Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-01
Hoard Of Health and City Hos.
mIfaI.

ed IN Iuesuay mornings papers, de-
velop the presence ofsomebody's little
spoon in the village broth. Wonder
whose soup litter it can be? Certainly
not ex-Commissioner Browns, al
though he stirred with it most ener-
getically on that occasion. Then,
whose is it2 The Avalanche yesterday
half way intimated that its proprietor
ship might not be wholly disconnected
with the young sawbones Of the Mem
phis Medical College. Like as not,
but wait a few paragraphs and see
What am / writing about, do you
say, Mr.. Editor? / am writing about
that monstrous proposition that the
.ex-C Commissioner placed before our
authorities Monday to render met
fcient the only organization this COM
munity has for protection against the
invasion OF epidemic diseases by con-
solidating the Office of President Of
the Board OF Health with that Of
Hospital Physician. That's what |
am talking about and all thinking
people,of this city are doing the same.
That man does not live-I care not
how little mental ability he possesses
nor how cheaply he values the small
talent God has given him
who can efficiently discharge the
duties of Health Officer in the
city of Memphis and at the
same time give proper attention to the
sick in hospital. No physician of
ability would try it. In that which |
intend to say on this subject have no
reference. as to who has been or who
will be the Health Officer or Hospital
Physician. With individuals | am
not dealing. That is the duty of the
Commissioners. | only take the
ground thatone man cannot properly
fill both places. As citizen of Mem
phis who has watched the labors Of
the Health Officer and his assistants
with the deepest intersection am
one who was compelled TO take hasty
leave of home and business in 1859
along with many others--I am cog
infant of the difficulties which en-
yironed that official, and wit
messed the unremitting work required
to do the city the yeomen's service
which the Board did in times Of dan
ger and apprebended danger. | am
opposed to clogging its future work
and it has an abundance of it ahead
in the least by taxing its chief with
additional duties. With our expert.
ence 10 the near past and the reputa
ton we have acquired abroad in con-
sequence of our Affections, Memphis
| is certainly in no condition to weaken
or break down her Board of Health.
Far better to strengthen it. To the
efficient working Of the Board this
people are indebted for their present
freedom from complete prostration
of their business interests, and
the loss of all property values
The organization is necessity which
Memphis must sustain, and not destroy
or impair.
Yes" but says the advocate of this
ruinous idea of consolidation, YOU
Board of Health sends more paupel
sick from other cities to our hospita
than it sends from home, and this cost
thousands Of dollars annually" Well
suppose it does? Does not the Dis
trict ordinance require this to be done
How can these foreign pauperi
be sent to your hospital if they are no
found here in your city, destitute anC
sick? What else is the Board o
Health to do with them? Leave then
in the streets to die? Humanity woult
stand aghast at such baIbarism
Where is there city on earth that i
not compelled to have her hospital fo
this very class and in what hospitq
will you not find sick paupers iron
other places? This is a misfortune
that always existed in cities and larg
towns, and always will, and the con
sohdation Of two Offices into one vii
not prevent it The only result 0
such move will be to cripple tn
Board of Health and cause neglect t
the inmates of the hospital. If econ
omy demands the exclusion of thes
people from the citys charitable cart
: let the Commissioners enact an ord
a nance preventing their admission int
/ the hospital. That will settle tn
economy part although at tn
expense of humanity. Ever
4 hospital in the world has the SAN
I evils TO contend with as this one
ours. And until all the paupers b.
4 come bondholders and quit gettir
sick, this kind of evil will continue
q exist.
Furthermore, it matters not wheth
/, these paupers-bOth homemade al
e i'm ported-are admitted to the hospit
r. or steered by policeman into Il
, stationhouse, or left on the streets-al
!. in one of these three places they a
O bound to stop-your district autho
n tiles cannot get rid of them witho
, the expenditure Of money. And VIII
n one of them ends this nliserab
" life it will enter into the death ratio
n your city, and be set down to 20
q mortality just the same as if the ere
a ture had been housed and we'll 4
\ citizen. But if you don't want SUI
" people cared for when they come, or
n not desire them to die on the streets,
your commissioners send them back
IN the places they came from and tn
a relieve the Board of Health Of the
At presence and expense. That is t
/. practical way of doing the thing al
# Of driving the evil out. There can
"a no saving to the district in this matt
r. of the INDECENT sick-from whatev
AZ quarter they may comedy conso
% dating the Office Of health officer wi
n that of the hospital physical
a and its advocates know it full we
At As remarked before, the idea is bel
p stirred with the spoon of some inc
3. vidual who desires to season the Di
: trict Board Of Health and hospiI
}, soup for personal profit or benefit.
r. do wonder if the Avalanche is rig
49,. - ,,ot,t, ,tg GnOar IN Aha dira