The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-08
TWO ABLE LECTURES.
DIR. LINDSLEY'S ADDRESS ON
"BOARDS OF HEALTH"
"ReadiBg," the Subject Of DR.. Pat
tersOn's Eloquent Effort at
Calvary Church.

At the LeMoyne Institute last even
ing DIR. j. Berrien Lindsey, secretary
q the State Board OF Heal h, deliv-
cred a lecture before an audience OF
about 800 colored men and W men,
upon invitation OF the principal, Pro-.
s eele. He YVES a~t,entive'y listened
to and it was easy to see thst he
awakened q deep interest in his i'm
portant subject, which was Boards Of
Health" DR.. Lindsey began by ray
ing that the whole topic was eubdi-
vided into private and public. AS far
rs private or individual health
was concerned, the speaker
referred them to the precepts
of moral y for its presei valiou.
Ia cass Of illness he recommended
them 10 follow the directions given by
the illrstriols common.sense philoso-
nher, Benjamin franklin, to his own
family, namely: never 10 use nosirums
or apply 10 quacks, but always on the
approach OF sickness 10 Consu I a rep
utable ply s'cian. Public heath has
TO deal with communities, and
hence must be matter Of law.
Two families may dwell next to each
other on small lots. One may keep
everything as clean ps pie, the other
theils 80 foul as to cause some deadly
sickness. The people in the first
mentioned he use, in this case, will
die Just as readily "a the offenders
themselves. 10 Great Britain this fact
has betn RECON- ED for tome sixty
years, and the public health hts
been one OF the most import
ant topics ia PaIliareut and In
city councils. Tennis ee has but re-
Gently entered into this great move
ment. Even as recently as ten years
there was no State law, and PERHAPS
not more than q local how'd, but
the re rible lessons of 1873, 1878 and
1879 have caused a wonderful change.
Now the State, nearly all the counties
and all the large towns have efficient
boards.
The work Of these boards may be
said to be two.fold. A constant
and daily work may he summed
up in the expression abatement of
distances" This is the application of
State or city law to the distinction Of
buildings unfit for habit 3tion; to the
prevention OF filthy premises, ETC., as
btiog injurious 10 health. 1t is aston
ishing, the speaker said, how much
good las been done in New York and
in all our smaller towns by
the rigid enforcement Of law On
these points. Inc comfort and
well being OF the great mass
of people h as hetn protected against
the greed Of INSCRIPTIONS wealth.
The other great province OF boards OF
health is TO ward of epidemics, or
else, in case they do visit US, 30 to
take care cf the sick as to prevent the
spread OF the contagious disease.
This latter function is, OF course, occa-
sionsl, yet it is Of fuch vast import
ance to any community and productive
OF such enormous saving Of life and
money as to mislead many to look
upon 1t as the only work OF such
boards. 10 all old and enlightened
communities there is third great de-
pertinent Of public health work in
trusted to these boards, t).wit: The
collection OF what are known as vital
statistic'. In Europe nc n is bonn,
is married or dies without public
record being made OF the fact.
In many of the older and Weather
States Of our Union like value is set
upon it's citizens. In Tennessee we
had such a law for three General As
semblies back. This was unfortun'
ately rept aled. Without such Law
boards OF health work in the dark
Doubtless the next Central Assembly
will ie-enact it. The public health move
T ment is now everywhere recognized
as the most benefiCent application o
the great advances Of modern science
to the daily comfort Of men, especia.
" of the great masses OF the people
With the cooperation Of the people
health officers find their daily wofl
one Of pleasure, as well as o
philanthrophy, and, as a matter of TACT
they do, almost without exception
receive the cordial aid Of all
Ia short, the whole worl
may be considered az cffshoot of th'
French revolution of '89, whic'
taught the world that government
was not for the few, but from and 10
the many.
At the conclusion Of the lectur
Prof. Steele announced that on tb
25th instant Mr.. J. M. Kpa'ing w0ul,
address the pati ons and friends of l.
Moyne upon manual Training"
new and successful department in II.
: echOal.