OVERFLOW. The following report, made at the time, will show what efforts were made to counteract any evil results of the overflow: OFFICE SANITARY INSPECTOR, FIRST DISTRICT, Dr. C. B. WHITE, President Board of Health: Sir-I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this office in connection with the late overflow: The water with which this portion of the city was submerged, was from the drainage canal, where was the collected filth of the city, which, owing to the high stage of the backwater, had not been forced out for several days previously. Added to this was the contents of every sink, cesspool, stable and gutter, with garbage from the dumping ground, dead Jomestic animals, etc., etc. The water, air and soil thus poisoned, necessarily produced a sickening smell, and in compliance with your instructions, at he is indication of the receding flood a thorough and sysemade disinfection was undertaken. The plan adopted, which proved to be economical and satisSucy was as follows: by causing the distribution of the material in the unters of the streets perpendicular to Canal street and the Sssait, as the water of these streets had to pass off a. te parallel streets, which obviated the necessity of aydon to the latter. In this manner, each street, ryocés a Broad streets, was taken. Seram 20 the disinfectant was mounted on a dray, to bed a hose which, in the hands of a man, was In addition to the above, every vacant lot, alley, and the low portions of the neutral ground of Claiborne street, were visited by the Sanitary Police, with buckets of the disinfectant, and seven hundred and fifty gallons of the carbolic acid, and 40 gallons of perchloride of iron were distributed among the occupants of houses beyond Claiborne, in quantities of from one to two gallons each, to be distributed by themselves. How potent this may be as a destroyer of morbific miasmas is not so positively demonstrated, although eminently satisfactory to those who have given the matter study. As a deodorizer its effects were almost magical, it being so diffusive that when thrown into the water in one locality, its presence was quickly discovered at a distance, by both sight and smell. The inhabitants of this district heartily appreciated our efforts, which was the more encouraging as it is not always so. Total number of gallons of carbolic acid, distributed 2960, of perchloride of iron, 145 gallons. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JULIUS S. CLARK, M. D., Sanitary Inspector, First District. I Comparative Table of Mortality by Fevers in the Overflowed District for the corresponding months of 1870 and 1871, exclusive of Charity Hospital and the Hotel Dieu. Thus it will be seen that the mortality from fevers was less, for the months subsequent to the overflow, than for corresponding months of 1870. CONCLUSIONS. At the expense of repetition, I call attention to certain re. quirements that seem to me all important. Under ground drainage is hardly a physical possibility in New Orleans, and wherever practicable is generally found mischievious. Surface drainage is easy and economical, and with the swamp zone cleared, ditched and drained, a powerful sun would evaporate the soil to dryness and convert mosquito-ponds and alligator-haunts to pasturage. To these improvements, add the square-block pavement, to be laid down upon those streets that now have the cobble stone, which collects and retains filth, and also upon those that are filled and graded with the accumulation of sewers and kitchens. New Orleans should stand at the head of all large cities in this country in the matter of health. Its wide streets and broad avenues afford the freest circulation of air and its residences are spacious and airy. The system of tenements of four and five stories, where hundreds of human beings are huddled together, that characterize most large cities, is here unknown. Then what we want is elevation and dryness, drainage, and the free circulation of air in and under houses. Very respectfully, Honorable Board of Health. JULIUS. S. CLARK, Beport of Sanitary Inspector, Second District. F. B. ALBERS, M. D. OFFICE SANITARY INSPECTOR SECOND DISTRICT, NEW ORLEANS, December 31st, 1871. To the Hon. President of the Board of Health, State of Louisiana. Sir--I have the honor to place before you, the following report of the operations of this office, and of the sanitary condition of the Second District of the city under my direction during the present year. At the commencement of the year, I had detailed to my as. sistance as sanitary police, three members of the Metropolitan Police force, to each of whom was assigned one of the three wards of the Second District for inspection. This inspection consisted in making a report of each house, or dwelling, stating 1st, Street and number of each house. 2nd, Name of owner. 3rd, Name of occupant. 4th, Number of persons. 5th, Business. 6th, Water supply. 7th, Built of brick or wood. 8th, Condition of floor and roof. 9th, Condition of the lots. 10th, Banquettes. 11th, Number of animals kept. A correct account of this was kept in regular books, which are herewith returned to the Central office for reference, and the work was accomplished in five months, with the following main results: This statement can be relied on as correct. The men by whom it was made, are members of the Sanitary Police, well known by the people, to whom they will freely communicate their numbers and condition, as they are well aware that these domiciliary visits are not made for the sake of impos. ing taxes, or accomplishing anything else to their disadvantage. Owners or occupants of all premises, on which were found violations of the various sanitary ordinances, were notified to have the same removed. The number of notices issued to that effect, during the above mentioned time in the After the general inspection had been finished, the principal duties were to attend to the various complaints of nuisances that continually arise, in an active and energetic population composed of all the various nationalities that inhabit the globe. |