The record-union., 1891-11-10
DR.. NICHOLS SUSTAINED.
The Board of Health Unanimously
Backs Him Up.
The Orphan Asylum Managers Desire
TO Apologize, Too-They Were
Misinformed.

An ominous looking postal card had
been sent to each of the members by
President Tyrrell, labled important"
It was not known exactly what I'M
portant matter was to be discussed, until
several ladies connected with the direc-
tory of the orphan asylum called on some
of the members of the board during yes
terday afternoon, and then it leaked out.
The board was after the ladies' sealps,
90 to speak.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
1t will be remembered that at the last
regular meeting CT the Board of Health
resolution was adopted (and published
in the RECORD UNION to the effect that,
whereas the lady Managers OF the Pro-
testant Orphan Asylum had not cor
rected the sanitary condition of the So
called ''old building" as they had been
notified to do, the Health Officer be oil
rected to enforce the recommendations Oh
the Board Of Health. and if they were not
Immediately complied with, that ne De
instructed TO prohibit the further use OF
the building as an asylum for children,
and arrest the trustees Tor violating the
sanitary ordinances of the city.
It was Health Officer &. b. Nichols
(Secretarv of the boerd) who brought this
matter to the boards notice.
When the proceedings of the board
were published some Of the lady man
agers were mad, and one of them, in an
interview published in the RECORD
UNION, gave DIR. Nichols and the Board
Of Health great raking over the Goals.
This was what last nights special meet
ing was about.
THE HEALTH OFFICERS STATEMENT.
When the meeting was called to order,
DR.. Nichols said he felt that statement
was due the Board of Health from him,
and hoped he would be permitted the
privilege of addressing them. He and
the board had been assailed through the
newspapers by members OF the trustees
Of the orphan asylum, and the honesty OF
his intentions questioned. AS he was re-
Sponsible 10 the Board of Health for his
acts, when acting under that body's in
structiOns, he thought he owed an eX-
PLANTATION. He had prepared brief
statement of the case, which he sub
mitted. 1t was as follows:
AT the last regular meeting of the
Board of Health ! made report IN which
/ criticised the management Of the Pro
testant Orphan Asylum in not complying
with the orders of the Board Of Health
issued from this office in May, 1891. In
an issue Of the RECORD-UNIoN of No
Vember 9th appears an article purporting
to be an official statement from the truS-
tees Of said asylum, through their Secre-
tary. The statement made by the Secre-
tary is misleading, groundless in its in
sinuatiOn cOndemnlng the action OF the
Board of Health, and is not sustained by
facts. In order that this board may fully
understand the matter, i will enter
slightly into detail. In May of the pres
enU year, soon after assuming the duties
of this Office, | made an official inspec-
ton of the Protestant Orphan Asylum.
IA of I,o of 10
orable President Of the board, who was
present at this inspection, as well as the
Plumbing Inspector of this board.
1T is not necessary to go into minute
detail in regard to that visit. 1t is suffi-
cient to say that all Of the plumbing in
the so-called old building, which includes
all of the building used as an asylum
facing on l. street, was condemned. The
trustees We're advised at that time, May,
1891, to discontinue the use Of the whole
system or replace it with new, and at
various times since that date they have
been urged to take some active steps to
remedy the glaring defects. The state
nlent that on October 9th l inspected the
Old building is not true. / met the trus-
tees in their Office in the building facing
upon X street. and reiterated my advice
to improve the condition of the old
building as given them III May,
1891, and ] think at that meeting
soon made | should take steps to close up
the building. They asked for a little
moro time. At this time | was informed
that the plumbing had all been discon-
necJed and that the building would be
vacated.
Upon inspection of the building it
was, upon November Z, 1891 (after the
publication of the Secretary's statement),
found in even worse condition than at
the inspection in May. The report of the
Plumbing Inspector, which accompanies
this report, shows the falsity Of the state
ment in the article i'll regard to the
plumbing having been removed. With
the exception OF one room and a few
closets, the whole building is occupied by
children or attendants, which again
shows the incorrectneSs of their state
ment. In the so-called hospital ward.
which connected with one of the vile
closets spoken of, is
CHILD SICK
With what / was informed was typho-
malarial fever. In the vacated room in
the east end of the building the stencil
was intolerable. Transoms over the
door were open into rooms where chill
dren were playing. In an adjoining
room to the water-closets and
bathrooms on the second floor
were playing. The condition of the bath
tub, closets and pipe was in a very
uuSanitary state. Water was leaking
through the floors into the rooms below,
there standing in large pools. The max
ing of such statement by the Board of
Trustees of public institution is very
much to be regretted, filled as it is with
misstatements not warranted by facts;
personal and vindictive towards pub
lie officer; shows a glaring want of
Judgment in not verifying these State
ments before rushing into print with an
article insulting to the candor and judg-
ment of the Board of Health.
The condition of the Orphan Asvlum
shows state of affairs not conducive to
the good name of the institution abroad
and is not likely to inspire confidence in
the management Of the affairs intrusted
TO them by the public.
The management of contagious dis
eases in the institution is something to be
deplored. Children afflicted with scarlet
fever and diphtheria are allowed to
mingle freely with other inmates of the
institution without isolation or disinfec-
ton. The placards posted by orders of the
Board of Health are Immediately torn
down by some one connected with the
asylum. In fact, the management of the
affairs Of the asylum shows that some one
is criIninally negligent, conSpicuouslv in
competent or wilfully indifferent in the
administration of the internal affairs of
an institution containing the number OF
cailGFen anu requiring 50 InucD lUGg-
3nent and business acumen as is required
10 fulfil so important trust"
PLUMBING INSPECTOR, TOO.
After the Health officers statement was
read special report from Plumbing IN
spector L. W. Maloney was read. 1t was
as follows:
Or. C. 3. Nichols, Heath O1ice7--DEAR SIR
have examined the orphan asylum on
street. between Eighteenth and Nineteenth
and find the following plumbing fixtures now
in use: Two plug Golden Gate closets, one
IroII,- oil, E.srh fssr zsF-a