The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-16
SANITATION AND THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.

The annual report Of DIR. Joseph Holt, San
itary Inspector Of the First Municipal Dis
trict to the Board Of Health, is an able and
interesting paper that deserves to be care
fully read and considered by all who are In
terested In the vital questions Of public
health and sanitation. From this report 1t is
learned that the amount Of sickness and the
mortality which has occurred In the said dis
trict during the year 1879, when compared
with the census. indicate that the health or
the community has been excellent. From
the mortuary tables 1t will be observed that
out OF g population Of 1874 there have been
but 1881 deaths, or 81 70 per Thousand, exclu-
sive OF deaths occurring In the Charity Hos
pital No deaths are chronicled from measles.
scarlet fever. or smallpox: but one from
yellow fever, four from diphtheria and only
twenty from all forms OF malarial In
fiction. While an absolute exception
from acute Infectious diseases, particu-
larly from the zymotic fevers, was
hardly to Do expected. It has almost been
realized. Thus 1t found that out Of total Of
1881 deaths from all causes whatsoever, con-
siderably more than one.third have resulted
from diseases which are notoriousiy the
offspring OF bad hygienic conditions,
and therefore preventible. Reviewing
the sanitary work OF the year, DR..
Holt says that during the spring, summer
and fall more was accomplished than has
ever been performed In the district during
any previous year, which fact he considers
due to the energetic measures adopted by the
Board Of Health, aided by the municipal au-
thOrlties and to the strenuous exertions OF the
Auxiliary Sanitary Association. II Is noted
that all classes Of citizens have cheerfulv
responded to orders relative to cleaning
premises, thus illustrating the Importance OF
educating the public in regard to sanitary
matters Instruction In hygiene, It's princl-
pies and Importance, is correlative with
sanitary Improvement; 1t begets a sense OF
It's necessity, and therefore without the one
the other is impossible. A large portion OF
the report is devoted to the inspection OF
public schools In the district, from which II ap-
pears that the schools are generally Ia good
condition, the buildings being commodious
and amply provided with the essentials to
health and comfort In the way Or ventilation,
light, space, etc, with the exception OF the
school for oolored girls, corner OF Common
and Magnolia streets, and the school for boys
and girls, corner Of Canal and Solomon
streets An effort, 1t Is said is being made to
change these two schools from their present
locations to suitable buildings. Referring to
the Board Of Public Education In this con-
nection, the report says they have labored to
meet the demand and satisfy necessity fun
damental to our civilization with means at
their disposal wholly inadequate to the work
set before them. In the opinion OF DR..
Holt the application Of sanitary science In
the Improvement Of schools Is equal
In Importance to that OF the school
itself; but until there Is enacted some
definite law governing the construction AMI
hygienic arrangement OF school buildings and
premises, and strictly limiting the pupils &C.
cording to space, he thinks we shall ever be
liable to the re-establishment Of such institu-
lions as we hope to see abolished School
boards must be protected In this matter by
legislative limitations and not suffered to be
brought under the pressure Of any part Of the
community, as In the absence Of such sup
port, IN order to allay popular dissatisfaction,
they may feel compelled to permit more
pupils to occupy room than are advisable
The present minimum allowance OF cubic feet
Of space In the New York schools Is from sew
snty to 100 cubic feet per scholar, acc. riding
to age. This Is pronounced too small by the
VI that city, but affords an
Illustration OF the extent OF violation of
ny gienic law in such instances as that of
room affordtn9 four feet superficial space to
zach pupil, with no allowance made, In the
calculation. for space occupied by benches,
iesks and the bodies Of children, which causes
! further reduction Of nearly one third. A
,chool room, says Or. Holt, to be constructed
q accordance with hygienic requirements |
al st be Of q length and width with sufficient |
eighth of ceiling to afford to each pupil |
nth every respiration a fresh volume Of air /
yithcut neces ssitattng the existence OF appre-
lably active currents. The room should |
OF be less than twenty-four feet long by six.
sen feet wide, with ceiling sixteen feet
Ugh, which, would accommodate twenty We
,holars, giving to each thirteen square feet
COR space besides leaving sixty-four superb
al square feet to be occupied by the
,acher and by classes IN Rotations. In such
room there would be IN apportionment Of
. cubic feet OF air space to each twenty-six
srsons. This room shdul be provided with
many windows as poss tble and at least
70 doors. During cold wea Their 1t should be
armed in such way as to produce an
luable distribution OF heat, md stoves Of
~ kind should be prohibited. The tmpor-
nee Of providing sufficient space for the