The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-24
UNIFORM THE BOARD.

We see that there Is a proposition to uni.
form the members and officials of the Ma.
tional Board Of Health. Designs have already
been submitted and, we understand, approved,
There is q general prevalence of blue and gold
and while, shot, as 1t were, with ilashy caps
and glistening belts. In short the whole pic.
ture is one OF special brilllancy.
We are glad to hear this. We are an adj
vocate and admirer OF uniforms, and every
thing that is gorgeous and lurid. II there be
one spectacle which, more than another, fills
our breast with joy, 1t Is the spectacle OF a
drum-major Or zouave In full tog. Perhaps
we are unusually sensitive to light and color.
but It is none the less q fact that men seem
grand to us In proportion as they are bediz-
ened and bespangled. The public will be pre-
pared, therefore. to see the DEMOCRAT as.
sumo the position that IL the National Board
nre to have q uniform our own State Board
must have one, too. Never, never shall 1t be
said that we sat idly by while other sanitary
officials were making themselves beautiful
and bright, yet saying not q word for our
own Not much. We, also, have a Board of
Health, o body Upon whom it will delight
and uplift US to lavish oil the splendor OF the
Orient, all the oolors 81 the rainbow. True,
we are upon the eve OF an election; true that
with tho new administration we may nave q
reorganization OF the board; true that the
magniiieence which we are preparing for the
department may be too much for the diff
dence of the present members. But we know
at least one thing-we know there will be
other gentlemen to fill tho board and to wear
the glittering and impressive raiment pro-
vided for them. And that Is enough. Let us
consider the matter OF tho uniform.
We suggest that the dress of the regular
members should be a combination OF elegance
and simplicity. A Board OF Health Ia a sol
emn concern-we must not forget that. Sup
pose we provide them with scarlet coats
gold lace adornments, to be hereafter speci-
fled, but not to exceed three pounds In
weight-eky-blue trousers, Malakoff cut, with
vermilion stripe two inches broad down the
outer seam, patent leather boots and gold
spurs. The president should be distinguished
by q large blue "B" upon his pack half way
between the waist and the neck, while mere
might adurn that part Of their pct
SOB with any little device that occurs to them,
mitigating the stiffness of the regalia
and preserving that air OF individuality 80
essential In learned bodies. In order to MAIN
tain the requisite uniformity of appearance,
however, and to prevent unevenness In the
line, we rave thought Of a plan which
perhaps answer. Our idea Is to
the tallest man on the
and provide him with a stiff
bloot hot niav,nn tnnbnc hirb o,rro,,plaJ ~,
q large, flaffy pompon, rising four inches
the hat and fixed exactly In the CEN
tire of the top. Then the hats of the other
members could be built up to that of the
talle5t man, 80 that a spirit level laid across
as they stood In line would mark a per-
plane. Or course, If their happened to
be d particularly short al on the board he
would be rendered somewhat conspicuous
when walking the streets alone; but this
would be more than compensated by the ad-
regularity which would thus be So
cured on parade and other formal occasions.
The president would naturally wear a special
hat, and would thus escape these little vle-
oIssitudes under cover Of an imposing bear
skin-provided a bear can be found large
enough to come up to the drawings we have
made.
We fiatter ourselves that this uniform, be
sides being beautiful and unique, would suit
The grave and scientific occupation OF the
gentlemen. It would surround the board
witt q certain weight and authority appro-
pirate to their noble and elevated calling, and
the members with a zeal and esprit de
,0rps most happy In Its fruits. In this case
we recommend no deadly weapons. The
boards mission is q peaceful and humane
one. Upon them q musket or a sabre would
De out Of place. No, no; let them go about
n their simple and unassuming garb OF sci
,nce, armed only with the regulation har-
boon and pannier. Let there be no pomp and
circumstance whateverI
The sanitary inspectors, police, and other
officials might have a less varIe-
rated dress-say q full suit Of yellow, thus
wedding gaudy contrasts and that general
slr Of "loudness which is unfortunately too
,ften the ease in uniforms. They ought to
lave tall pointed hats Of green or black, with
punch Of feathers at the apex, and to wear
)lain shoulder straps. The trousers to be
kin tight and the coat to be cut neatly close
,ver the hips and to taper off behind into a
hort cylindrical tail not more than six inches
n length. For purposes Of instantaneous
lisinfection and in order to destroy germs,
when found, without calling 8 meeting Of the
'oard, they ought to be provided With stout,
erviceable syringes Of block tin with several
Lltferent varieties Of nozzle, which could be
worm as q sabre In q handsome metal scab-
ard. This would combine usefulness with
plendor and, while producing a whole
ONE effect upon the popular mind,
would enable the corps to squirt
arbolic acid into the very smallest crevice.
With an additional light armament OF porta-
lie rope ladders to enter dwellings, dynamite
or the distinction of baggage and tenements,
ourt-plaster, tweezers, n a few other little
dds and ends, we should have the most
and effective sanitary corps upon
he face of the civilized earth. They could
lelp u amazingly on Mardi Gras and other
anniversaries, ~oficiate at the firing OF pa