The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-18
WHAT THE DOoTORs ARE GOING TO
no IN AUSTIN.


There is 10 be convention on the seventh
prOximo in this city, when, if the Legisla-
ture have not inhibited it, by refusing to
incorporate, as asked, the Medical Associa-
ton Of Texas, there will be organized an
invaluable agency for the guardianship of
the public health. The reason and neces-
sity for such an association is paipable
enough. In fact il is only necessary to say
that the ''whole spirit of modern thought
tends to the prercntioa rather than the cure
of disease To attain this end all local
causes of disease should be thoroughly
studied by competent board and the re-
suits of local researches should be placed
before the public, like description of this
city and county, in an attractive dress and
in tasteful language. In older States these
medical boards discharge offices not wholly
unlike those executed with such rare and
benehcent fidelity by the illustrious Bergh
Of New York. This central board of health
would not only watch with tircless fidelity
tho movements Of epidemics and cause
cities and towns to be properly expurgated
and at proper seasons, but repress, destroy
or remove offensive trades to points at which
they would be innocuous. Wherever a
trade or occupation or adjuncts of hotel
or boarding house becomes offensive to a
community there Is now no remedy save
through the tedious process Of bills in chan
Gerry or petitions to incapable city govern
ments to suppress such nuisances; or suits
for damages, after health and comfort have
been sacrificed, must be instituted. In
such q recourse there is no relief for homes
made uninhabitable The intervention Of
courts Is secured at once when the local
board Of health asserts the necessity for the
exercise Of its powers. There are butchers
pens and slaughter houses IN the suburbs Of
each city Of Texas aud often in the very
midst Of densely populated districts. Filth
from such odoriierous sources often breeds
foul Infections Horrible disgusting ex.
haiations render sleep mOckery and wake
fulness intoieFable. Even here, on the very
confines Of Austin, there aro slapgh,er
houses and other establishments that smell
to heaven and sicken and disgust mankind
The medical board Of Massachusetts v,s
recently instructed BY the Legislature q
report upon the effects Of Intoxicating liz.
uors. Snch duty Will hardly be imposed
By Texan lawgivcrS SINCE each legislator
probably knows how it is himself; but
plainlg enough, there is a wide field for
usefulness before The doctors whose domain
Of public professional usefulness has been
a. modest and narrow as that Of lawyers
has been immodesi and an-pervading and
all-grasping. L has been deemed almost
criminal alike FOR physicians and preachers
to step beyond the pulpit and odors Of
hfimslone ia the one case, and Of assafo,-
ida and Mother Winslow's soothing syrup
Ia ile other. 70 shape the public fortunes Of
thoir fellow men. This oiice has been
seized and appropriated exclusively By edi-
lors and lawyers. Looking back no further
thar 1891, se can see very plainly where
electors mieht have often interviewed g
stop uorse tban useless fow q blood, and
~ IS possibility could they have crowned
tolliss more sublime With any degree Of
s,epiailg more admirahle. Thea, too,
e<'i sf aka. The result SLOWS how
naiehls,,l1 unwise We have often been
end cennon mo1esly and deoency inpels
- g 1I.pl aslas fer time. and sulsr the