The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-18
The opportunity Of a lifetime does
not come labeled.
An Emergency Cali.

An Emergency Call.
"A! one of tho most important reports ever
submitted TO the Council was presented
last night BY the special Joint committee.
Dr. Ennion G. Williams, chairman ap-
pointed to investigate the Department OF
Health. b
The committee introduces It's report
by saying that the present Board OF
Health was organized when Richmond
was city Of smaller proportions ana
ofsless consequence and before science
had made material discoveries as to
the cause OF certain prevalent diseases
and the manner OF preventing thcm'
frat ali three members of the Board or
Health are practicins physicians, and that
their compensation from the city Is so
small MS to make their public duties sec
ondary to their private work.
That no member Of the board has re-
ceived such training as is now considered
in scientific circles essential to ft him Tor
this peculiar and important work, and
that the president OF the board admits
that even If the pay were sufficient to
Justify him to devote his entire time to
the work, he could not now find 1T con-
venient to go way and take course
OF study which would thoroughly equip
hin, for the position.
That the sanitary officers attached to
the Department of Health are entirely
Inadequate in number and efficiency to
meet the requirements Of their office.
These simple statements are enough to
arouse the community. Nothing Is so
important as the public health, yet it is
proclaimed and confessed that the De-
partment OF Health is lamentaby ineft-
Client. Richmond claims to be n pro-
Eressive city, yet Its Department OF
Health is many years behind the scien
tifc progress OF the age:
That being the case, the logical con-
clusion OF the committee Is that
OUR HIGH DEATH RATE IS But
THE NATURAL. CONSEQUENCE OF
THE LACK OF EFFORT TO CHECK
DISEASE.
There you are with a plain case Of
ing and compiling vital statistics Is
careless and slipshod. and 1t Is made TO
appear that there are more deaths than
births. The control of infectious dis
eases is notably deficient, and no sys-
tena,ic or really efficient means are
taken to check their spread
No organized campaign against tuber-
culosts has been conducted by the health
department
There are city and state laws prohibit-
ing oxpectorn,ing on tho sidewalks and
in public places, but these are not en-
forced.
Numerous wells and springs are used
in various ihr,s os",he city. II is recog-
nized blythe Beard that many cases OF
sickness are due 10 this cause. No'sys-
tcma,lc attempt has been made to correct
this evil
Mosquitoes are recognized as the means
Of conveying certain diseases No at
tempt has been made hy tho Health De-
rar,ment to locate the breeding places
OF these pests Or 10 control thci, propa-
gaton--ciher by It's own efforts or by
tho education OF the public IN this i'm
portnnt matter.
Fellow,c'ttzcns. men and women. fathers
and mothers, these are the findings OF
your coannlit,cc. II Is a matter that CON
Germs Your health. It is n matter Of life
and death. It's importance cannot be
exaggerated.
Every family uses milk in greater or
less quantities Many little children liva
on It. Yet the Qualifications OF two o.,
the inspectors are thus stated: "One had
worked in mea, house and tho other in
a grocery store.
There arc no charges or complaints
against tho present officials, They are
doing as well as could be expected but
inefficient and II must be rcorzanznd
and brought up To date. The committee
recommends an ordinance creating a new
Board OF Health and that the new board
shall be composed OF FIVE members. one
of whom, at least, shall be a doctor OF
medicine, another licensed LAWYER, and
another civil engineer. and that tho
board shall be authorized and required 'r
appoint chief health officer, city
bacterioloss, plumbing Inspector, \
food inspector and clerk In addition
the ordinance provides rules and regula.
lions for the goyernmen, OF the board
which are fully set forth IN our news
columns.
The community is indebted to the com