The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-11
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

$1,000 a~0~AAsAS ~ >~As~~~"~ ~~'
Gov. Wiltz is to be complimented for the
satisfactory manner In which he has dis
charged the delicate but important duty OF
organizing Board of Health that would
satisfy public expectations and at the same
time allay the unfounded apprehension OF
those who feared the appointment OF gentle
men who were strenuously opposed to q
quarantine.
While 1t Is true that the ideas of most Of
the members of the old board on the subject
OF quarantine were not In consonance with
the views of large number OF our citizens
who believed that commerce has rights
which ought to be respected and who did not
approve of the non-intercourse policy ad-
vocated by some members of that board, 1t Ia
also true that those gentlemen performed
their arduous duties consclentiously and
with thorough understanding of the great
responsibility resting upon them.
The new board enters into office under more
favorable auspices; the public has been fully
aroused to the absolute necessity of
thorough sanitation and Is more disposed to
aid the efforts OF the health authorities than
ever before; the Auxiliary Sanitary Associa-
tion Is now well organized and is receiving
material assistance from the citizens; the
National Board Of Health Is ready and we
believe will be able to cooperate In the good
work OF maintaining the public health, while
the extensive and admirable arrangements
for quarantine being made at Ship Island
under the auspices OF the National Board will
do away to great extent with the horrible
nuisance Of lengthy detention of infected
vessels at the quarantine on the Mississippi,
below the city. The gentlemen appointed
upon the new board by the Governor are all
physicians Of high repute, who possess In g
large degree the respect and confidence Of
the public; and the president, DR.. Joseph
Jones, possesses In q very eminent degree the
qualities that are required by the re-
sponsible position to which he has been
called by the executive Of the State.
He stands at the head OF his profession. and
his labors in the field Of medical science have
won for him the highest encomiums from the
most learned and renowned physicists In Eu-
rope and America. An interchangeable worker,
the amount of labor he performs is almost in
conceivable, and we confidently expect he will,
in his new Office, earn the grateful admira-
ton Of the people whose welfare 1t will be his
highest aim to subserve. To the subject Of
yellow fever he has given the most thorough
and exhaustive study, and while he believes
in quarantine. he will never be found advo-
eating a commercial embargo. With him
science and humanity 60 hand In hand, and
he will deal with the vexed questions that
arise In manner that will at once quiet ap-
prehension and yet afford the amplest pro-
lection. His brief speech on the occasion Of
his election to the office Of president of the
board gives an idea of the course he has
marked out for himself and Of the Importance
he attaches to the position. The following Is
q synopsis of his remarks:
honor conferred. He had not applied for the
position. he said. appreciating the RESPONSE.
bilities Of the place; but the Governor had
serve under such a call He was the more re-
luctant, he said. of becoming member of the
board from knowledge of the fact that there
charged with focal deposits. to the removal Of
which the people looked to the Board Of Health;
He regarded this as a great responsibility and
tF snS h ds s but felt that he could not decline
He said he would try to be placed as closely
81 possible IN connection with the National
amicable relations with that body: also with
the New Orleans Auxiliary Sanitary and the
Medical Associations. He hoped the board
might be achieved. Whatever scientific or
other knowledge he might be able to bestow
would be freely and earnestly isen. not only
iating to quarantine. We stand. be said at the
mouth of the Mississippi, which travels through
more latitudes than any other river. and In
front of the gulf and II fever comes here we will
30 much feel the responsibility; but can only
say that everything can do shall be done.
Among the members of the Board appoint
ed by the city Is Mr.. l. N. Marks, who is the
only member of the old board remaining on
the new and whose experience last year will
enable him to give very valuable assistance
to the president and the other members.
The full board Is composed of five members
appointed by the city and four by the State,
all of whom are fully identified with the city
and State.
We anticipate harmonious action on the
and congratulate our people upon the favor
able outlook for the maintenance of the ex-
ceptional good health with which we have
been blessed for some time. With healthy
city we may reasonably look forward to I'M
bounded prosperity In the future.
THE NATIONS WARDS.
Paradoxical as 1t may seem the colored
people of the South are at one and the same
time the most grateful and ungrateful of hui