National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-24
OUR HEALTH BOARD.

The DRIFT OF the average puDHc mlnu
pooner or later reaches an impulse to BELT
lie end to ridicule everything connected
with scientific affairs. But when, as In the
case of our Board of Health, such an i'm
pulse is strengthened by most provoking
circumstances, the ridicule is involuntary
and overwhelming. We do not dispute
the usefulness of the board. We know
from personal investigation that its labors
have been systematized so thoroughly as to
insure their faithful execution. In times
past its services have been effective in pre-
venting the spread of epidemics, and in
preserving the health of the community by
The abolition of nuisances, and by precau-
tionary or preventive measures. This is
IS it should be. When we remember that
the constituents of the board, so to speak,
include not only the leading citizens OF the
country, with their families, and the onn-
Gals of the General Government, but also
the representatives of foreign Governments,
for whose safety we are morally bound 1t
will be conceded that the board is not with
out its share of responsibility. 1t is there
fore a matter of congratulation that its Or
yanization is S. complete and its work 80
affective. Its friends do not claim that it is
Ill that it should be, however, for the SIM
ole reason that the laws under which 1t is
organized are not so comprehensive as to
give it authority to prevent the introduction
of contagious or infectious diseases into the
District, and to compel reports from physi-
clans and others Of vital statistics. Its au-
.hority to declare nuisanees is unquestioned,
and although the manner of their abate-
ment is question regarding which doubts
exist, it is to be hoped that they will soon
oe removed. When these additional powers
IRE conferred upon the board we SHAH have
40 reason to complain. That they are re-
,uired, no one can deny after momenrs
reflection. The arguments to sustain
the demand for them are plain ano
convincing. At present no power ex
sts to prevent the victims Of smallpox
,courge in Alexandria or Baltimore from
injecting the community by seeking refug'
within the District limits, and the SAM
nav he said of any other contagion. Blu
he stranrest feature of the matter is tn
omission in the law regarding vital statistics
Under existing circumstances when dealt
occurs the attending physician is not re
auired to report the cause, or make any re
urn to any authority whatever regarding
4. If the deceased has been the victim
MALPRACTICE, of murder, of suicide, or Of Al
infectious disease, no way is provided tina
The facts be made known to competent au
;hority. The undertaken is called in an
simply required to superintend the inter
meut of the remains. 1t is within tn
knowledge of q number of our citizens thu
burials have occurred in this way unde
most suspicious surroundings. But tt;,, s' =
ILL., tine f paa attans physicians is not s
aeaths lrom a''e'~.Irfie as to insure publ
much to plsRbfing the board to become an
saneed of the first appearance of cholera,
smallpox or other epidemic disease. Beins
thus apprised it will be enabled to take pre-
cautions against the spread of the epidemic.
and the only way in which this inforna
lion can be obtained soon enough ts be OF
service is through the provisions Of law
occurring medical attendants % report fatal
cases in their practice without delay. Again,
che registration of de,ens by competent au-
,hority is of great benefit as the foundation
of testamentary evidence. Thronged, as
Washington is almost constantly, with
strangers, both from our own and foreign
countries, many of the deaths which 60 to
make up Our mortuary list are those of I'M
known people. Even the imperfect records
now kept are called into requisition to fur
n:sh this kind OF evidence. The usefulness
Of such a record, not only as valuable ad-
iunct to the statistical history of the Dis
,rict, but for ths other reasons to which we
have alluded, requires no additional explana-
lion. There should be no delay in the pas
sage of the necessary laws by Congress.
With this additional authority, and with
these additional privileges. we do not hest
tate to predict that the board will prove
itself TO be the most efficient organization
Of the kind in the country, and establish
Itself, as if should be, as the model for other
boards in our great cities.