1893-1894 - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

48 NORTH CAROLINA JJOAIID OF H1:ALTH.
made as near perfect as possible in tlie cities and towns.
To that end the organization of local municipal Boards of
Health is a necessity. Section 25 of the law confers full
powers upon all municipal corporations to make such
regulations and impose such penalties for tlic preservation
of the public health as thev mav deem necessary ;
but the
matter is always optional with them. In the hope of
inducing as many as possible to organize Boards of Health
with the necessary powers, I have prepared the following
letter to be sent to the Mayors of all towns of more than
500 inhabitants:
Sis Honor Ihe Muyor,
R.VLEiGH, X. C, May 8, 1893.
De.\r Sir:—The warm weather is upon us and it is time for those of
us upon M'hom rests the responsibility of looking out for the protection
of the health of the people to be bestirring ourselves. ^Yhenever there
is a Board of Health organized it is clearly its duty; but otherwise, in
cities and towns, it falls upon the Mayor and Board of Aldermen or
Town Commissioners. It is best, however, to have a body whose special
duty it is, and therefore it is expressl}' desirable that Boards of Health
should be formed in all towns where they do not already exist. This is
particularly the case just at this time, since the entrance of cholera into
our countiy this summer is regarded as more than probable.
Have you a Board of Health in your town? If so, will you be kind
enough to send in the names of its ofhcers and a copy of its sanitary
regulations? If not, will you not exert yourself to secure the formation
of one as soon as possible? If desired, I would take pleasure
in forwarding to you, free of charge, model ordinances, blanks, etc.
Your aid in this important matter is asked in the interest of your own
people, chiefly, but also for the sake of other citizens of the State who
might incur disease from your town if the proper and necessary sanitary
precautions are neglected.
Your kind attention will oblige.
Yours very respectfully,
RICH'D H. LEWIS, M. D.,
Secretary.
The subjoined letter, inclosing model ordinance, blanks,
etc., was sent to every county-seat and other town of more
than live hundred inhabitants: