New-York tribune., 1878-11-22
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
LARGE MEETING AT RICHMOND.
THE SOUTH WELL REPRRsENTED-YELLow FEVER
THE MAIN SUBJECT

A LARGE MEETING AT RICHMOND.
THE SOUTH WELL REPREsENTED-YEILow FEVER
THE MAIN SUBJECT
fFROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUNE.I
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 2O.-The present session
Of the American Public Health Association Is dislin-
gulshed above any preceding meeting of this body In the
attendance OF members and the number and character
OF the representatives OF the various State Boards OF
Health. Every State that has taken organized action
for sanitary has sent hther more dele
gates from its official Health Board In the Of some
OF the States the whole OF the Health Board is attend
ing the deliberations OF the association. The quarantine
service Of all the large Atlantic cities Is repre-
scned the floors OF the convention by OF its
officers and instances, in the OF the state
Health Boards above referred by very large pro-
portion of its service.
Another notable thing in connection with the present
session is the large number Of attendants from the
Mississippi Valley and the late infected districts OF the
South. The small town OF Jackson. Mississippi, sends
three OF its physicians and Memphis, Vcksburg and
most OF the other cities and towns afflicted with the cpl
demc have intelligent gentlemen here to relate their
observations acquired from actual experience with the
scourgc, aud to advance theories founded upon their
personal acquaintance with the rise and spread OF the
disease and the results following the several modes OF
treatment adopted. The National Government Is not
behind the state Administrations in the work OF secur
ing the adoption Of better sanitary regulations among
the people and improved public health. The Army the
Navy and the Marine Hospital Service all
expected to be heard from before the associ-
alton adjOurns. DR.. ]. 8. Billings, Of the
Office. with several other Army sur
geons, D.. J. NJ Wlodworth, tine head OF the United
Marine Hospital Service, and four or i've or the
Naval medical staff, have arrived ID this city ami VIII
attend 'he association delegates from their respcc-
tive branches Of the public service Among other con-
spicuOus men present Dr. stephen Smith. or New
York. aud DR.. Chopin, OF NewOrleaus. The attendance
Of visitors upon the deliberations Of the association and
general and marked than has been known at any pre-
vOua session This s doubtless due III part to the fact
that the time the association this year VIII be devoted
10 the consideration OF questions upon which the popular
mind Is at present deeply asitated.
IL seems probable stage OF the session that the
entire four days will be gwen to the examination OF the
that nated and led to the extension OF the ye
low pdemc at the SOUTH together with discussions
upon papers suggesting the means Of preventing recur-
renee Of this great calamity The action as well as the
uttcraBces OF the delegates show that their minds
thoroughly alive TO the Importance Of saving the conn-
Try from any such future loss OF life and treasure Inc
public scs ,iOus OF tie body conducted with the
quetness and order that betOkcn the greatest attention
OF the members TO the business IN hand ard privately
at the hotels and in social gatherings, the best treatment
Oi the yellow fever question Is the prevailing topic Of
conversation.
Iti tie opinion OF large number Of the delegates
prcscnt-Of more than majority as far IS have been
lection OF facts relating subject than has yet been
made must DE secured before any intelligent conclusions
can be reached. The gentlemen VINO hOli TINS opinion
think that the necessary additional work of this KIND
will cost more in labor and money than can be rightly
ashed or expected ot private enterprise ana phnannO
py. movement Is now taking shape 10 petition Con-
gress upon It's reasscmbing for an appropriation tor
TINS purpose
RrCIIMOND Va. Nov. 2l.-At the session to-day Colo
mel Hardec read paper on the topography and drain
aycOl NeW-Ofiedhs. AZ u matter ol sdhith5 !elotln
which can be accomplished without waiting for the
greater objects to be achieved it has been pro-
posed he sald as behcnt 10 the Open
drain system, that during the Summer months
tine city's streets should be irrigated by the water
from the Mississippi River which, from May TO August
would flow OF Its accord through pipes connect
with the river the water during this period being
higher than the gutterways OF the adjacent streets For
the remainder OF the year proposed that water be
supplied for this purpose o! irrigation by means OF
statlonary engines ~ intervals along the river bank
Ths II claimed, will purify the atmosphere by con-
yprtng each gutterway INTO riyuet, aud at the same
time the larger canals drains by keeping the
water IN them constantly pure.