National Republican., 1873-12-05

ciatlng this fact, and knowing that the alleys,
the lowest aud most nlthy portions OF the city,
the health oficcr, interpreting the term tene-
menthousc TO mean any house where more than
three very poor people live, oresnised plan Of
force, and chained him out Of reach Of harm
until the danger was passed.
In forty-nine days after these energetic hos
,le measures were Instituted not aoHse q, sma,
unconditional Isolation, destruction OF infected
clothing, and thorough disinfecton Of infected
houses are inc Shy ann nan ,ns surrey emeceve en
demic. Aud In all epldemics the declaration OF
| absolute quarantine regulations by the health
boards o. city and their enforcement, y s nscss s
mand upon sanitary ofIloers, whose high re-
sponsiblllty will not admit Of the consideration
Of Individual interests when great peru TO pub.
II appears In the following carefully prepared
and valuable statistical table that 30 per cent OF
the cases reported since October !, lsI2, died
ratio Of Ito 252; that 70 per cent Of the deaths
were of persons who had never been vacclnated;
that 70 per cent. OF all the deaths were colored;
that gs per cent. were o. persons OF ave years
the southwestern and southeastern sections Of
the city, where were the most nlthy, Inhabited
alleys and the greatest poverty. These figures
are most instructive aud suggestive, and will
not fall to Impress oil who study them with the
Importance OF active administration Of rigid
sanitary laws that those terrible scenes Of dis
'tos "ey htNtt again w tutsttu III Jul tNyE
the ENFORCEMENT or ruE ORDINANCE.
The report OF the doings OF the attorney OF the
BOARD OF Health during the last ten months Is
full OF suggestive interest. While q willing and
ready response has, In almost every instance,
followed notices TO abatc nulsances found inluri-
Gus TO health, there have yet been those who
preferred to listen In Police Court 10 the Judges
Interpretation OF the ordinances OF the Board OF
Health, and TO pay for such entertainment sun
dry zines into the city treasury.
The health olfccr, In the exercise OF the dis
cretionary power granted him, has never re-
| fcrcd case to the attorney for suit before due
| and invariably has endeavored to induce the de-
| lnquent to conform TO the law before submitting
TO the Disgrace OF public nne aud reprimand.
This vigorous enforcement OF the ordinances
has not only had a wholesome effect upon the
awless, but has also served TO disspate the mists
that Sometimes obscure the vision even OF law
abiding citizens when their private interests run
| counter 10 public good.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Viewing the whole field OF the executive dutie,
OF the health offlccr, II appears at glance that
| lncessant labor, constant watchfulness, and
prompt action are the regulates TO such admin.
istration OF the oflce as shall secure the desired
result-the best possible sanitary condition Of
the District OF Columbia. And II needs no argu
ment to convince that the sanitary force EN-
ployed In the inspection OF the District Is alto
| gethcr inadequate 10 the demands OF the ser
| vice. Here, on the banks Of the historic Poto-
mac, In q climate excellent, surrounded by beau
nation on the face Of the earth. It's name Il
/ spoken with veneration wherever In the wide
world men love liberty and respect nobility Of
character. Until the last few years Il slumbered
/ almost In primitive state, but q change came
over The spirit OF Its dream. It's wide avenues
| have In reality become magnificent distances,
and In oil material Improvement II Is making
| rapid strides toward the ideal beauty and gran.
| deur every true American hopes TO see IN the
capital Of mis- country. The enactment and exc.
| cution Of public health laws should move hand
| IN hand with public works as part and parcel
with the general scheme OF Improvement.
| Pure water supply, sewerage, provisions FOL
ventilation, quarantine and hospital construc.
tlon, aud the protection OF life and limb-on al
| these subjects, and more, the two coordinate
branches OF local government should be In per.
superintendence, or to govern . city without
sanitary Inspection, no man, In this age, will
undertake. Recognizing these facts, how
poorly fares the health department Of QUE grand
capital Nine inspectors to patrol ne 1i whcl,
cleanliness and sanitary condition. Though tn,
most competent and energetic men, we mus
only excite ridiculc when we gravely inform tn,
outside world that, keeping pace with publi
works, we expect to make this city model o
cleanliness and health.
This Is simply impossible with the presen
mesns, aud my opinion Is based upon the practl
cal, every day workings Of the service.
IL, aS has been rem irked, the authorities o
any city who permit an epidemic to rage In tina
city are responsible, and should be indicted, ius
as should an ignorant or careless master VIII
runs ship upon the rocks, and u the sick rate
OF city are absolutely under tbs control Of II
health department the people, when they appre
ciate this truth, will demand q strict acconnta
blity Of those men In whose hands they plac
this high trust. Aud their representatives Il
the Legislature and Congress must see to Il tha
In the distribution Of the public lands libera
provision be made for the execution Of laws 10
the preservation OF public health.