Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-09
WOMEN AS sANITARIANs.

1t is hlmiliating and rebuke to our
civilization that men should SO neglect
the trust, the public health, committed to
them, as to make it necessary for the
women of New York to organize Health
Protective Association. But it is fact that
cannot be ignored, and what is more, the
enterprise of the women has achieved sue
cess; first, in demonstrating that the men
OF New York have grossly neglected ordi-
nary means for conservation of the public
health, as well as the application of proper
remedies for potent evils second, that
little exertion is all that is needed to Sc
cure essential sanitary reforms in our cities,
and that women are capable Of accomplish
ing them. The annual meeting Of the
Woman's Health Protective Association
was recently held, in New York, and at
tracted great deal of attention. The
New York Star says:
The association was formed four years ago by a
body of active and public-spirited ladies, who,
tired of appealing to the slow understandings and
slothful habits of their husbands and brothers,
constituted themselves u volunteer committee
of sanitary reform, which, undismayed by such
epithets as "Busybodies" and Meddlesome
Mstties, has waged aggressive war upon the
public nuisGnces of dirty streets and offensive
smells. While officials were either indifferent
or obtuse, these sagacious women have carried
the drastic methods and keen noses of the prac-
teal housekeeper into their selfallotted labors
The accumulutions of ashes and garbage in the
streets could no more escape their vigilance
than speck OF dust on the grand piano. The
mi nd nrG nf hnil nf Sf0 hi of
gas and slaughter-houses became a horrible
stencil in their nostrils, and so the ladies set
about imploring, bullying and wheedling the
authorities Into their way of seeing and smell
ing. The animal report of the secretary is q
most interesting document, bristling with facts
and pregnant with suggestion. While admit
ting that the city is by no means as clean and
sweet as 1t ought to be, the report finds reason
for much congratulation upon the good already
accomplished, the nuisances abated and the
consequent Improvement of the citys health.
The sly pokeS it makes at officials for dereiction
of duty are perhaps no more than those gentle
men deserve for permitting the weaker sex to
Guido them in zeal and efficiency.
No one can read the reports of the meet
ing and not reach the conclusion that the
very best thing we could do in the domes-
tic economy of cities to secure sanitary re-
forms, would be to admit women to sanitary
councils; indeed, to give them an equal, if
not controlling, voice in local sanitary
legislation and execution. Woman's ma
tural tastes are all Clearly; in defense of
her family she will insist upon sanitary
measures of the most effective order; she
has an adherence of filth, and a keen
sense for the detection of whatever pol
lutes the atmosphere. By nature she is
disposed to go to the heart of an evil, and
to root it out vigorously-temporizing is
not part of her policy, and political
manipulation would have little or no effect
upon her administration if given charge
of the important trust of keeping a city
clean. The success of the New York
women referred to, the open acknowledge
ment Of their great services in securing
sanitary reforms there, ought to be teach
ing to all municipalities, and to suggest to
city governors the introduction of new
forces into the schemes of public santa
ton. Give women a place upon sanitary
boards, and there is reason to believe they
will be able to overcome and shame down
about all the bitter opposition with which
male officials meet in their efforts to secure
cleanliness in the streets and byways and
homes of our cities.