Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-12-23
Without Compensation. y

EDITOR HERALD: was reading the excel
lent message ofour worthy Mayor, this morn
ing, and was ready to accord to him the high
est credit for the interesting and mastery
manner in which he dealt with matters con-
corning the interests OF the city, when, near
the close, was startled by the following re-
marks
"In order that the health of the city may be
properly looked after, / would recommend
that we follow the system which seems
to be common in all large cities, and confde
the sanitary direction OF the.city TO .oard
OF good standing in their profession, who may
exercise a supervision aud control over all
matters pertaining to the health of the city,
and who, at their regularmeetings, shall con-
slider all complaints that may be laid before
them, and make such orders In regard to
abating nulsances, and such suggestions In re-
gard to the general sanitary condition of the
should be made the executive officer of this
Board, and through him their orders should
be carried into effect. | ar informed there
would be no difficulty in obtaining the SER
vices of physicians in good standing TO serve
on such Board without compensation, and
strongly urge that your Honorable Body con-
slider this matter as one of SO great import
ance deserves" -a
Now this shows the estimate by which our
Mayor regards the medical profession; and
he is not to blame if he has derived that esti-
mate from the puffs and sordid recommended
tions which have lately appeared in the pub
lie prints in regard TO DR. A born, the "King of
Pain" and Others, who have allowed their
friends to advertise in the papers their un-
merit0riOus exploits In palpabe violation OF
all true ethics. And now, Mr.. Editor, enter
my prot.s st against such an unjust imputa-
tion, in the name of all those great anu phi
lsEthropic physicians, who, within the last
century, have brought the science OF Hygiene
TO such perfection, and devised sanitary i'm
provements and precautions so efficient, as
10 raise the average Of human life in civilized
countries from the ratio of 10 or 20 to nearly
40. There may be physicians in Los Angeles
who would accept a position on such Board
without compensation" and the Mayors
informant may be one of them; but doubt
whether Board composed of such material
would reflect honor on the city or render any
profit.
OF course such Board must be established
very soon, or the health and lives OF the peo-
pie residing here Will have to atone for the
omissions for as effect follows cause, fatal epi-
denies will soon make their appearance in
our midst to fulfil this inevitable law of Ma
ture, as the causes are already here in reckless
profusion, and nothing but little increase of
or concurrence Is required to develop the eff
feet with all its terrible consequences. But
surely the city Of Los Angeles would not Sc
lect willing men who would undertake such
onerous duties "without compensation" The
very intimatlon of such n thing suggests a
.'ring," or fraud and villainy akin to such as
have involved the politics OF our country for
no Board at all than one composed of incom-
petent men, or such as would prostitute the
position to selfish purposes. CITIZEN.
Los Angeles, Dec. 18th, 1875.