The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-14
WAR ON CARBOLIC ACID.
Meeting in the Second District.

For some days past the indignation of tn,
citizens of the Second District has been grow
+ ing, and it ripened last evening into gather
( ing at the new Opera House.
The action of the Board of Health in throw
Hing in the cutters large quantities Of carbolit
.cid is severely condemned by many promi
: oent physicians, and the results have beer
pronounced pernicious.
About three hundred of the prominent citi
zens of the district assembled pursuant to the
fcall, and after some delay the crowd filled the
hall.
At 8 o'clock, the meeting was called to or.
Ter by Albert Fabre Esq, who called DR.. Ar.
mand MERCER to the chair.
MIR. Fabre stated that the objebt was foi
che purpose of protesting against the use OF
scarbolic acid on the streets. He stated that
: the odors arising from this noisome drug was
poisoning the people of the Second District
! he proposed that the use of this acid be stop
fped and that at once, that committees be ap
ipointed to take the carts distributing it, and
prevent its further use.
He inveighed in severe terms against the
Board of Health.
The following Vice Presidents were then
named: Dr.. Lewis, DIR. Lambert, DIR. ]. J
1Castellanos, DR.. Chas. Turpin, DR.. Chas Fa-
lget, DR.. Gaudet, DR.. A. Landry, Leon Quey-
rouze, DR.. HAva, q. E. Forstall, j. A. Schalk,
Joseph Brandin.
DR.. MERCER then addressed the meeting
and said that he himself was suffering from
the effects of the use of carbolie acid, and that
|he had not eaten anything for some days on
hat Tba II ol,,k:
|tben read and unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That committee of five be ap.
pointed by the chair, to be composed of three
physicians, to wait upon his Honor Charles
y. Leeds, Mayor of New Orleans, and the|
honorable members of the City Council
before or during the meeting of said Council
tomorrow Tuesday,, and to protest in theI
aame of the inhabitants of the Second Dis
riot against the action of the Board oil
Health, presided over by DR.. White, in dis.
injecting the streets of said District with the
phenol, as said phenol is declared by all curl
prominent physicians as being very injurious
to the common health OF our population, and
that we beg of the said Council immediat.
action.
DIR. Charles FACET stated that he thought
here must have been some mistake, as he be- d
Iieved the majority of the Board of Health
vas against the use of phenol, and he thought !
It strange that it should be used when the :
BOARD was against it, !
The following committee was then appoint.
I'd: Drs FACET, Castellanos and Hava, ALDER,
Fabre and Charles Willotz, to wait upon the
Mayor.
DR.. Hava was then called upon and he de.
'cribed the action of phenol upon the human
being, showing how its action upon the nerve
,enters was even as strong as chloroform andH
more fatal. He dilated upon this drug as o.
poison, and his remarks were received with !
cheers.
DR.. Castellanos followed. He said that
,ven if he had no scientific knowledge of Il 81
ohenol acid his ervous system would apprises5
lim of its deleterious effects.
He spoke of the action of carbolic acid
lpon children. He said evidence could b.
gathered of its dangerous action, and he :
alled upon all to furnish him data. He said =
,ast experience showed it not to be efficacious&
8 preventive of fever.
DR.. Huard followed, and agreed with all =
hat had been said by the previous speakers
lie condemned in severe terms the action OF
he Board of Health.
The following committee was appointed to
vait upon the Board:
Drs. MERCER, Huard. Berjot. Landry, Mar
in and Souatre.
DR.. Berjot cited the case of one of his
'atients who, suffering from asthma, died :
rom the effects of the phenol.
DR.. Tebault was called upon, and cited =
many instances of the fatal results of Car.
'olic acid. He said that he believed the
Board of Health distributed the acid for its
wn benefit There were means to prevent
/, and the citizens would have to take these
neans in their own hands.
Dr.. Tebault was aided to the committee
The meeting then adjourned.