins,ss for the office Of City Inspector
be made by this BOO !, ana recommended " tne pro-
fessa and cits. large for their support 1t tho
On The mot;os Of Dr VIM Detmold, it wss
Resolved Thu, Jooa II Grissem, III. ID he rs-
quested to allow in~ use Of his name ~ tho osnd-
date Of the pTo.sson for the ofioe OF City In
spector.
TIE resolutions unanimously adopted with
great enthusiasm IL sss further
Resolved, That s. Executive Committee be ap-
pointed to prepsrs address the citizens setting
forth the reasons 'o thus aston, and TO adopt such
measures may b. necessary 70 promote shs cleo
ton Of the non,in.r
The following gentlemen wero appointed suoh
L. A. say1e, M D, Eiwa l.. Beadls, M, D.
Chairman X Gardner, N. ID.
John W. FIancir, N D. j. G Clemsats, NJ. D.
James Cockroft, N ID VIM Detmoid, III ID.
The meeting thew sdjournea
Tsosss Cock. n. D., President.
GEORGE A Pk,hss NJ. Secretary.
ADDRESS TO gHE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK.
For the FIRST tA1. the history of the medical
yrofeSsicn OF thu s,,y. is members now apparently
step aside from the hoe Of their ordinary svo-
cations, 10 addrsrs HI fellow citizens subject
which, By many, vii ~ FIRST glance, be considered
~ Incompatible w,,h their duties as physioians.
We Ask, however. calm consideration Of our
reasous for so doing sats6ed that should any after
wards Sifer from in our views of the public
policy which should oe followed in the matter in
question, we shall ~ least chain credit for an
6Onoat dAsiYe O NJ On Dlish a DubiiC good
II il wholly forseo from our purpose to enser the
political feld; Oh 'hs contrary, the undersigned
lanes oomprise all shades OF political opinion. We
tppeei to the whole pa ,lc on question uhish ia
ti,nateiy concerns h ~efare ana CHI Of the
whole city, and tho hsalsh and happiness Of every
anily, and OF every individual within it, borders
Among the officer 10 be chosen at tho coming
!, ection, 10 . City Inspector. We believe thst the
rature Of the du,iss OF that Office not under
TODD as they sbuDld be by the citizens at large;
rsiniy their value ia not appreciated by Others ss
i; Is by US, We sbcu.1 700 individuals Of . very
different characfer chosen, or nominated, for the
office, by the political parties Of the day.
For many yeare rast, the Inefficient adninistra-
ton Of the hea II poli,e of New York, (of which
the City Inspector is the hief) has excited very
general remark but il is only TO those whose eyes
and minds bave been edues,ed to such msttcrs, that
the very serious lossss the eby incurred by humanity
and eoieBce, have o+en made fully apparent.
The duties, or, Tatser, We should say, the cspa-
bties of this Office cpMpfse go much that is atricy
professional in Character. We are convincei that
can perform them. elicit the valuable results they
may be made to produce. Everything that can be
referred to the subject Of gene. or public health,
belongs TO it The noyal OF palpabie aud ostens-
BILE nHssnces, snSh as bone boiling establishments
and zig styes, the aug Of sunken lots, the empty
ing Of sinks, and sddlDg up the number OF inter
rhRS for the year on not, as is ommoliy supposed,
teusive and ifotee duties, rs they have generally
contep plated in IN. la actor. A much more ex-
The invest satcn of the causes OF disc LIZ i9S ID
multtudDous variety, among the different ofasses of
tho population; o. sue condition in which peoole
i've; OIL the inhuepcs upon their health end lives Of
nsn various avoca ous the relative morality of tho
oHetsht sections OF the city, wih the rea sons there
for the value OF life 10 different positions an in va
red oroumstsHces; the infae nees Of DELLA, hab;ts
uons; she investigation of the causes. and the
me0&6 OF preventing and controlling epideuies and
other general diseasrs, such as cholera ckolera in
fnntum, syphus fever, scarlet fever measles Sc OF
tne manner IN which 1enements ESPECIALLY those in
peceps and usrasous Of tie aa9 q A. seMsfsse
liberalization Of public and private buildings and
apartments: Of elesnhress of person, terements,
yarus aud Streets TEN persnce bathing and exer-
else; the preparation of vital Stats ics which ara
becoming more ano valuable and inport ant;
together with steady efforts freely 70 eBiightsn tho
public mind especially, the poorer classes on the
eubjsct OF the lSss # health and ifc-al these,
bcsidea tho lien ofthe more 0pea bat not
more subtle and oelsserous agencies Of disease and
deatb-const;tue portion Of the duties 20 which
the time ard abilities of City INSPECTOR and his
sids, should be devoted
The appearance Of any unusual disease among us
may. at any moment, require the decision Of our
chief officer of health ne 10 its true chsrsotsr and
perhaps demand The most intelligent and energetic
efforts TO prevent its extension For these purposes
thorough acquaintance with the history aud hsbi.
tudce Of diseases Is necessary: and by his word all
fears may be aliaJ ed panic be created, affecting
the interests OF the city 10 the exten. Of millions ia
single season.
The question understood, it may DO safely
left 70 the Judgment Of any intelligent citizen
whether such duties IS these can be performed, VIC
do not say efficiently, but q, all, by any other than
one who has made the science OF medicine, and
especially that brano Of il called public medicine
. careful STUDY. To nominate any other to the
performance Of spph labora, betrays either gross
ignorance something worse. II would be no moro
absurd to nominate ply sicisn for the Office Of
porstiou counsel, and ask The votes Of the people
tor him.
In other cities, both Of tfss country and Europe.
as in Paris, London, Eainburg and Liverpool, the
ablest MEDICAL men are engaged in the adminiatVa-
ton and Improvement Of the health departments
guoh alone being CONSIDERED competent therefor Eff
forts have been made to procure the nomination Of
proper persons for the City Inspecorship By the
cent party conven,icDs, but in vain. The tide Of
political bargaining was 700 strong 20 be resisted,
and no regard was pAid 10 the suggestion.
1t remains then. for the oitizens Of New York to
determine ut the next election, whether they will
secure to themselves TIE great benefits dervabe from
this Office BY placing sai..by educated incu nbent
therein. or permit them 70 lie dormant and lost to
humanity and to science. and leopard tho dearest
interests Of tho CITY Tor three years longer. by the
election Of either Of the present political nominees
TIE name Of John Ii. Griscom, M ID is pre-
sented for your and our slfages for the Office Of
City Inspector With mach reluctance, ne has
consented to stand our candidate The nompa-
ton meets with our most cordial approval as one
who has been long and fsvorably known, both at
home and abroad, by his writings on these and
kindred subjects, and ny his having, for period,
once discharged the duties Of this Office, TO Tho
great Subtraction Of the community. His rep1te-
n v hyA i'm in nnnd-
ence with able men, purfuiDg like Investigations
In other States and couotsies. He is familiar with
the ssnitsry laws and improvements sdop.ad elso-
where, and, in word, 10 emipeDily fitted to dis
charge the scientific humanitarian, and executive
duties Of the health d. partment.
We ask eur fellow citizens to reflect on this
matter seriously, and, sevoid ofparty bias pro-
fna at.tr.t fAaa uro.a tnnir