New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-28
The Board Of Health.

An important act has been submitted Il
the Senate by Senator E. L. Weber, calcu
lated to reorgsnizs and render more efhcien
the Board of Health of the State of Louis
lana. If it becomes a law, it will mor'
clearly define the powers of the board, ant
clothe it with powers to act and carry ou
snch measures as may be adopted for thu
public health.
The act provides for Board of Health
to consist of nine members, six of whom
shall be appointed by the Governor, will
the advice and consent of the Senate, and
three by the Mayor of New Orleans, sub
ject to the approval of the City Council
These members to be commissioned ant
subscribe to the oath taken by State officers
and to hold their positions for six years
unless sooner removed. Two member:
of the board only are to receive
salary for services-the president to be
paid sum not exceeding $4,000 per year
and the secretary and treasurer lone per
son), to be paid salary not exceeding
$4,000; the salaries to be paid by the city
The act provides for State appropriations to
pay expenses incurred by the board.
The Board Of Health is to have power to
define and declare nuisances, such as may
be injurious to life and health, and to issue
and enforce orders for the abatement of the
same; with the provision that all offenders
shall be liable for the expenses incurred in
the abating of nuisances.
In case of contagious diseases the board
shall have power to cause to be vacated any
dwelling, pre- misses, wharf or vessel SO in
feoted. Vaccination will not be compulsory,
but it is to be encouraged, and when done
BY the physicians designated it shall be
gratuitous, and with the purest vaccine
matter.
To certain extent. SC far as necessary to
enforce the orders of tie board, the police
are to render assistance when called upon.
Another important feature of the act re.
lates to the establishment of quarantine.
The board is to be clothed with powers to
establish quarantine against foreign or
coastwise vessels from infected ports, when
ever it shall, in their opinion, be necessary
for the protection of the health in the city;
but such quarantine need not be so abso
lutte as to exclude vessels having clean bills
Of health. In carrying out the provisions
Of quarantine all vessels arriving at the
station from suspected ports are to be
inspected, and such as are entitled to pro
ceed are to be given certificates of good
condition.
The act also provides that the president
of the Board of Health shall be ex ofiicio
recorder of births, deaths and marriages
for the parish Of Orleans; making it the
duty of the ia ther, or, in his default, any
person present at the birth of child, to
report the birth within twenty days to the
Board Of Health. Deaths to be reported
within twenty four hours. Provisions for
the reporting Of marriage licenses and the
celebrating Of marriages by officers, priests
or clergymen are also made. This will en-.
able the board to compile vital statistics of
great importance to the city. The tees COL
lected for recording births and deaths are
to become funds of the board and are to be
need in liquidating expenses. The bill now
before the Senate has passed its first and
second readings under rules. and will be in
,rder for consideration on the third prox-
mo.