Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-11
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The UnpIeasantness In the Board
Causes President X. w. Mitchell
to Tender his Resignation and
Retire to Private Life.

It was intended to present the following
communication before the board of council
men at the meeting held last Tuesday, but
the sudden adjournment of the board pre-
vented snch. 1t will be presented at the next
regular meeting:
To the Honorable Mayor and General Council of the
City of Memphis:
GENTLEMEN-I hereby tender my resigna-
ton as president of the board of health. A
proper respect for the good opinion OF your
honorable body, and of the citizens OF Mem
phis, requires that | should state the reasons
impelling me to resign. 1t would he observed
that while the city ordinances have made this
the most important and responsible office OF
the board, they have at the same time made
it an unsalaried office, hence | had but one
motive in accepting this position, which was
rendered me in February last, and that was
sincere desire to improve tie sanitary affairs
of the city. The ordinance defining the du-
ties of president provides that he shall pre-
side at ali meetings. of the board of health
and see that all health regulations are proper
" executed, and shall make al annual report
embracing all transactions OF tue board OF
health for the preceding year to the general
council, at the regular meeting In January,
| with such suggestions as may seem OF inter-
est to the health of Memphis" My con-
strdctlon of the ordinance Is that the board
| should have regular meetings-a regular or
| der for the transaction of business-should
| have and keep record OF monthly statements
and accounts, showing the operation OF each
department, including mortuary reports, and
| all other matters of interest touching either
the financial or sanitary operations OF the
| board. In other words, its business should
be conducted on strict business principles.
From February 16, 1876, up to the time OF
my acceptance In Marh last, there does not
| appear to have been meeting OF the board
| of health, or any records of proceedings kept,
or other information for guidance in the
| proper administration OF cur sanitary affairs.
| In accordance with the ordinance defining
| the duties of the president, and realizing the
| responsibility resting upon him, and seeing
| that no suggestion had been made, or anything
| done so far as the records show, during the
| past two years in regard to the most important
matter of quarantine, | saw proper, among
| my first official acts, to recommend the estao'
lishment of quarantine from July lst to DC
| tober LIST, as a permanent institution, as 10
| which no measure has hitherto been suggest
ed or adopted by the board, Notwithstanding
the city has, at a heavy expense, purchased
the ground and erected Improvements for the
purpose, which are not utilized, but are al
lowed to go to decay. This recommendation
had the approval of majority of the board
of health, as shown by It's minutes. A COM
mittee appointed by your honorable body,
after careful hearing OF the reasons tor and
against the measure, and after 1t had been
clearly demonstrated to them that every year
since 1870, up to 1876 inclusive, this city has
been as much exposed to yellow-fever from
New Orleans as il was in 1873, made re-
port in favor of my recommendation. This
recommendation you have seen proper to re-
iect. How far counter petition, signed by q
number of physicians In the city, may nave
influenced your action, do not know. AS
my position is made by the law the most re-
sponsible one in the board, and inasmuch as
the signatures to the petition alluded
!, to were solicited outside . of the
board by the two other medical
| gentlemen of the board, you will ap'
preciate the propriety of my rendering yor
, my resignation. | have the satisfaction Of
knowing that my efforts were for the benef
of the public health, the preservation of hui
man life, the safety and prosperity OF the ma
terial interests of our city, founded on the
| fundamental principles of sanitary science
improved by itiry philosophers. urged by
the press, and | believe heartily Endorsed by
a large number Of the thinking citizens O
Memphis. | may add that at present | SET
/ no cause of danger from yellow fever; but WI
| saw none In 1873, yet who will say that II WI
had then established quarantine as perma
! nent institution on the plan now proposed. We
, would have been visited by the scourge tina
year? 1t is my earnest and honest convlc
2 ton that should we ever have yellow-teve
again, it will be our own fault in not taking
J the known necessary precautions against 1t
take this opportunity of expressing my APP
probation of official and personal courteslei
| shown me by your honorable body. Respect
fully r. w. MITCHELL, NJ. d.