PUBLIC MARKETS.

The public markets have been subject to frequent inspections during the year. The meats and vegetables furnished the community have been of wholesome quality. Dr. Ames, as will be seen by his report, submitted a large number of specimens of pork to microscopical examination, but found them absolutely free from trichinæ.

The establishment of the abattoir below the city, where all animals whose flesh is designed for our markets must be slaughtered, is a great and most fortunate change from the method formerly prevailing.

The advantages of the change may be briefly summed up as follows:

First. The change secures that animals which have died of themselves, are not prepared for sale in the markets.

Second. Secures the proper inspection of meats after animals are slaughtered, and before being put on sale in the markets.

Third. Relief afforded from slaughter-house offal, formerly thrown into the river above the city, which frequently lodged along the steamboat and ship landings, and under the wharves.

Fourth. Every slaughter-house, unless most carefully kept, was formerly a nuisance; contaminating soil and air in the vicinity. The abattoir, being carefully planned, and well managed, all offal goes into the river, below any but plantation build. ings, and whatever taint of the atmosphere is created, is by the winds carried away from any crowded population.

Fifth. The dangers to citizens, of cattle driving through the streets is removed.

Sixth. The demoralization of the young by the exhibitions of cruelty by the drivers of cattle, is also obviated.

On the whole, the comfort and advantage to the citizens from this change, are so great that it can only be appreciated by experience.

SUB-SOIL WATER.

The attention of persons interested in sanitary matters having been drawn by Pettenkofer to the connection between the

level of sub-soil water, and the prevalence of certain fevers in the city of Munich, and it having been often asserted that yellow fever never prevailed with a high river, and that the presence and altitude of sub-soil water depended on the height of the river, and the percolation by pressure of its waters through the soil, a series of frequent observations has been maintained in all the six districts on the altitude of the sub. soil water of this city.

The observations of this year show, that while the river has varied ten feet during the summer, from extreme high water to lowest water mark, that the largest variation of sub-soil water has been but two feet, and that the slight variations recorded are altogether dependent on the surface water, derived from more or less heavy rains, and of following drought of greater or less continuance. These observations will be continued during the year 1872.

SANITARY OPERATIONS.

These have been conducted on the same general plan as last year.

A thorough inspection of all the premises of the city has been made, and various facts of sanitary importance have been developed.

The reports of the Sanitary Inspectors of the several Districts, furnish a detailed statement of the general facts ascer tained. Repeated inspections have been made in those portions of the city in most unfavorable hygienic condition.

nuisances tending directly or indirectly to impair the public health, have, as far as within the power of the Board, been promptly abated.

The Honorable Board of Police Commissioners have most cordially seconded the efforts of the Board of Health, and have furnished promptly all the men called for.

The number of police force on duty has varied considerably owing to especial need while the general inspection was going forward, and also while the city seemed threatened with an epidemic of yellow fever.

The average number of policemen on sanitary duty has been, through the year, thirteen.

The amount of labor performed by them is very large, as will be seen by the following summary of sanitary work done during the year.

The officers who have been permanently on duty with the Board of Health are intelligent, willing and industrious men, and deserve honorable mention for their valuable services.

Table of sanitary work done in the six districts during the year 1871:

"disinfect "

.49,421

.22,156

.10,883

10,437

111

511

3,112

Among other measures to prevent disease and promote public

health, the following article was published in all the daily

journals, and in the form of a circular, in English, French and German, by means of the Sanitary Inspectors and their assistants, was generally distributed.

Many persons are indifferent to the advantages to be derived from absence of foul odors, to which custom has made them careless, but a still larger portion, would gladly be freed from such noxious emanations, if they possessed the requisite information. This circular, as will be seen, gives information as to nature, mode of preparation, uses and cheapness of disinfectants, and thus enables citizens to care, intelligently, for their own health.

"OFFICE BOARD OF HEALTH,

NEW ORLEANS, LA, JULY 8, 1871.}

"The Board of Health recommend to their fellow citizens, the liberal use of disinfectants and deodorants during the summer months.

"The best and cheapest permanent disinfectant and deodorant for privy vaults, for all stagnant places where the decomposing and vegetable matters are not likely soon to be removed, by natural or artificial means, is what has been designated (as somewhat suggestive of its ingredients) the Carbolo-hydrochloric Disinfectant.

"This is prepared by dissolving carbonate or sesqui oxide of iron in strong hydro-chloric (muriatic) acid. To the acid thus saturated with iron, six one-hundredths of carbolic acid is added.

"Half a pint of this liquid, poured into a privy vault every ten or fifteen days, will keep any ordinary vault entirely free from bad odors.

"For gutters, and drains of yards, and street gutters, sulphate of iron, i. e., copperas, is recommended.

This may be used by sprinkling a small amount of dry coppotas in the gutter or drain, and immediately after distributing, adding a small amount of crude carbolic acid.

Three pounds of copperas dissolved in an ordinary wooden bucketful of water, with the addition of half a pint of crude carbolte acid, is a convenient mixture for disinfecting drains, gutters, etc,

"Copperas is a cheap disinfectant, and can be purchased at from two to three cents per pound at wholesale. Carbolic acid, though not cheap, plays an important part in disinfection and deodorization of foul, smelling gutters, and needs to be used only in moderate quantity.

"A very weak solution of copperas, in water, used once a day, and in very hot weather twice a day, will entirely destroy the unpleasant amoniacal ordors arising in stables, and if used with ordinary care will not affect, injuriously, the feet of animals kept in them.

"These disinfectants can be procured from any druggist, at small cost, and should be kept in every house ready for use.

"The preparations of iron chemically destroy the foul odors of gutters, privies, etc. Carbolic acid hinders the decomposi tion of animal matters and the formation of sulphur compounds in them, and is inimical to the fermentation process, and to fungoid life and growth in general.

"The use of lime as a general disinfectant is not recommended. Matters in a state of discomposition are ordinarily alkaline, and the use of acids and acid salts is therefore desirable.

"The Board of Health consider the destruction of these foul odors from gutters and privies as a mattter of the greatest sanitary importance, and urges upon every householder immediately to use the means herein recommended to free himself and family from the noxious influence of these ill smelling, unwholesome exhalations.

"C. B. WHITE, M. D.,

President Board of Health, State of Louisiana.

"S. C. RUSSELL, M. D.,

Secretary of Board."

OVERFLOW.

During the spring months, the waters of the Mississippi river, flowing through the crevasse at Bonnet Carré, found their way into Lake Pontchartrain.