The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-09-15
AN ORDINANCE
To Promote the Health of the city, to
Create and Establish Board of
Health, and 20 Define the
Powers and Duties of


Powers and Duties of
the Same.
Section 1. BE Il ordained by the City Council
of the city OF San Antonio, that there be, and
is hereby, created and established, in and for
the city, a department TO be known rs THE
Board OF Health" to consist of i've members,
to-wlt Tho Mayor and City Physician TO be
eN-onicio members OF the said Board, and three
citizens, who shall be physicians in good stand
ing, and graduates OF some regular medical
college, to be appointed by the Mayor and con-
trmed by the Council. They shall elect one OF
their own members 20 preside nj their meet
ings who shall be styled the President of the
Board OF Health"
section 2. The appointed members of the
Board shall hold office for one year or until
their SUCCESSORS have been appointed and quail
ined, unless removed by the city Council for
cause; provided, that the members first APP
pointed under this ordinance shall hold Office
until March l, 1876, and nll vacancies shall be
filled for the uneNplred term only. They shall
qualify by taking the constitutional oath Of
Office. Any falling 20 qualify within 10 days
after the appointment slull he deemed O have
declined the ONCE, and new appointment
shall be made. Three members win constitute
quorum for transaction of business, pro-
vidcd all members are notified of the meeting
Section .. The Board shall be provided by.
the Council with suitable Office which shall
be known as the "henlth Office" in which they
shall hold their meetings at lenst once IA month,
or.as often US the pubic health may require,
or when called together by the President or
any four az members of the Board. The meet
ings shall be public, and their records open
Section 4. The Board of Health are subject
to general ordinances of the Council. They
shall have general supervision of all matters
appertaining to the sanitary condition of the
city, including the city hospital Jail, aims
house, schools and all health Institutions, and
shall bee that all the sanitary ordinances OF the
city are strictly enforced.
Section .. The Board shall on or before the
first day OF March OF each year make an annual
report OF the affairs of the health department
TO the Council, and shall include therein the
report of the City Physician, and all other
matters under their charge, at the same time
furnish detailed statement OF the amount
OF money that will be required for the depart
ment during the ensuing fiscal year; aud the
Council may provide Tor the raising of such
amount, or 50 much thereof MS In their judg-
ment may be Necessary. This money shall
constitute the health fund. All expenditures
shall be subject to approval by the Council in
the same manner as all other brunches ut the
city government.
section o. Ino assistant clerk of the city
shall perform the duties OF the Secretary of the
Board, and shall keep ali ITS records, books aud
papers, aud perform such other utios as may
be prescribed by said Board.
section Z. whenever notice shall have been
given to the Board that any public building Is
unit for habtntion by reason of being infected
with disease liable to be contagious, they may
communicate such fact To the Mayor, who
shall issue un order to be served upon the
owner, agent or lessee, requiring ali persons
TO yacate, and within a hours, or sooner, the
building must be vacated.
section !. Every physician In the city shall
report TO this Board, In writing, Immediately
hIIef us ufHt professional WISH, every DNIlent
he shalt have lnboring under the following
Diseases: Typhoid, typhus, yellow fever
Aslatlc cholerl, smallpox or other contagious
or infectious diseases, and every death from
such disease Immediately after IL shall have
occurred.
section0. Every householder shall also report
In person or In writing, to this Board the names
of all the inmates OF his or her house whom
he shall have reason TO believe sick ot typhoid
yphus, yellow fever, cholera, smallpox rany
other contagious disease he might consider
dangerous To the public health. The Superin-
tenuent of Public Schools shall In like manner
be notified of locations of contagious diseases,
and should ho mud any attendant In the schools
who reside In said houses, he will refuse them
admttance to the public schools only readmit-
ting them again upon presenting certificate
from the Health Board that there was no lon
ger danger from contagion.
Section 10. No person shall use, or hire or
permit any others to use without consent OF
the Board OF Health, any public vehicle which
has been driven or used tor the conveyance or
removal OF any person afflicted or dead with
smallpox.
Section IL. When a case of smallpox, Aslatic
cholera or yellow fever is reported TO the
Board of Health, the City Physician shall mme-
dlately visit the premises where the person is,
and upon personal Inspection, shall cause n
yellow fiag to be erected in conspicuous
place upon the premises, the same to remain
during continuance of disease.
Section II. No person shall remove smallpox
patient without consent of the City Physician.
lie may, with the approval of the Board, cause
removal to the smallpox hospital, or such
other place as the Board may designate.
Section 10. The Chief of Police may, upon
application of this Board, detail not TO exceed
four OF the regular police force TO act us health
aud sanitary inspectors, one for each ward. Ii
shall be their duty TO report all violations of
city ordinances detrimental to public health,
all cutters or sewers that may not be in good
order, or have become foul. Also all privies,
standing water or stagnant pools TO cause the
removal OF all dead animals, garbage ana filth,
TO report any locality that may be infected
with low feyers or any kind of epidemic, re-
port all persons who are using the streets as
sewers, enptying slops and refuse therein, and
10 see that they are brought before the lie
corder, and made to understand, through pen
alties imposed, that they cannot persist In such
acts. III this Board ind the city ordinances do
not reach all such cases, they will ask the
Council TO make rules that will have the de-
sired effect.
Section Il. The board shall cause to be kept
In their Office record of ali births, deaths and
lnterments In said city, which shall be open for
the inspection OF any person during Office
hours. Physicians failing TO make satd report
shall be fined by ordinance.
Section ID. No person shall inter any human
body In this city without having first obtained
and nled at the Health Office certificate
signed by physician or coroner, setting forth
as near as possible name age, sex, color, place
Of birth, occupation, date, locality and cause OF
death, and obtain thereupon burial permit.
Nor shall anybody be dleinterred without a
permit from this Office. The Board of Health
shall see that no dead body be allowed In any
receiving vault for n longer period than 30
hours; at the expiration of said time 1t must be
buried. They shall also see TO IL that all bodies
OF I'LL persOnb nine years ana over be inferred IN
a grave not less than six feet Deep or N under
that age the grave be not less than Ave (jl feet
deep.
section 16 City Sections and Superintendent
OF Cemeteries must, once a week. leach Mon
day. make returns TO the office of the Board of
Health names of all persons deposited In their
respective cemeteries during the preceding
week.
Section II. A railroad or any other company
transporting Il dead body without u permit
from the city, or bringing one into the city
who may have died of contagion, is guilty OF
serious misdemeanor, and shall be prosecu-
ted unless the said body died while In transit
10 this city, when immediate notice must be
given TO the Board of Health, otherwise the
penalty viii be incurred.
Section 10. In case of n serious epidemic, the
Board may meet and adjourn from day 20
day, the number increased by an Alderman
from each ward, and for actual service rem
dered during said period. the City Council will
award additional pay in proportion 70 amount
of services performed.
Section 10. The Board shall cause to be
erected and shall have entire charge OF a suit
able vault or morgue, for reception of all
bodies whom II may be necessary 70 hold a
post mortem examination upon, as TO cause
OF death.
Section 90 The CITY Physiolan I'm his routine