New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
ALT1 BOARD AIMS HEAVY GUNS AIT DEATH RATE
Commissioner Coldwaters Reforms, Many and Varied,
Have a Single Object-the Weakening of the
Assaults of the Forces of Disease Upon
New York City.

ploymcnt, there the department is ready to
enter. In the first instance, 1t asks tor the
support OF the individuals affected by existing
sanitary conditions, making its appeal both
to employees and employers. In bulletin
which on November ID was addressed to
numerous trade unions the department an
nounced its readiness to undertake sanitary
survey OF any industry, trade or group OF
manufacturing establishments in the city, with
view to appraising existing conditions, and
in order to show to employees and employers
alike what can be accomplished through
system of voluntary hygienic and sanitary
control Responses have been received from
a number OF trades and plans are now afoot
which will result in the formulation OF sani-
tary industrial standards and in measures Tor
the prevention of industrial diseases
A reform equally as fundamental as the
new educational policy, looking toward the
wider and greater effectiveness of the de-
partnnent. has been the complete revision OF
the Sanitary Code. In its new form the cooe
is definitely correlated to the ordinances OF
the Board of Aldermen, whose Code Commit
tee. together with the Corporation Counsel,
assisted materially in the revision Among
the sections which have been added to it the
most important, perhaps, are the following:
The requirement that the ingredients OF
patent medicines be named on the labels OF
the packages or registered with the Depart
ment Of Health.
The requirement that employers use rea-
sonably effective devices, means and metnoos
to prevent the contraction by their employees
of illness or disease to which their particular
work exposes them.
Provision for the sanitation, ventilation and
lighting of theatres and other places OF as
scmbly. and Of all places where people are
employed.
The requirement that superintendent OF
hospitals and private practitioners report &C.
cupatonal diseases and injuries.
A prohibition against the distribution OF
free samples of proprietary medicines or other
substances OF an alleged medicinal or cura'
tive character intended for internal use.
The forbidding of persons suffering from
communicable diseases from working in their
homes on articles intended for general con-
sumption.
A provision that persons i'll with communi-
cable disease shall not handle or sell food
The Bureau of Food Inspection has been
completely reorganzed. 1t is preparing to
undertake the systematic inspection OF all
classes of establishments in this city Except
those under federal or state inspection) where
food is manufactured prepared or sold. The
effectiveness of the work Of the bureau has
been increased by the adoption of plan for
the district assignment of inspectors; dupli-
cation and overlapping have thus been
avoided.
The protection Of the city through the pas
teurization of the bulk Of its milk supply is
now an accomplished fact. No raw milk is
allowed to be sold except that obtained from
tuberculin tested cows.
In the Sanitary Bureau efforts are being
made to replace sporadic inspections inspired
by citizens complaints with systematic in
specton work, the department itself taking
the initiative in the abatement Of nuisances
Accordingly house and block survey of the
entire city is in progress at the present time.
Commissioner Goldwater has succeeded in
getting action on the new hospitals for con-