New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-14
WHAT THE NATIONAL BOARD CAN DO.

WHAT THE NATIONAL BOARD CAN Do.
1 TIMELY LETTER 10 THE SOUTHERN AUTHORITIES
AS TO WHAT CAS- BE EXPECTED FROM THE Ma
lIoNAL BOARD
NAsm&GIoN, July 13.--In view OF the miscOn-
cepous which seem TO prevail IN many parts of the
Southern States with regard to the powers and
duties of the National Board of Health, Dr. Billings.
The yice-presdcnt Of that organization has adj
dressed the following letter to the SANITARY Council
al the Mississippi Valley:
10 me President ofe sanitary council Of the Mississippi
DEAR SIR: Iprcsuue that the kilograms and printed
d,cUIprrts winch we have seut 10 YOU viii have mode
matters plain 10 YOU nut there seems to much
conception TO tue powers and duties OF the National
Board OF Health, a. shown BY the comments III
clear understanding two points. II seems TO
c very clear that II T. the duly OF the state ara local
health critics to take the initiative la adopting rules
aud regulations ior yeninS me spread OF CONTAGIOUS
dseases 1he National Board OF Health has MADE Ger
tain recommendations for such rules, which IL has
Of ufecaut on 10 De taken. state or local authority
may make stringent rules IMAM lh'-e' ana u ley
are too stringent even 10 az o'u'' non ' " ,t
Board has power 10 interfere IL is Oht "hch 0te
or local authority refuses 20 take even The pr'cauoh
considered Indispensable by this Board tAat we can
take action legally IL the matter ,,- ~, g.
In the place, would observe that TINS BOara il
no expected 10 do an the "oIh OF pIeNch'h, nor G
pay Tor the doing OF such work The state ana local
conc in 10 supplement their ef0rts-"tO aid ana co
operaten Tic terms OF the law. IL is therefore the
Board Of Health fully informed on the following point
namely: % As TO what fuo, ana regulations thry nave
adopted y TO how far they can carry out the rules
gulaOns 80 70 what aG they think II Is ne
Ccsstry that the National Board shall furnish IN OfdeI
thai proper rules aud regulations may be eufurcCG.
Wa gard 20 This request Tor ad details should De
given Tins Board cguuOt place money In the hands OF
local Board 90 De- expended at ae discretion Of the lat
ter II must DC known WHAT the money IS 10 De used Tor
whether for the hire Of inspectors or police Tor Tie plf
chase Of dsnicotus Tor he erection Of sheds for Tue
purpose OF establishing focal quarantine. etc. Please
make these points clear 10 the nembeTs OF the Council
aud let nave unnecessary delay Ia the taxing "
action By tie health authorities represented In that
Council
need hardly say you that II IL the desire Of this
Board 10 do everything IA ITS power 20 prevent the
fIoaa ~ yellow fever by aiding state ana nuh'lpal
bJdfos OF Health In their efforts 10 discover tue hrrt
cases TO Isolate them and thus stamp out the disease ms
Ven hs carry Out the usual - stems OF quarantine ana
am dd to be abe 10 assure you That thc secretary 0I
ts treasury is u accord with these views, and hes
BIOmPly approved special estimate made BY THIS
iu l'i iuhds 20 AID the health authorities OF MEM
- "s VI lhe stale II Tennessee. to prevent spread
'1 -osSi 70 the adjoining bates. But the power 81
t"N Do"Ii ~ very small as compared with lhJl
possessed by tie local authorities
One more observation and / am done. Do not let
W. lAc occupy Tue utte tOn your Council 10 tho
e1c4oHI9b OF municipal cleanliness, which T. The
t~' OyeVt 70 DC secured Keep fully Informed as 70