Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-06
HEALTH GUARDIANS
Why the National Board Should BE
establishments Amount OF
Work Accomplished.
What Has Been Done in Memphis and
New acknowledgements OF
Useful Organization.
The ssn,,.,;.n for August.


The National Board of Health, at the
time OF this writing. il in danger OF being
starved out by the influence OF certain dis
appointed aspirants for Office, whose snlmus
became apparent almost simultaneously
with Inc creation of the said board, because,
iorsooth, they were not specially chosen to
carry into execution a work which they had
hitherto-houestly, as their collaborators
were leo 70 suppose-doDe their Dest 10 pro-
mote; These representatives oil public
health, In States not commonly subject TO
exotic epidemics. and few others in Office
in other States, where the dogma OF States
rights-on the part of the ofhce-holders-is
still listened 10, appear to have mado the
most OF their opportunities to misrepresent
one OF the most useful organizations ever
constituted BY the will of Congress. No one,
not literally ignorant OF, or Purblind to the
results OF the practical work OF the National
Board OF Health in stamping out yellow
fever IN New Orleans; the removal OF the
population from, and cleansing the city Of
Memphis; the effectual prevention OF the
spreading OF yellow-feyer to other places;
the organization and establishment OF
inspection and quarantine stations on
the Mississippi river, Southern Atlantic and
Gulf coasts in 1879. can for 8 moment con-
tend against the usefulness OF the National
Board OF Health against one oil the most
deadly foes that ever invaded this or any
other Countrywide yellow-fever. But this
was only the beginning oil the work OF the
board. 1t proceeded 10 make searching
investigation into the causes Of yellow-fever
at Hayana-one of its prime sources-and
important researches into, and contributions
to the pathology of yellow-fever; 1t has re-
stored Memphis to life; il has organized q
system OF vital statistics throughout the
country; 1t has Investigated the adulteration
OF food, and contributed immensely TO pure
food supply;it has saved thousand of lives
by investigating the nature of diphtheria,
and the institution of measures for the
prevention of it and other diseases;
1t has caused surveys of several cities
besides Memphis, with special refer
| ence to the removal of causes in conflict with
the public health; it has made special inves-
| legations OF impure water supplies, the filter
| ing capacity Of soils, soil drainage, and
miasmatic diseases; it has investigated the
system OF sewerage in European cities, with
view to the best practical results for Amer
lean cities; recently it instituted, and-ex
| cept in lew instances when it came in con.
| fct with the puffed-up conceit of few self
| sufficient neutrality-suspicious. an i'm
| migration inspection service, which has hac
the effect of we'll nigh stamping out small
| pox in this country; it has collected, collatec
| and stately published at brief intervals the
| vital statistics Of the United States, and tbs
status of the public health in commercial
cities throughout the world. OF all which
| the public has had the benefit. /
may be safely said that during th'
| three years existence OF the National Boar
| more has been done under its auspices fol
!, the promotion of the public health in thil
country than had ever been done before I'm
| der all other influences combined. Tha
! with the exception of the bad spirits alluded
| to, it has the universal respect of all who ar
most capable of judgment in the premises
And to abolish it, or even 10 cripple il, unde
the circumstances, is TO endanger the healtl
and lives of the people at the bidding of I
few malcontents, who make themselves tn
standard of excellence, and impose upoI
members OF Congress for selfish ends.