The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-05
sANITLRY INSPECTION.
Statement Made by DIR. stratton, Former
President of the Bonrd OF Health.


Or. T. T.. strstton, former president Of the
Board of Health. believing himself misunder-
stood in tho interview with him in The TnfEs
on Saturday last. further discusses the sub
lect IN the following statement
In making the statement that the crema-
tory. inspection Of plumbing. water connec-
tons inspection of food and milk were recon-
mended IN 1857, / did not for moment
think that any one would deem me such an
idiot as TO claim priority or originality for
those things, and nowhere in the statement
can such claim be found. l am well aware
1t would have been an insult TO the intelligence
OF the medical profession here 10 whom all
reports arc regularly sent. TO attempt II. They
were suggested Of practical necessity then and
are now. and ! stated that five years
had elapsed. Our city now occupied pita-
bic place in tho table OF vital statistics, and
that it was time we put our theories into
practice and again place her in the front rank
where she belonged. Unfortunately | was
laboring under tho impression that any citi-
zen had right to make suggestions or refer
to those already made. especially, as others 1t
seems, had commenced in the same line. !
yield 10 no one in my estimation OF Dr. Cabell
l honor him es an efficient. practical
saRsss5ed th s.a hins. SaSs
the greater need for them, and
our neglect in introducing them sooner the
more culpable. ] would regard it as a particu-
lar favor II the years and pages Of the report
would be designated when above were recon-
mended. read of the crematOry. Wrote to
one of the makers. Placed myself in COM
munication with the authorities of Wheeling
Pittsburg and think other places in regard
10 its use. SO the crematory did not originate
with mo. / examined the houses of Messrs
j. L. Gray. T.. ID. Christian. w. L. Fitzgerald
Ro. Armistead and others and disinfected
them. ! saw the necessity for an inspection
of plumbing, and learned that such inspec-
tions took place in other large cities. and
| asked why not Richmond. as il
is badly needed here: So that did not origi-
nate with me. Tainted meat was returned TO
some dealers. Meat thought 20 contain
trichinie was examined. Spoiled turkeys were
confiscated At one of the markets and sug-
gested what had read in books and reports
from other cities IN regard 10 inspections OF
our food supply.
At one of our diaries that now remember
loathsome appearance was presented and
compelled the owner 20 abate the nuisance.
In company with Messrs Chaffin and Bowe
we noticeda COW drinking from cess pool in
midsummer and suggested an inspection Of
milk, DC, because other cities had engaged
in it with benefit
Many other things might be alluded 10 in
support of the old adage that | reminded you
of few days ago, that there is nothing new
under the sun" Now. while stating my own
position, must be excused from rejecting on
the motives or intelligence Of others. There
is no Disgusting the fact that prompt. vgor-
Gus, effective measures are necessary, and
while | am sorry TO be deemed guilty OF the
charge Of lethargy, / am pleased 10 know that
the present Board of Health is one OF execu-
ton
I am always glad to get hold OF anything
that Dr. Cabell writes. aud as every sugges-
/ Il L ].
him / Will acknowledge my obligation If the
years and pages be designated As to following
suggestions as some Of them at least have
been made effective, others. as for example,
appropriation TO Cape Charles quarantine,
seem to be in a condition Of inoccuous desue-
tude (Cleyeland): That dead animals shall
not be exposed in their removal through the
city, "cear water reservoir" amending
section 50, chapter 80, abatement Of nuisances
in thirty instead of sixty days Committee
on ShOckOe Creek" "abating nulsances by
filling in alleys" lin regard to city sprlnkling
streets, mode adopted in Paris suggested,
in regard to persons dying with contagious
disease. mode of burial" &c, domestic
quarantine" reporting 70 Superintendent
of Public Schools children. sick with con.
tagious disease" personal inspection of
public school houses, factories, and espe-
clally private houses where contagious
diseases occur &c, suggestions as
TO better quarantine service culminat-
ing in an appropriation made by
Congress through efforts of Virginia delega-
ton in Congress 1887 of $4,000 for Cape
Charles quarantine service for protection Of
this and other cities" Sanitary Advisory
Board Of Physicians =" abatement of nuisan-
ces along street railway and Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad" If | can in any way benefit
our city | shall do 80. And with no attempt
to ridicule others whenever any suggestions
are deemed worthy of publication, | shall not
shrink from the honor accorded me, although
other minds greater than my own may have
first originated them.