Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-15
AN AUXILIARY SANITARY AssO-
CITATION.
A Gratifying INAUGURATION OF the
Movement-0ur Business Commu-
nifty Well Represented at the In
ftial Meeting.

nifty Well Represented AZ ahe HI
Itial Meeting.
In accordance with the call published In
Yesterdays News, meeting OF citizens was
held at the Long Room OF the Exchange
last evening to consider measures in refer
ence to the organization Of an Auxiliary
Sanitary Association in this city.
The attendance was very gratifying, the
various business interests, as well as the
professions, being represented, an indica-
ton Of the interest that is felt in the impor-
tant subject of public health.
Shortly after o'clock the meeting was
called to order by Col. J. h. Estill, who
moved the nomination OF Gen. j. +. Gilmer
as Chairman.
General Gilmer requested to be excused,
as he did not feel well. and was reluctant to
assume the duties Of Chairman, and desired
that some other be selected.
Colonel Estill then proposed Col John
Screven as Oh airman, which nomination
was seconded and unanimously adopted.
The Chairman stated the next business
in order was the election of Secretary.
Colonel J. L Warren nominated Mr.. b.
H. Richardson for Secretary, who was elect
ed
The meeting was announced ready for
business, and the Chairman expressed de-
sire to hear from any Of the gentlemen pre-
sent.
On motion OF Colonel Warren, Doctor j.
G Thomas was invited to address the as
semblsge on the objects Of the meeting.
DR.. Thomas, responding, said that hehad
taken very active interest the last few days in
the movement to get citizens interested in
sanitary matters, as well as professional men.
He hsd experienced no difficulty SO far as
be had gone. Many had signed the applica
ton for the call Of this meeting, and he had
been delighted to find the citizens of Savan-
uah so generally interested in this great
subject of health. Sanitation, In 1t widest
sense, includes everything appertaining to
life and health-everythiDg from great ac-
cident on a railroad to the simple ca,astro-
pie on the street would come under its pro-
visions. 10 its more narrow sense, 1t apper-
tains to the air we breathe, the food we eat,
a. the water we drink. Now, the question
arises, why should not you, the
citizen, the merchant, be interested in
this cause. Have you children? have
you a houseg have you PROPERTY For these
reasons if for 10 other you should be inter
tsted. Why should you leave this import
ant matter wholly to your Mayor, your
Health Officer or your Counciig He ventured
the opinion that no Mayor, however i1telli-
gent, who might be elected but would be
delighted to have the co operation OF the
citizens in these matters. 1t was too much
our hshit of eleeting a Mayor or OIL her Off
eer and then leaving him cOldly alone,
giving him no assistance in these
matters affecting the public health
in which all were 50 deeply concerned. You
see q nuisance in the street but make no re-
port of it, go home and sit quietly by your
iireside. One Object Of the association is
10 correct such evils, 10 make you feel IN
terested In the affairs of your town. A few
instances may be cited to Impress you that
YOU have concern 10 these matters. Are
ycu interested about the meat you estg Do
you know ANYTHING about the meat brough
10 your city from Tennessee? Do you know
whether the cattle slaughtered were fever
ish. exhausted or healthy l don't make
any charge against the butchers. | feel
ssifed that they do the best they
can, and give the best they can get. But
DO you know anything about these matters
/ know you don't, and yet there are subjects
which should have your attention. Then
there are our public schools. They are
managed well, aud l know by board in
whom we all have confidence. Yet you
ought TO take some interest In them. Do
you know whether they are not over
crowded; whether the accommodations are
Insufficient or are not what they should be
You might render the board assistance, and
i there be any evils endesvor to cor
rect them. You may not do this
AhuAFAu01Alg " dul fpOoEB bub JOO GdA
combine to look after such matters and
work effectively. There is at present no
emergency; no epidemic exists and none is
threatened, but It is well to do all that is
possible to increase and maintain the public
health. Hutchins0n's Island is still under
water. We have as yet experienced, posi-
bly,, no evil effects from it, but might you
not inquire why it is not surrounded by
dams, as IL was last year, end what action
81 Guild be taken in the premises.
There are now two Auxiliary \ Iitary
Associations in existence in This c. Try
one in New Orleans called the SGni-s Pro-
tective Association, and the other j. New
port called the Newport Protective As
sociation-and am provided with number
OF papers and pamphlets setting forth their
work. which will lay before the meeting
for their consideration. The Sanitary As
ISOLATION Of New Orleans in an emergency
subscribed large SUN of money which they
dispensed under their own advisory board.
You could do the same in an emergency II
such should arise. There are numerous
other things 10 which you could make
health matters efficient.
DR.. Thomas then read several extracts
from the reports of the Newport Sanitary
Association, giving the basis OF the associa.
ton; giving the qualifications for member
ship; the advantages to be derlv d.; the
amount of membership fees, and the mutu-
atty of such body.
Resuming his remarks, DIR. Thomas said:
There is not Southern town that will not
attract great attention from such move
ment, and which may be now suffering fro N
the reputation of being unhealthy. Sup
pose that you don't accomplish a great deal
that you don't save a life; you will show
to the world that yoU are alive to the i'm
portauce of public health and are seeking
to reduce your death rate and change the
reputation for unheathiness. As | re-
marked in the beginning, when | applied
these ideas to our business men-some fifty
odd received but one answer: Yes; l
will 90 into it, ("
feel dsep interest In this association,
and am sure IL you get the right sort of
head # will not die, but will be valuable
and Influential in lis cooperation with the
municipal authorities in the preservation of
the public health. l hope you will all take
hold Of the matter vigorously, organize the
association, and elect every good citizen a
member.
Dr.. Thomas closed his remarks by pre-
senting TO the meeting copies of the con-
stitutiOn and bylaws, charter and other
documents OF the societies named, which
he suggested could be turned over for the
consideration of any committee that might
be appointed OF organization.
Capt. George a. Mercer said that the only
practical way TO accomplish the object de-
sired was Dy the appointment OF COM
mitGee to submit some plan OF organization,
and he would make the suggestion were 1t
not for the fact that it was generally the
fate of the mover OF resolutions to be put
on the committee, and while he felt deep
interest in this matter, he would, on account
OF his professional engagements, be unable
to serve 1t would be necessary to know
exactly what the purposes of the association
were before you could invite citizens to join
it. They would like to be informed on the
subject, and hence the necessity OF organi-
cation. He most warmly approved of the
measure, aud believed that every intel
ligent citizen would unite in the
work. He spoke at some length on the sub
ject, referring particularly to the importance
of Kidding this section Of malaria, examining
into the condition Of the sewers and the low
lands, and many other things upon which
depended the health Of the community.
When it is demonstrated that our city
possesses advantages for immigrants, and
they can here find healthy and wholesome
homes, then will it thrive and flourish.
In answer to a question as TO the result
of the Newport Association in re-
ducing the death rate OF that place,
DR.. Thomas stated he was not fully in