The Washington herald., 1912-05-22
NEWSOPALEXANDRIA
City's New Set OF Rigid Health
Laws win Go Into Eject
June ~, Next.

JUNE H. MAI
Alexandra. va, May z.-fhis city's
new set Of rigid health laws. which vii.
become operative on and after June 12
next, were unanimously passed and
adopted by the City Council tonight
with its fun membership present. The
laws were adopted after a few minor
amendments had been made. These
amendments were made as the twenty
eight long sections We're read by the
clerk, and It took exactly three hours
In completing the work.
These laws are yet to be passed by the
board OF aldermen. The higher branch
OF the City Council will doubtless take
one night this week, A date for the
meeting has not yet, however, been de-
cided upon. The new set Of laws are
far more elaborate than anything of the
kind ever before attempted in Alexan-
dria and VIII work a hardship on some
although in the main it is said they viii
have a tendency TO eliminate many dis
eases from the city and also result In a
more sanitary method Of keeping and
handling food and generally speaking,
make conditions more healthful, it Is
thought.
One of the amendments carried was
that Of increasing the salary Of the
by Councilman Birrell. The present sal
cry is 500 a year.
Much time was given to the city
fathers to a discussion Of the tubercu-
lin test for cows and also to vaccination.
Councilman Brumback wanted that
part which reads That the tuberculin
test has been applied TO said cows in
accordance with the act OF the General
Assembly of Virginia. approved March
u, 1sl0,'' stricken from section No. IS
Couneilmen Leadbeater, Swan and 9TH
ers favored this, and Mr. Brumback's
motion to strike 1t out was lost.
considerable part of the time was
also taken up in a discussion Of another
motion OF Mr.. Brumbach TO strike out
a part OF section Il. and after a sharp
discussion It was done. This section
read as follows: There shall be as
soon as possible after the passage of
this ordinance the vaccination Of all
persons residing within the city who
may, in the opinion of the health Of
fcer, be ordered TO be vaccinated. to
prevent the introduction or spread of
smallpox or kindred diseases, whether
children or adults, except in such cases
where q regularly licensed physician
shall declare t to be unnecessary by his
written certificate. Those persons who
are unable to pay may be vaccinated by
the health officer at the expense of the
city, The city fathers showed they
We're opposed to anything like awhole-
sale vaccination.
Another motion to strike out the sec
ond paragraph OF this ordinance was lost.
This reads: mo child shall be admitted
10 the public schools OF the city unless
he or she can show a good vaccination
scar or who can produce a certificate Of
a reputable physician that he or she
has been properly vaccinated with the
fr1u F1TNr T-,,, a.. Ia.
eff admission
Councilman Yates thought that the en-
forcement OF section 10 OF the law re-
curing all dealers in fruit, meats, vege-
tables, &c, to be screened as working
arbitrarily. The idea Of the law is to
prevent insects from coming in contact
with articles Of food. Councilman Splnks
contended it would mean the erection
Of a new city country market It was
passed, however.
An amendment of Councilman Lead
beater to section II, requiring the police
to distribute each year. beginning April
1 or as soon thereafter as possible, the
by the Health once 10 all residents was
passed
An amendment TO section Il requirfns
owners or occupiers Of houses, where
there have been cases of contagious dis
eases, TO fumigate same, was made to
also include tuberculosis or other infec-
tious diseases"
a much needed section passed is the
keeping Of an accurate record of all
vital statistics. The health officer is to
appoint a deputy under the rules
Another matter of Importance is that
the health officer shall inspect all live
stock used as food by residents of the
city at the time to slaughter. II is pro-
vided that no meats shall be offered for
sale in the city that have not been prop
srly stamped and tagged by the health
officer. It is ilso provided that the health
officer shall designate a well equipped
slaughter house, conveniently located,
where all live stock, with the exception
Of that under Federal supervision, to be
used as food by citizens, shall be killed.
In the general election which will be