The New York herald., 1871-03-06
Tho Board Of Healrh aaa IL. Du,i.,


II the duty Of the Board Of Health Is not to
preserve In every way the sanitary condition
Of the city az perfectly as possible, especially
In times when contagious diseases like tho
smallpox are prevalent, We do not know what
its duty is. Yet wo find, at q late meeting
of tho Board Of Health. apsrsistsnt effort made
by three Of the commissioners to perpctuate
the existence q q nuisance which the Sanitary
Committee In their report declared to be oifen-
sive In the highest degree and dangerous
to public health. The evidence that the
dumping and storing Of manure at the foot Of
East Forty-sixth street and vicinity went to
show that the health of the whole neighbor-
hood is affected by the foul vapors arising from
the practice. But it appears that three of the
commissioners were found willing to extend
the permit to the parties who own this nui-
sance, in spite of the recommendation Of the
committee to the contrary. These gentlemen
were DR.. Carnochan and Messrs Barr and
Mullaly. The members who voted in favor Of
the nuisance being removed were DR.. Cocoa
rini and Messrs. Manierre and Stephen Smith.
Surely DIR. Carnochsn could not have studied
the subject, or he would Lot have so voted
unless, which we are 10th to believe, it was
done under political pressure. We cannot uu-
derstand how an efficient Health Officer,
as DIR. Carnochaa proved himself to
be during the perilous yellow fever
term Nof last summer by keeping the city
free from the pestilence, which had almost
mastered all the powers and facilities Of
rigid quarantine, could be Indifferent now TO
the health Of the city, when smallpox is
making headway in the vicinity. As for Mr..
Mullaly, who is the editor Of a kind Of monde
script paper, not over religious In its tone, but
now engaged In the small political line, we
fear he partakes more Of the spirit of the ward
politician than Of the journalist. His course
Of action, therefore, is net shrouded in very
deep mystery.
We sustained DR.. Carnochan from the
beginning in his arduous position as Health
Officer of the port No one can tarnish the
reputation he has won as the protector of the
public health against the invasion of con-
tagious diseases. Few men In his place had
Hoio w Coutouu WAtu lOI years past IN meet
ing the fsnd Of pestilsnce in the harbor with
so much nerve as to coufine the danger to the
lower bay and save the city from the spread of
disease, and for this we and the public accord
him every credit. But if DR.. Carnochan-a
man of high professional ability, giant among
giants as physician-or any other public
official supposes that the influence of ward
politicians amounts to anything compared
with the power of the press and the public
opinion which 1t fosters and represents, he Is
very much mistaken. The pressure" which
ward politicians can bring TO bear upon the
conscientious action of public officer should
not be regarded ss a feathers weight when
measured against the power OF an independent
press, which. rejecting the views Of the
people, can unmake, as it makes, public men.
In the matter of the health of the city and
the suppression of nuisances which may i'm
pair it, we look, Of course, to tho Board of
Health, and every one of its acts will be oare-
fully scrutinized. Hence we remark upon
this recent extraordinary vote OF portion of
the Board.