New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-13

more professional knowledge with the Administrative
political power. In other words the lnatary ocers
should be possessed OF knowledge OF SANITARY laws
This is postuate as selfevldent that Law officer
should be possessed Of legal knowledge; aud the sec,
ond Is like unto Ii, viz; That the more professional
knowledge he has, the more capable cGfeT" ParioLs
will be b. 10 discharge his official functions. Would
you select physician for Corporation Counsel, or
lawyer for Health Ofcsrf No less absurd Is II n ap
point ipcumbents Of a SANITARY police department,
men who either noin Intelligence abovethe grace OF
common lsborers, or at best who are ignorant o. the
laws Of Hygiene.
This position being admitted, ii necessarily follows
that the best qualified, by appropriate study and
practice should be first selected for any public service
We ask then what class Of medical practitioners are 90
well qualified for the eIssnstoD and ERECTION Of the
public OF diseases In the cellars the garres the
courts and cudesacs, the holows, and elsewhere as
these whose business 1t Is now to treat in these very
localities, the diseases produced By themi tis to the
Dspsnsary physicians that the pubic look for the per-
Torrance OF the humane duty OF attending the sick In
these places; IL IL they also who should be employed
and empowered TO report upon, and remove the dHss
OF their diseases.
Not only would their qualifications better fit them for
the duties Of local health officers but their interests as
DfpeDsary ply scisns would directly impe them 10
faithful discharge OF the other branch of service
Let US Illustrate our position BY what IL by no means
an insuppossbe case, but one of frequent occur
renee. As Dispensary physician one is called 10
treat case OF Typhus Fever. lie finds the patient
in some back tenement or under. ground residence
and surrounded by circumstances clearly ind;a.
tive Of the cause OF the disease; 1t spreads from
one TO another OF the same family-to other fam
lilies in the house-the neighborhood becomes more
less Infected and Tor several weeks the Doctor is
fully occupied In treating the sick He Is po Teress to
the stsgnaut water from the cellar the heap OF
filth from the yard or 10 ventiate and purity the dwell
ing. He merely prescriber OF drugs and further
than this, has no authority. But invest him with the
power Of public SANITARY otcer-givs him the suhoH
ty order yard cellar TO be drained house be
ceansed and whitewashed, or even cellar other i'm
l..Ll
tatop and how would the progress Of the disease
be stayed-hov much sickness would be prevented
how many lives saved-and to do all which the economy
Of bis time and labor would be incentive.
The duties Of the Dspenssry physicians carry them in
the very track of the nuisances which require TO be
rected, and bow great proportion OF the rheumasms,
the feveTs the iDflamman0ns, the various forms OF
scrofuls, the pulmonary and other diseases attb
utsble the damp cellars the hy tenemeHts the foul
yards courts and alleys 10 which the poor crowded
can be known only to them who spend much Of their
time amid these wreched scenes where they are over
lees for preventive action that may 10 them
Bitter experience has shown that it Is in these places
that cholera yellow fever, small psx, scarlet fever,
measles typhus fever and other contagious and intec-
tious disorders, are particularly abundant and mag-
nent ID has been Customary upon the breaking out
of an epidemic for the public authorities TO use great
eXertons and spend much money In cleansing and
purifying the peslensl spots In order to arrest the
extension Of the discasswhch such an organization as
IL PROPOSE would, in many Instances have pre-
veDted-and wSn the danger Is over the authorities,
SANITARY and ALL speedily relapse into their former in
ertis, and remain, until anoher invasion wakes
them again to duty which should never. have been
ne elected.
Ii must be evident that under such arraug cement
this the duties of the Dspenssry, or Ward physicians
would be performed with greater degree of cheerful
ness and care. With the stimulus of better remuner
son with the addition of bat le other duty than such
as would tend 10 reduce the amount OF their professional
abors there could be obtained tor the Joint offices men
of such character and experience would not only
q M no hut a Instance
The authorities, and give profound satisfaction and
feeling OF every possible security 10 the whole commu
nifty.
PUBLIC CAUSES OF DISEASE.
In connection with this subject OF the practical app
cation of public HI gief c rules In large city, your
Committee believe that time will net be wasted in max
ing remark In relation 10 matter which has been
too much overlooked undervslued, In the discussion
of the general causes OF diseases Ofthe muttudnous
number of these those only strictly cognZ able by
the public Hy CHEMIST which originate from circum-
stances external to the body while private Hygiene re-
fers TO causes more disconnected with external crcum
stances 1be study of neither of these divisions Is In
compatible with the Other and both worthy the re-
gard of all physicians
OF the Ward ply siclans, particularly under the sys
TEN OF combined duties, which we have proposed,
would the study of both these branches be required
ard under the application of their principles by them
what noble corps Of Hygtensts would this city soon
possess.
The remark we intend to make, however refers to
the latter public class of II has two sub
divisions based upon their relative localities which we
NAV designate respectively, as the ELtra DOfcitidry
and the Eua- DOicLary The former Includes all mDr0i
fc agencies derived from the soil or from the general at
mosphere, Outd The drebaS such as MAJ Oh masmaa,
esnations from exposed and decsyng animal and yese-
table matters and from certain manufactures dirty
streets foul yards cespools, prves &c ana the aer
subdivision Includes those which are peculiar 10 inc In
terror Of dwellings such a. crowded wOfkshops dorn'
tories schools churches and assembly rooms deficient
ventilation too narrow tenemeDts cellar and alley rssl
dences filthy floors and walls, deficient supplies OF wa
ter emanatOns from burning fuel aud lamps, the excre
lions Of living bodies and the nnumerable otner IN
door sources Of ilheath among the poor particularly
OF which those only who are accustomed TO observe
them appreciate the merits or rather the dement's
That great potency Is Justly DUE In the production OF
disease 10 both these Subdivisions lie doubtless true, but
ss 10 their relative power aud extent OF causaton vast
difference Is uDquestonsble Your Committee believe
Is In this In many other ma ters, where udS
exercised without sufficient reflection that those things
which most fOrcbly strike the 1se apt - be ser
down as most deserving attention. when ltde further
investigation would probably alter the decision Inus
as we ride walk through the reets ana observe tue
enormous heaps OF filth the stagnant cutters and the
chOked and overo ving Hseerns impossible tht
serious epidemic be long delayed, and tne h'ga os
mortality easily, 10 all appearance accounted ior
Every one says IL and the press takes up the cry ana
demands of GOveT nmen with eloquent aud angry sen
fences the cleansing Of the CRY. But amid a the noise
and confusion concerning these eXtradOmlclary dan'
GERS the far potent and dangerous introdomlc,
iy cause. Of disease passed BY unobierged, and
simply because they concealed from the view OF
tha portion OF the public and OF the profession whose
voices of condemnation are 30 loudly heard
TO dc the poor aud the subject OF public Hygiene iu
Justice the He th Inspector must penetrate into their
private dwellings he must open the closed sashes ana
cut windows where there are none he must ventate
their workshops, their bedrooms and their scnooi'
houses: be must pump the stagnaut from the Gel
lars he mus, connect their drain pipes aud pryes with
the public sewers, 1titewanh their VALE NIL up their
bellows and drive the trogOdyes from their caves 10
the open air These must be done and the otner not
1effu hut like the Du.- Pn4rhPe, must Wa
be content b cleanse merely the outside OF our doni
ciisTy cups and paers else they would indeed DO IKE
Whited sepulcbers, appearing beautiful without but
within full Of dead mems bones and all unceanness.
A SANITARY Police composed as herein suggested,
would constitute an efficient corps Of Heath MsstOHa-
Ties Much Of their time would be probably devoted 70
the purpose of teaching the poor the rules OF Hygiene
which should regulate their household operations anf
the value of fresh air. ventilation cleanliness temper
Ance &c. would fonn constant themes fJr them
Tractt Cd Health distributed freely by hands interested