The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-28
ITS MEETINGS TO BE SECRET.
DIR. LeHardy Does Not Oppose the
Sanitary Boards Action,

The sanitary board took rather surpris-
ing action yesterday when it decided at
a special meeting called for another pur-
porse that no publicity should be given to
the action of the board at it's meetings
hereafter
To no one was the action of the board
greater surprise than to Health officer
LeHardy. who has taken the position all
along that the public was not only entitled
to know what was done by the board at
its meetings, but that it was the proper
policy to pursue to keep the public posted
upon all actions of the board on matters of
public interest, as being the best means of
educating the public upon sanitary Ques-
tons. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
DR.. LeHardy entered a most emphatic
protest against this action of the board
and that he will not be satisfied to have
the matter remain as it Is
Another member of the board who was
asked for an explanation of this action
said that the board had no desire TO an
ply the gag rule, but that some of the
members felt that the continued harping
on Savannahs health conditions was ere
ating an impression abroad that Savannah
is a most unhealthy city This impression
was very easy to spread, he said, and one
that If created abroad would do a great
deal of harm.
The matter of the reported case OF pos-
oned milk, he said, had provoked an in
quiry from another city on the subject.
The idea of poisoned milk is nonsense, he
said. There is nothing the matter with
Savannah's milk supply except that some
of tine dealers put 200 much water in it,
This could be easily revealed by the use
or the lactometer, a simple instrument
which answers every purpose of this kind
1t was also feared, he said that the agl-
tation of the question OF vaccination just
now would cause some one to start the
report that smallpox existed in Savan-
nah, whereas there is nothing of the kind.
Unless smallpox should come nearer
than at present, he said, Il would be much
better to postpone the discomforts of vac
cination until cold weather, and as for
young children " Is simply out OF the
question to vaccinate them during June.
which is their sickliest month. 1t is such
matters as these, he said, that are re-
sponsible for the action Of the board and
not any desire TO deprive the public Of in
formation or TO put gag upon the health
officer.
DR.. LeHardy, when spoken TO about the
matter said. that he considered the free
discussion Of sanitary matters through
the press the best means Of informing the
people Of the true condition of affairs.
and arouslng the public sentiment nee
essary 20 accomplish needed reforms lie
should endeavor TO secure a reversal OF
the action of the board. he said
DR.. LeIfardy ala not consider Il any
violation Of confidence 20 state that In the
matter Of the Campion Queen. the master
Of which petitoned 10 be allowed to light
er several hundred barrels OF rosin TO
the quarantine station 10 be used as hal
last, the request Of the master was
granted. The Campion Queen is a large
iron bark from Rio, and was required 10
discharge all Of her ballast at the quaran-
tine station