The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-16

BOARD OF HEALTH REPoRT.-We give
below the report submitted by the Board
of Health to the Council at its last meet
ing. II will prove interesting to our citi-
zens, who would do well to adopt Its sug-
gestions in view of possible return OF
cholera next summer:
OFFICE BOARD OF HEALTH,
RICHMOND, January IA, 1867.
Gentlemen,-The Board respectfully
call the attention of the Council to the
suggestions made In their last monthly
communication, and ask that some action
may be taken thereon. The necessity of
adopting some plan by which the city may
be kept in cleanly condition is becoming
more and more apparent every day. The
Importance of this subject to the health
and prosperity of the city is too great for
it to be much longer overlooked. The
outlay incurred during the past summer is
inconsiderable in comparison to the benefit
derived from it, by the exemption from
disease which the city has thereby enjoyed,
and should be o controlling reason for the
adoption of some plan which may insure a
continuation of a similar condition. The
probable reappearance Of cholera next
year should be stimulus to timely exer-
tion on our part to mitigate its severity.
The history Of the epidemic in New York,
st. Louis, and this city, prove that this
scourge may be disarmed of many of its
terrors by judicious sanitary measures.
At no season of the year can these mea-
sures be inaugurated with more propriety
and economy than the present. Owing to
the unfinished condition of many of the
streets, several points are presented where
the daily accumulation OF ashes and the
sweepings of the streets may now be depo-
sited with safety to the health of the inha-
bitants, and with greater economy to the
city than it can be done if much longer
delayed. In all cities north of us liable to
the appearance of cholera active mea-
sures are being carried on to remove what
may possibly tend to produce that or other
diseases.
That we do not magnify the danger Of
the re;ippearance of cholera this year, we
would call your attention to the fact
that the opinion of medical gentlemen
throughout the cities where it manifested
itself last year is that it may with GER
tainty be expected the coming season. And
in this connection we would suggest that
steps be at once taken by your body to
request the city delegates that, in the
event of the failure of the application now
before the Legislature for an extension Of
the city limits, that body be asked to re-
quire of the county authorities to appoint
a Board of Health, with sufficient power to
enforce all needful sanitary measures for
the immediate suburbs of the city-a mea-
sure as much demanded by the interests Of
the county as of the city.
Your attention has been repeatedly
called to the condition Of what is known
as Victor's mill-pond and race" and
the deleterious influences thereby exerted.
We would not again refer to this subject
but for its Importance, and our desire that
if any action is contemplated by your body
it should be taken ut an early a day as
possible, as it is our opinion it would be
dangerous to attempt to remove this nui-
sance in warm weather.
The officer appointed for the second dis
trict for cleansing the city has uniformly
complied with the ordinance requiring
monthly reports to be made to this office.
The officer for the first district has for
several months failed to make reports.
Should the Council determine to change
the arrangement by which night soil is re-
moved from the city, such safeguards
should be imposed as would effectually
prevent the residents of the city and
suburbs being incommoded, as they were
prior to the enactment of the present ordi-
nance. Respectfully,
j. G.. CABELL, NJ. D.,
President Board of Health.
To the President and Members Of the COan-
Gil Of the City Of Richmond.