National Republican., 1878-04-08
OUR BOARD OF HEALTH.
It's Usefulness In Preventing Epidsmics.

It's Usefulness In Preventing Epidemics.
NO. ..
Regarding the facilities allowed BY law for tho
burial Of tho pauper dead, the board itself may
justly complain.
It has no control OF the single, solitary. shabby
horse aud wagon subject to the orders OF the man
ayers OF the Washington Asylum.
Many times bodies have necessarily been Ion
three or four days ready for burial but which could
not be buried because the ambulance could not get
around before first attending to the calls upon y Of
the departments to which 1t owes superior ALE
glance
course. all the blame Is hesped upon the Health De-
pariment the people attributinE these delay; ~ To
part of the employees Of thc board
The moment a certificate OF death Of a person
whose bur al Is requested by the board Is received
at the Registrars Office. telegram Is forwarded to
Police headquarters and from there to the Wash.
ngtnn Asylum, requesting the ambulance TO DO
Instructions often 10 retrace his steps for colin.
compelling double service.
II, as should be, the Hoard Of Health hal an am:
buiance AMI necessary paraphcrnalh for the burial
OF charity cases under it' own control. how much
suffering IN the sense of wounded feelings might
be avoided. not to mention respectful observance
ofproprictics which now CannO. be rendered.
We do not know OF any man and horse more
ovcrworkc,i In the public service than the driver
aud his faithful equine companion OF The am
buance.
There are yariou. other ways IN which the effort.
OF the board are htmp"feJ. arising from lack OF
power by law but no instance occuis to Us wherein
the board has been dlaOry In executing the law as
II stands
Since the organization Of this body 1916 nul.
.aness Injurious 70 public health have been ahated
which, II left unattended to. would have generated
incaculable destruction Of life; 5s732 tons of gar.
baye have been collected and removed withoutdi
turbing the most delicate scnsiblities: S96 tons
OF nishtsDll have bsen transported beyond the
reach of any possibility Of poisoning tho atmOs'
phere Of the city aud. in fact IN skillful man.
ncr that the public has had no evidence even OF the
existence Of these OthCrwsC pestiiCruus nuisanCc-
when not thus disposed Of; aud 1919 dead nni.
mails have been AS successfully aud promptly re-
moved from the streets Of this city without attract
lug public attention or shocking our sensibilities
Imagine these mountains of garbage, refuse, and
decaying animal matter len tn decompDse In OuI
streets aud alleys, and poisoning the air We
brCathel
II is fearful even to contemplate the vast amount
Of sickness and death which has been averIcd by
this service alone.
There has been 10 epidemic of smallpox or any
other contagious disease since 1872.
Tine prompt and energetic action Of the board
then completely and eneCtually stamped out
threatened epidemic. and risRanee has since
rendered its recurrence an impossbilty.
In leaving this subject for the present we canno
refrain alludipg To the able report OF the slntary
committee on the sources OF malaria around wash
ington. published last September. copy Of which
was sent 10 each member OF Congress.
Five volumes, octave have ALREADY been pub
lished by the board, replCte with Information OF
| all manner OF sanitary subjects and the sixth Il
| now IN the hands Of the Public Printer.
| We had Intended TO draw more cOplouSly from
the same. but space will not permit
If those who have contracted tho habit OF indulg
| Ing IN innuendoes against the usefulness OF tn
board will read these volumes open to oil they can
not avoid rendering unto Caesar, &c. and giNini
| credit to the members for labOrs freely rendere,
aud time occupied IN drylSing defenses against th
imidlous attacks OF disease not At all coinmensu
ratcd by the pa!try salary OF 500 per annmm. -.
| ". 5. W.