The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-09-29
Board of Health
On 'Nuisances."


While the discussion Of the distil-
fsry nuisance west of the city is go
ing on. a bulletin recently issued by
the state board OF health and bearing
on similar subjects Is worth reading
The bulletin Is entitled ''Nuisances"
and is ~ follows:
OF the things IN tfe that torment
or annoy US, some are merely dis
can them nufsances. OF course, there
are observation-disclosures nuisances-
bat they belong In a class by them
SELVES for they are unavoidable and
fncurable excepting in the silence Of
the grEva
Comm nufsances are here distin-
guished from sanitary nuisances BY the
fact that they are merely annoying.
perhaps offensive, TO the senses-to
sight. hearing or smell--but are not
productive Of disease and the distinc-
tion La not always carefully made.
A dad animal In the public high
way ~ offensive to the sight. and Il
not promptly removed n may offend
the nostr1ls. but IT Is not dangerous TO
heath In either condition. This state
ment may be questioned. for such
doors may produce nausea in some
del1cately constituted systems. The
sight OF a drop of blood may. and
does. produce the same result with
some particularly sensitive individuals,
yet a pr+czed finger can not be put in
the nuisance class. And nausea is
not a disease at fits worst.
The odors from glue factory are
spread far and wide by the breezes:
the escape Of kissing steam from
high-pressure boiler, the noises rer-
mitted by many reckless chauffeurz,
the unnecessary and prolonged and
frequent ringing Of church bells, the
blowing of steam whistles. the appear
ance in public places of deformed or
mutiHated persons. all are nutsarces.
but not being dangerous to public
health. they are matters for police reg
ulatton and do not come within the
jurisdiction Of sanitary officers
An open sewer, an unscreened earth
closet, pool OF stagnant water. the
public sale Of impure milk. OF tainted
meat or Of decaying fruit and vege-
tables, the existence Of places where
hies and mosquitoes may breed, are
menaces to public health and their
regulation comes within the province of
health boards and officials. who are
clothed with police powers to remedy
such nuisances.
The laws provide for cooperation
between the police and health on
clals to abate many Of these anuyo-
anceS and dangers. but the suppress
sion Of such annoyances as are not
iniInAcal to health. belong exclusively
to the police.
1t is matter Of frequent occur
renee that the health authorities of !
many Florida cities and the Offices Of
the State Board Of Health. are mott
ned Of existing irregularities which
should be reported to the police or the
sheriff. The public should be edu-
Gated to make the distinction for its
own convenience and protection.
II appears difficult to impress suf-
hciently the idea that diseases are
not communicated through the senses.
Sight. smell. hearing. taste and feeling
are given us as sentinels to warn OF
danger. as we'll as to afford avenues
for the enjoyment Of the pleasant
things Of life. They are not thorough
fares for the entrance OF actual danger
into the physical body. The abate-
ment OF the common nuisances is a
matter Of ordinary common sense and
watchfulness. The removal Of SAM
tary nuisances requires deep study 10
determine what is harmful, why il is
harmful and how It may be rendered
harmless. Indeed. the whole modern
science Of sanitation is essentially de-
voted to the study and abatemert OF
sanitary annoyances and nuisances.
The suggestion of an Englishman