New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-16
The Board of Health.

| Auo OOarO OF HEALTH
1here is no one of ordinary intelIigenc,
VINO would question the Importance of g
board OF health in any city, or who would
not be appalled, at the prospective condition
OF New Orleans if she were deprived o.
hers. Its services have been great, its
labors have increased year by year, its pre-
cautionary recommendations, when adopt
ed, have been effective, and when its warn
lngs have been disregarded, they proved
prophetic. Its efficiency has attracted the
attention and received the praise of similar
| bodies in the North and West.
In all its duties the Board of Health has
been hampered by the want of sufficient
| funds. Its officers and employees have been
unpaid, disinfectants and apparatuses could
not be obtained, and vital statistics were
imperfect More than to any other city is
1t important to New Orleans that her health
officers should have sufficient means to
secure her from epidemic by every appli-
ance known to science. 1t is necessary
that such board should possess more
than ordinary powers, and the city can
trusts all to his physician.
The board has not come before the people
asking, as other bodies do and obtain, large
appropriations, but it does ask provision
for existence and usefulness. The bill now
before the Senate accomplishes these OBJ
eminently proper and advantageous man
ner. 1t proposes that New Orleans should
follow the example of other cities and make
the protector of its health the compiler and
custodian of the records of vital statistics
by transferring to it the duties of the reg
istrar of births, marriages and deaths. This
will not only cause these records to be kept
in more scientific and accurate manner
and afford a source of information to the
board now unattainable and greatly needed
by them and the public, but will supply
the funds they are in want of and also save
an annual expense of $1,000 OF $4,000. This
portion Of the bill is undoubtedly reform
measure of great practicable value to the
pockets of taxpayers and the scientific re.
searches Of hygienists.
The above provision is the most i'm
portant of the bill. 1t also limits the board
in the fixing of salaries to $4,000 for the
president and $4,000 for the secretary, who |
is also by law the treasurer, and gives |
bond of $4,000. These amounts are very
small for the services performed and the |
responsibility of the positions. When the |
board was merely a quarantine board, and
orfyo s4vrt. ~ In
,eived $4,000 in gold. Now his duties are
there is an extensive and
system of inspection, constant
'ctlon On nuisances, smallpox removals
md surveillance, reports and appeals from
anitary officers; suits on violations of ordi-
lances and all the details of an extensive
ystem to supervise. The new law makes
lim in addition ex-officio registrar, and re-
ponsib'e for funds, correctness of records, |
ustody of documents, and adds also to
he duties he already performs. No
hysician can perform these duties to the
abstraction of the public unless he is learned
nd experienced in the diseases of the city, |
nergetic, practical and honest, and pos
essed of much executive ability. For
lch a man the salary is none too large, but
ne board are only to pay according to |
9rvices performed. The position of secre-
Try is hardly less responsible, and the
uties being equally arduous, the board may
o trusted to secure the full value for what
yer salary they may see proper to fix
nder the limit prescribed.
The measures proposed by the bill are
lose which have been advocated by nearly
who have given the subject of health in
ew Orleans careful study, and are the
suit of much experience and observation.
hey are in the interest of public health
I'd hygiene, and no two subjects better
crit the attention of the Legislature.
ealth, public and private, must be pro-
cted by science, and can only be secured
? the efforts of competent men, aided by G
oney, material and constant sources of /
formation contained in vital statistics
le bill is ono that should become a law
th as little delay as possible. for in its !,
telligent execution may be realized the t
AKIN of Franklin, that "public health is g
bile wealth.