National Republican., 1874-06-03
LAW VERSUS MEDICINE.
Il STORMY MEETING OF THE BOARD
OF HEALTH.


GUAGE-How THE DOCTOR WAS REsPoN.
sIBLE, AND HOW He wAsN'T-THE BAT.
TILE SETTLED BY ALL HANDS APoLO-
GIZING.
The Board Of Health held . regular meeting
1t their rooms last evening; DR.. O. q. Cox, presl
dent, in the chair.
Mr. Marbury, from the finance committee, re-
ported q number Of bills, which were approved
and ordered TO be paid.
DR.. Verdi, from the sanitary committee, re.
ported on the communication Of the health oficel
regarding the condition Of the Ebenezer GENE
terry, stating that they had visited the buria
ground and found Il In 0 bad sanitary condition
being undrained and with graves so near one
another as TO crowd the locality in q manner
As TO cause the earth 20 become q mass of putre-
faction, and the committee recommended that the
cemetery be condemned, and that the owner o.
closed to any more interments, and that provision
pc made for the removal Of the dead therein In
terred within the coming winter. ADOPTED.
DR.. Verdi, from the same committee, reported
on the mode Of cleaning sewer traps, concerning
9s present process & SnG systsm ~ i'm
that Of the odorless e1cayeting company, be used
for removing the matter from Its beds, and that
closed carts be used for the transportation of the
same and further recommends that the report be
referred to the Board Of Public Works, with the
5s9Ge,t tns5 s snes GqsD tIs sien' mOoe 0
The report Of the coroner was submitted, show,
ing that he held nineteen sittings and giving the
ably drowned; 2conyulslon; 2 fracture Of skull; i
apoplexy; pneumonia; premature birth, and
hamilton.
THE HEALTH REPORT.
a synopsis Of the operations Of tn the health health
Husances reported 4e7; referred. le4 abated, 3l5;
referred to the Board of Public Works, 32 sewer
notices issued, 81; ofacal notices. 10; complaints
of citizens, Is; dead animals removed, Sc; cases
prosecuted in the Police Court, 9; amount Of fine
Imposed, S67. Marine prCduetsLinspectIons: Il,
IFS sturgeon SIS bushels of oysters, 900 crabs
1880 CLANS; eondemnations: 1S7 bunches Of fish,
$500 CLANS. UnWhoies6me food condemned: q
pounds beef, 81 pounds pork, 80 pounds mutton, 81
pounds veal, 81 pounds bacon, Is hassletts, l4O
Punches rAdishes, % dozen cucumbers, 8 bushels
beans, half bushel cherries, bushel turnips, 1876
heads cabbage, 2barrels peas, "a punches rhubarb:
S3 heads of lettuce, dozen squashes; animals i'm
pounded, 4; redeemed, 4; amount reali zed, SS.
Privies cleaned, 906A.
Dr. Cox inquired Of the committee on ordinance
what action had been taken in regard to the re-
moyal Of the dead animals from the city.
Prof Langstons chairman of the committee, re-
DR.. Cox said he had, late that evening been
considering the matter and prepared preamble Q
and series Of resolutions on the subject, which he
introduced.
Several attempts were made by the reporter Of
THE REPUBLICAN to obtain q copy of them, but
this privilege was persistently refused, some Of
the members asserting that they did not wish
their contents made public.)
From the several readings they received during
the discussion tnat followed thelr purport is ABOUT
as follows: To abrogate the present contract with
Mr.. F. p. Sawyer for the removal OF nightsoil
from the city, and invite proposals, to be opened
on the 18th Of June next, for the removal Of
focal matter by means Of air-tight tanks or bar
rels by rail or othetwise, and also for the re-
moval OF dead animals. The contract to be
awarded to the most advantageous bidder for the
city by which process it is anticipated that o
great expenditure will be saved to the city.
WHAT MEMBERS THOUGHT OF 1T.
Mr.. Marbury was in favor Of anything that
would promote the health Of the community, but
did not think it would be fairness to Mr. Sawyer
to annul his contract in such a summary manner
To accept this contract in the beginning had re-
Quired the outlay Of considerable capitaA as we'll
as to keep the machinery for the removal of night
soil from the city. The board was now indebted
to this gentleman for work performed to an
<ls,00O When mans service was no longer re-
qured it might be we'll to discharge him. 1t
could not believe It right to discontinue his SER
vices without making with him full and CON-
plete settlement He thought IT best to refer the
resolution TO the special committee having the
subject under consideration, and was willing to
wait until they were ready 10 report on It. He
drawn, as they had tendency to do harm, and
subject
In the matter of removing nightsoil. and the
manner in which the work had been conducted,
the board had reason to feel proud of the great
change inaugurated for improvement of the health
of the city, and the community was also begin
ming TO wake up to that fact.
DR.. Verdi indorsed the remarks of the preced-
ing speaker, and thonght the proposition did in
justice to Mr.. Sawyer the present contractor who
was carrying out his agreement in good faith, and
had done everything suggested by the board that
focal matter beyond tho District. He regretted
that the resolutions had been introduced, and
hoped they would be referred.
Or. Cox believed 1t to be his duty to Introduce
the resolutions, and did not wish
10 De LrcTuRED ABouTIr,
or censured for taking the step he had. He had
only exercised privilege that any member Of
the board was at liberty to enjoy. The resolu-
tons had been prepared by him late that evening,
and he considered 1t his duty to present them.
This matter had been referred to the Committed
from T%Ry %eePs partial Snd REPORTS
nothing had been said. HE believed, however
that the Committee did say at the previous meet
ing that Mr.. Sawyer would remove tho nightsoiI
IN tanks for an Increase Of $1,000. The Doctor
turned to Prof. Langston, who sat on the opposite
side Of the table, and asked what was the report
Prot. Langston. will tell you directly.
M d. &c Cox; Eish e. kn9W now This board has
nm. las the report from that commIttee2
your records; supple they are correct; but !
BT: cGI: well ig:h action M !, RrePOsrtsT3Ous % rs
~ 29 s. G GF2SfS 2S ZIP ESe' E9S have % say'
DR.. Bliss. Mr.. Sawyer proposes to remove it in
tanks for $1,000: ss'
A GENTLEMAN IN THE BOARD.
DR.. Cox. am glad to receive the information
from d gentleman. 1t seems that there are some
in this board. He said the necessity for doing the
WORK must be apparent to all. Nearly the entire
appropriation made by the Legislature Tor the
were not justified in continuing this contract un-
der the circumstances. Invite bids; let Mr.. Saw
yer have a chance with the rest.
He had net offered the resolutions for discussion
that evening. but intended that they should be
taken up at the next meeting.
l1.F FfrNFn dol1 hat Iard
had said. The resolutions were q most remark
able production, and their Introduction at this
time more remarkable occurrence He did not
consider II the proper time TO discuss them, but
when q committee Of three, a majority Of the
board. had been considering the subject, and
others connected with II, from time 10 time, and
only the meeting previous explained their pro-
gress 10 the board, showing what difficulty they
were ccntending with to solve and settle 1t,
and how they, working with all pos
si5le haste TO bring in Their report,
4 was remarkable, with the majority Of the
board on the committee, that this member should
bring in resolutions Of censure upon their action
and expect to receive the committees indorse-
ment of them. There was censuTe shown in every
line, and carried out in the members speech ad-
Vocatiug their adoption, and hence he expresses o
Willingness TO withdraw theul. To show how this
SUBJECT was working he would simply say that
since arriving at the board rooms another propo.
sIton had been received for the removal OF dead
animals. and 5000 offered for the privilege. 1t
Wouldt DO seen that new ones were continually
coming in, involving new points. While the COM
mittee have been working diligently for days,
they are thus coolly and deliberately censured-
Or. Cox, (eXcIted.) l emphatcally pronounce
that not a true statement.
Professor LangstOn. 1t was q cool proposition
to eensure the committee for not bringing in q re-
port.
Or. Cox. 1t is false, sir.
Prof LaEgston. The resolutions will plainly
express my assertion. The time set for the open
ing Of these proposals is a time that will ap-
proaeh before the committee can fairly consider
and act on this night-sun question. The intro.
ducton Of the resolutions and their discussion Will
dispose of the whole matter before IL comes from
the hands Of the committee with their action upon
IL. If the gentleman did not mean TO censure the
committee he could not more thoroughly have
done so, if designed, than he had. If he did not
know DR.. Cox to be possessed Of genius he should
haNe thought II strange that he could incorporate
the very words to imply censure aud Of the came
time not be innocent Of its incorporation. He
would like some TO tell him If the gentleman s
language approved the action of the committee.
The spirit that dictated the gcntleman's language
dictated the resolutions.
DIR. cox EXCITED.
Dr. Cox. This thing has gone as far as It shall.
j call on the Chair TO allow me to make personal
explanation, and claim the protection of the
Chair. When called on the gentleman prof
Langston) IN O respectful manner for a reasona-
bic answer to a question asked. he insultingly
declined to give It. felt 1t my duty to introduce
the resolution and took the sano interest in this
as did every subject concerning the health Of
tie public OF the city, and shall take the same
feel The aNIlnn