Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-03

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Last NIsht-InsPeetiDg Our Tene
ment HOuses-Ths FOuI Conditions
for Disease in Them-MOvsment "a
Have n Census Of the City Taken.
The Board of Health met in regular ses-
/ sion last night in their rooms in the Colo
! made building, President Jas. D. Plunket
in the chair, and DIS. McMuTay, c. K.
Winston, Il. NJ. Compton aud Health
Officer Morton present
DR.. Morton presented his usual monthly
mOrtuary report, and in addition submitted
the following report on tenement houses:
"The Board Of Health ordered tenement
| houses should be examined and reported
upon; giving the locality, the construction,
the length, breadth and heighth of ceiling,
number Of windows and doors to each
room, and che number Of persons inhabit-
ing the same.
This work was prosecuted to the eXami-
nation Of all tenement houses in the First.
Second and part of the Third Wards. 1t
was contemplated TO examine the city by
wards. and continue the work in that way,
until the tenement houses in the whole
city had been examined, but was inter
rupted in the performance of this work by
one Of the policemen, who had been de-
tailed 10 the health department for an
assistant in the performance of that and
other duties, which could not be performed
by one man, the other policeman being
withdrawn from this service.
"This subject Of so much importance to
cities, has, and is still receiving the special
attention Of Boards Of Health, not only in
the United States, but in all parts Of the
civilized world. The CrOwding of too
great a number Of persons, especially Of
that character who inlabit tenement
houses, into rooms not well ventilated,
without sewers, drains or even privies con-
nected with the premises, is not only very
unhealthy to the tenants themselves, but
by combinations Of such places, produce
a nuisance injecting the whole city.
"There are many buildings il the city, es-
pecially such IS were put up during the
war for temporary use, which are now unfit
for habitatiOn, which should be declared
nuisances and removed. Most of these
buildings are densely populated.
at is asCertained, upon examination of
the tenements, an average Of about 200
cubic feet to each tenant is enjoyed. This
is a less quantity Of air to the tenant than
is requisite to enjoy good health, or is al
lowed in well regulated hospitals
ain the houses examined, the tenants, in
most instances, enjoy a much less quantity
Of air than above named; in some instances
the space does not exceed $50 to 500 cubic
feet. In many instances all the cooking.
washing, etc, is performed in the same
room, making il 50 offensive, especially in
the summer season, that il would seem i'm
possible for human beings to survive but a
short time in it, much less to make such q
place their continual home. Such places
are not only swift to propagate and spread
epidemics, but likely to generate and es-
tablish the same, when circumstances favor
their generation"
DR.. PlUnket offered the following resolu-
tiOns:
Whereas, it is Of the first importance in
the preparation Of the mOrtuary reports of
the Board Of Health that a correct estimate
of the population Of Nashville be had upOn
which 10 base calculations f,r an accurate
death rate, by which a true comparison can
be made 81 the mortality of our city with
that Of other large towns, and for other
important uses, which need not here be
enumerated; therefore, be it
Resolved, that His Honor the Mayor be
requested to furnish a suitable book 10
each of the police, with Instructions for
them to begin simultaneously at as early a
day as is practicable in their several dis
tricts to take full and accurate census of
Nashville.
Resolved, that the Board of Health would
suggest that such books and instructions as
may be given police. be not eGcumbered by
requiring too great detail, but let the work
be made simple-asking only the color, age
and sex.
The resolutions were adopted and a copy
ordered to be transmitted to the Mayor.
The question of the appointment Of
health inspector to assist the health officer
was discussed, but action upon the matter
was postponed until the next meeting.