National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-05-14
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
THEIR REPORT TO GOVERNOR COOKE

StntNtich-fubHc bnths h''""
Tho Smallpox, and How Il was Met
Miscellaneous views and RccomH'cndn-
lions.
DIR. c, c. Cox, president Of the Board OF
Health Yesterday submitted to the Governor lot
Transmission to the Legislature, report OF the
operatIons OF the board since the rendition OF the
annual report Of December last, from when we
make tac following extracts:
The cpIIerlc,vhic al irst threatened to leave
Its deadly traces In every part OF the DstFlct nas
been successfully arrested and confined to GER
tain limits by the vigilance and perssv,eIing en-
The most powerful measures for the prevention
nj the spread Of smallpox have been found TO
consist IN ISOLATION and yaecinatoni Inc lors
and the provisions Of law would permit me AZ
ter most diligently and faithfully praoticed % the
largest possible extent me vaccination t 81 tse
attention at the once Of the board, was eonndeu
to the ward physicians Of the city, under con1l-
lions Imposed TegalInS me nmnnI,y IN I'M Ts
spect; and their complete protection by Naccina-
ton persoveringly prosecuted. ,-,.,l
How faithfully and efllclently the WORK OF these
medical gentlemen has been performed Is eyinced |
nv their full and satisfactory reports to the
board but more by the stfiktnRly benencial re.
suits Of their lahors. Too much cannot be said
IN commentator Of the zeal and devotion be
slowed upon the task assigned them. The work
assumed no ordinary proportions, aud demanded
no ordinary sacrifice and extrtlon. To the Of
fices Of the ward physicians, we feel convinced,
IL due large share Of success In shielding the
District from the Rvages Of smallpox. For these
extraordinary services suitable remuneration
has not yet been rendered. Their accounts,
herewith presented, are regarded by the board
"a exceedingly moderate and Just and early az
ton OF the Legislative Assembly u respectfully
urged, by which these physicians may be COM
pensated for the important duty they have so
faithfully executed. The Board o. Health has
already assumed one third Of this pecunlary
Indebtedness TO be paid out Of the appropriation
made by Congress for the next fiscal year, AMI
the aid Of the Legislature is earnestly invoked to
meet the remaining obligation.
In order to prevent the lngress Of smallpox It
IA essential that the system Of vaccination thus
inSnguraied shall he persistentiy sustained year
after year, since n new population Ia constantly
Delng added to the District, and permanent resi-
dents require the test OF vaccination at uncer-
tain Intervals The board would, therefore,
suggest that an addition OF ut least $3.50 per
annum be made to the present salaries Of the
ward physicians, in return for which they shall
be required lat least once a year, or Oftener,
should SMALLPOX preyallN to visit eyery house Ia
their respective districts for the vaccination
and reyacclnation OF all such as may be unpro-
tected, and to ascertain that those who prefer to
computed with the compulsory rule within a rca-
sona1e tns' ,,,.,.,,or Ia ,h,o,r,o,v aor,.raed
IN enable The board still more sueceSsf1Ily 10
protect our citizens against smallpox. At
present the disease chiefly prevails In shanties
and dilapidated houses where numbers are con.
ETegated, the surroundings OF which indicate
gIoIs neglect OF the common rules OF health,
especially as respects ventilation and personal
cleanliness. No legal authority exists to com
lions, and thus, in many instances, they have
unayoldably continued TO operate a. focl for TIT
propagation aud spread OF the epidemic. IL
order 10 stamp out every trace OF q malady 81
Justly dreaded IL Is absolutely essential that tn
hoard shall have authority 10 separate the dis
eased FROM the healthy. Vaccination and lsola
NtIi hav M LAM
local habitation 10 our midst.
the efforts Of the board 70 extInsuish small
pox have resulted In partial success only, chen
Tor the want OF suitable legislation by which $50
lation and vaccination could he made completc
erectual.
!. In order to thorough protection OF the com
munlty, every person exposed, from neglect o
vaccination or reyacclnaton, should be CON
PEELED to submit to this important preyentiv
measure, either at the hands OF the ward phys
clan or the family medical adviser.
3 authority should be vested IN the board {
nnS WssneyeT IN " the,r indgmen, mo SnhI
safety NAV require such proceeding.
The following results in regard TO smallpox
lhe District VIII ne iouhu interesting anu sui
B''' sr,nt,py
rr.,., ,,,.,,,..., - - -,
lOtAl uuihbet OF cases OF smallpox OCcutrln
from July !, 1879, TO April u.s. lsT9-cOnnueT
cAaea $50: mild TYNE asl-lqpa
neathsI-never yarrinatcb az. rrevtors IN
go 90. ,s,,hin Saass a. 90 P'S''O"' "
sr Sacc1n,aS ,o Dro,,o,
tosyesTs "a M. w,thin 4 xsars ,t'V' p''''''
Vsrcins ytrys' nnrchasSI ~ H. I, III IIs,,- NJ.
,,n NJ a. n,,liiy 49,, " to,n " ~ ~ \
M.,. ~ a. ooh nni,,s az a. ~ ~ ,hn,ssn
si ,e1 'O'V'' P''i''' ~ ''''' PVT 'H0u'N"
Snmher NJ persons varcIn,,sd NV x.rd nh
st.,sns troS, G.sot,.or ,s-' ~ 49,, ~ w AZ
n,,is,,nn a., 40, 80, - -, ~ uass, ",
popuistin ~ , % - T. az, "a. III .
M. natSiation 49, VI $3.50 P'' Ne"'' VI '"'
me totai exncnse NJ condurtipv thn snalIn,
ot,'c y, R, ~ ~, " sng nm
seTs ifOm D.SsmGes, ISL 70 NAY Is,S,
10 ~ siG o. '''''' az INV "'''"'
am, nail from characterization, n, Cor,ro,
ava so5 % pa'u i'o'i appropriation Vi 'ohs'e'
SIM n,ib fam .,,ronr,.,,o, ot nist,L
"a 9oI n, '''"' "PP'OP''@"O" VI D''''
al. 81 ,,,,, t,l.,4,, -,
~ " ~ y, ~ " ieH""'
Shp ky ~ W s'tSt,.sS' a, IL,
,,m ~ tav sI,n' u, nS,ia ',
amnnSt n,L Sx M. D,s'ri't ,xi,l' I'm ~ a
gaeS, OF tS'SS, ;oi less IMAM me sum taken Ire
m, -, a r.
Tho o,o.,,r ,.ss 800, a.,,r., ,,,, ,,,,,,,
., IN. skIn az cssoni,si 10 o,,,irarv nosi,h
n.t.IT. ., ~, rao,,,,,, a, = ,iata1,a -,
PSSy " -. .,I.,', ~, .I.,' -
chOIerh anu otheT eP'uelhlos' us necessity u
been recognized abroad, especially In Englan
where puOuc Dlths anu waShlng-houses ma
Institutions to the laboring classes, In physici
social anu moral aspect, cannot be ovef-es
mated. Ihat tue pain shOniu nhu place Amoi
r. h teaIIx ~ grcsIer consennence ami mo
general utility than any species " manual
gymnastc exercise. Ia our country the Il
pottanGe o. puDno hS'ns "a Deeh Ilihe ~
ihsy have been m nse Tor a number Of YEAR. n
extensively patrOnized by all classes.
In New YORK the accommodation for pub
Dathlng are not IN proportion TO the uemat
Attention. however, ~ pelnB ulIccted 70 us u
pOftance' anu u Will NOT De long ere thls gre
sanitary measure VIII receive inc consldefati
Hlustly merits.
rev cities require pyOllc baths more thAn o
own. WIN superior water advantages the 20
could DC furnished All tue dement's OF bathl
their persons anu washing their clothes at
expense merely nominal. ~ IL 10 he hoped !
Legislature VIII consider lhls subject OF su
Gent importance 70 the sanitary interests OF
under direction OF me BUar,I of Health Or oih
wise, the advantage Of frequent bathing may
secured, al rlnlhg cost, 10 our increasing poi
"uo"' ,,,,, :, m, ,.,--,, nm ,r,s,,o.
=, a. .ox,a,nI. -, I..,,a,',. -, -. l..
,.,,nn snonII no h,J at ,hs no,t,D. sass,',,
- t.sa,',,,,, ~, - - ~
the hSAe'n"'y W ""''" h"'c PeIeet ysVein
vital statistics may be secured. In this conn
zion IL IL especially urged that no burials shall
authorized within the District Of Columbia wi
out hermit from the Board OF Health pTeylou
obtained, the application for the same In ey
Instance setting forth the name, age, sex, co
try, disease causing death OF the deceased,
any other Information essential 10 n com nj
mOrtuaTy repOTt
,,,,,,,,,,,.
VVAhANlIHE'
CERTAIN quarantine regulations are also lml