New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-03
BOARD OF HEALTH.

Present-Doctors White and Newman
and Messrs. Heath and Bailey.
DR.. White read the following letter, sent
to Governor Kellogg in obedience to the
resolution Of the board:
| GoyERNoR-I am instructed by the
Board of Health to lay before you some
considerations connected with the health
of the CITY and State which, in their
| opinion are OF sufficient importance to be
brought before the Legislature in your an
nual message.
The board recommend that a general
| sanitary act be passed, creating local boards
| of health in all the Incorporated towns and
cities of the State, with powers sufficiently
| ample to secure the enforcement OF sanitary
| ordinances, the prompt Abatement OF all
nuisances injurious to health, and to take
| immediate and thoroughly efficient action
! in cases of threatened epidemic OF yellow
| fever, cholera. small p0x, or other infec-
| tlOus disease.
! 1t should be made the duty of all boards
| of health so created to provide and main
tain an ample supply OF pure and fresh
| vaccine virus from November to May 81,
| and to furnish gratuitous vaccination to all
citizens through competent medical health
| officer.
The same obligations in reference to vac
| cine and vaccination should be laid upon
| the authorities of every parish in the State.
Not less than $50, 006 of the inhabitants of
! this State are unvacclnated, and therefore
| liable to small ox. The evils consequent
upon its observation-disclosures, suffering,
| loss of life, loss of labor of the State, ETC.
| require no recapitulatiOn.
A complete registration of births, deaths
and marriages throughout the State is very
desirable. 1t may not be advisable to
attempt any legislation on that point IN the
4 e
but ultimately such registration should be
made, and the State Board OF Health be the
State registrar Of vital statistics.
These local boards of health require long
terms of office for their members, and their
consecutive retirement securing to such
boards continuity OF idea and OF practice
and experience.
The necessity of local boards of health is
made apparent by the recent experience OF
shreveport as to yellow fever. and the
present condition of many parishes OF the
State in regard to smallpox.
If epidemic threatens in any part Of the
State it should be the duty tby law Of the
State board, in case OF neglect or failure OF
local boards to act efficiently, to take
charge of health matters in that locality,
and. SO far as practicable, remedy the evils
of such want of action.
The points given Indicate the general
scope Of the legislation which the board
deems at present requisite and practicable
in general sanitary act.
The laws granting powers and defining
the duties of this body as d board OF
health tor New Orleans do not mention the
subject of vaccination. Were suitable leg
lslation to supply it with powers and
means. it could organize effectual opposi-
ton to small pOx, and secure its complete
eradication.
1t has made repeated appeals to the City
Council, who alone have control OF means
and possess the proper powers to provide
house to house vaccination, and the pro-
vision and maintenance of proper small
pox hospital. The City Council has shame
fully neglected both these duties.
During the past summer a large outlay of
disinfectants was made by the board in its
efforts to prevent or delay the spread OF
yellow fever. The Common Council refuses
to pay the expense OF same, though ex-
pressly required so to do.
Addition should be made to existing laws.
giving the Board Of Health ample power in
the case OF threatened epidemic to take the
necessary steps and expend the necessary
money to prevent such sickness.
1t might be well to require the approval
of the executive of the State. provided the
expenses exceeded a. some sum to be aen-
| niteiy named
The term Of office of mcmbele Of the
Board of Health should be much length
ened say to four or six years. and their re-
tirement should be consecutive, say two
every two years.
Otfenses against the sanitary ordinances (
of the board should be punishable as MS
demeanors. if deemed desirable by the
board as civil process is Intellectual III
many cases. Persons without property are
not constrained to proper behavior by the
effect of fines.
The registration of births, deaths and
marriages for the parish OF Orleans should
be transferred to the office of the Board OF
Health Such is the practice IN nearly all
cities where health boards exist G. Is the
best arrangement to secure accurate record
ing, careful preservation and scientific
ANALYSIS of these vital statistics. In addl-
ton the fees belonging to the Office Woula
supply the deficiency in the funN2, OF the
board hitherto met by an annual appropria-
ton, and WILL to that extent, lessen the bur-
dens of taxpayers.
The board recommend the regulation of
the sale of oils and fluids derived from pc
troeum by legislative enactment. Great
losses Of property and of life, and serious
accidents result from the lack OF suitable
laws upon this subjecS.
The act recently passed, and now IN force
in Ohio, is brief, comprehensive. and will
doubtless prove etectual. Similar leglsia-
lation in Louisiana may safely be recon- /
mended.
Deeming the proper and complete drain
age of New Orleans of the highest sanitary
importance, and believing the death rate OF
the city would at once diminish lOoo per
annum were the city and its immediate
vicinity drained and cleaned upon proper
scientific and sanitary system. the Board OF
Health recommends the establishment OF
permanent board of public works for the
city OF New Orleans as being necessary
preliminary.
Very respectfully, your obedient servNE,
C. b. WHITE,
President Board of Health.
The reference to the City Council in re-
gard to the smallpox hospital was hand
somely qualified by DIR. White in few
remarks relative to the purchase of Or
Anfoux's hospital, which he said was ex-
actly what the Board of Health wanted.
Also the letter to the board o6 Drs GLEN,
on sanitary matters.
The monthly reports os sne sanitars in
spectors were read.
Dr. Drew, from the First OistriCa, says
that the inspections made amount to 29OS.
DR.. Clark, of the Second District, incor
porates the report of November in his
annual report.
DR.. Newman, of the Third District, re-
ports small pox on the increase, and also an
increased appreciation on the part oS the
people of the benefits of vaccinatioro In
spections made, 232; cases of small pox,
sixty-fve.
DR.. Perry of the Fourth District, IIncor-
porates his report in his annual report.