USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 144
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The two Boards co-operated in all things, so far as was practicable, the Police doing their utmost to enforce the rules and ordinances of the Board of Health.
The act abolished the City Inspector's Department, and other officers who had hitherto performed some of the duties then delegated to the Board of Health, and created a " Board of Estimate," composed of the Mayor and Comptroller of the city of Brooklyn, together with the members of the board created by the act, to con- vene "annually, on or before the first day of August, make up a financial estimate and statement of the sums required for the year next ensuing, for the expenses and proper support, and for the discharge of the duties of said board; the sum raised for the expenses of any one year, however, not to cxcced $100,000," independently of such sums as may have been expended " in the pre- sence of great and imminent peril to the public health from impending pestilence," &c. This act, so far as it related to the appointment of Sanitary Commissioners, took effect immediately, and in other respects went into effect March 1st, 1866.
In 1867, three acts (known respectively as chapters 687, 700 and 908 of the Session Laws of that year) were passed, abating certain nuisances in Brooklyn
deemed to be derogatory to the public health, regula- ting certain other matters of interest in this connection, and providing for the improvement of tenement houses and other dwellings of the poorer classes in Brooklyn and New York. Brooklyn was represented in the composition of this Board by JAMES CRANE, M. D., as Health Commissioner, and by JOHN G. BERGEN, as Police Commissioner.
On the 10th of March, JOHN T. CONKLING, M. D., was appointed Assistant Sanitary Superintendent, and RICHARD CRESSON STILES, Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics for Brooklyn, which was divided into five in- spection districts, and six Sanitary Inspectors assigned to duty therein. The cholera epidemic of that year, which first appeared on the sth of July, devolved no small responsibility on the Brooklyn Bureau, which was promptly met. Cholera hospitals were erected in the 12th Ward, at the corner of Hamilton avenue and Van Brunt street, and (by permission of the Common Council) in the City Park. (See p. 502.)
On the 2d day of January, 1868, GEORGE B. LIN- COLN, Esq., of Brooklyn, having been appointed a San- itary Commissioner by the Governor (vice President Jackson S. Schultz, resigned), took his seat on the Board; and, on the 9th, Dr. James Crane was elected its President, for the unexpired term of the late Presi- dent. Commissioner John G. Bergen died in February, and March 3d, Mr. Lincoln was elected President of the Board, in place of Dr. Crane, who declined a re- election. July 1, 1868, Henry S. Fellows, Esq., was appointed Assistant Attorney of the Board for the County of Kings.
In 1869, Dr. Conkling resigned as Assistant San- itary Superintendent, and was succeeded by Dr. R. CRESSON STILES, who held office until the ab- olition of the Metropolitan Health Police system in 1870.
A City Board of Health again in 1870 .- But in 1870 the Metropolitan system was laid aside, and mat- ters of health, police, and excise were relegated to the local authorities of the several cities and counties here- tofore comprising the Metropolitan District. The dis- bursements, expenses, and legal business of the Board were to be managed by the City Comptroller and Coun- cil, in the same manner as other expenses for general city purposes. The Common Council were empowered to confer upon the Police Board such powers in re- gard to public health as should be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the Health Act. All monies standing to the credit of the city were to revert to the city, etc.
By a law passed in 1870, it was ordained that the Board of Health, created by the charter of 1854, " shall, in addition to the powers therein conferred upon said Board, possess the same powers, rights and privileges, except as to compensation, as were conferred by the said acts of February 26, 1866, and the several acts
565
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
amendatory thereof, and by chapters 687, 700 and 908 of the laws of 1867, upon the Metropolitan Board of Health within the city of Brooklyn, except the power to appoint officers and to incur expenses otherwise than is herein provided." All officers required to be ap- pointed for the purpose of carrying out such powers were appointed by the Common Council of said city, on the nominations of the Mayor.
Under this act, Dr. GEORGE COCHRANE assumed the position of head of the Department in 1870. He was succeeded by Dr. ANDREW OTTERSON in 1872.
Department of Health Created by Act of 1873. -Section 1 of title XII. of the charter of 1873 de- clared : "There shall be a department of health, which shall be known as the Board of Health of the City of Brooklyn, which shall have jurisdiction over said city." The management and control of this Department was vested in a Board of Health, to be composed of the president of the Board of Aldermen, the president of the Board of Police, and one physician, who should have been ten years in active practice of his profession, and a resident of Brooklyn for five years immediately prior to his appointment. It was ordained that, within five days after that of the passage of the act (June 28, 1873), and on "the first Monday in May, 1877, and every two years thereafter, the Mayor shall nominate, and, with the consent of the Board of Aldermen, ap- point one physician, who is eligible to the office, as a member of the said Board of Health, who shall be President thereof, and shall hold office until his succes- sor shall have been duly qualified, together with the President of the Board of Police and the President of the Board of Aldermen, shall constitute the Board of Health of the city of Brooklyn." In case of death, resignation, removal from office, or other inability to serve of the physician so appointed, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the Mayor and Common Council in the manner herein pro- vided, for appointment under this act. The salary of said physician shall be $5,000 per annum. The Board of Health, thus constituted, was empowered to act as a legislative board in regard to all matters pertaining to public health, and to the registration of vital statis- tics of the city, and to make such rules and regula- tions regarding the appointment of officers and em- ployees as might be deemed expedient for the purposes for which the Board was organized ; to prepare ordin- ances and secure the registration of births and deaths ; to appoint a secretary, sanitary superintendent, regis- trar of records, inspectors, and other necessary officers and employees, and fix their compensation, with the proviso "that the whole expense of administrating such Department shall not exceed the sum appropriated therefor by the Board of Estimate, and all expenditures, so incurred, for whatever purpose, shall be made and met in such manner as is provided for in other de- partments of the city government." It was made the
duty of the Board of Police to execute the orders of the Board of Health when so requested by authority of the Board. In the presence of great and imminent peril to the public health of the city of Brooklyn, the act required the Board of Health "to take such meas- ures, to do, and order to be done, such acts, and to make such expenditures," beyond those duly estimated for, in accordance with the provision above stated, for the preservation of the public health from such impend- ing pestilence as the Board might declare the public safety and health to demand ; and the Mayor of Brook- lyn and the President of the Medical Society of Kings County should approve in writing. It was further stipulated that such peril should not be deemed to exist, "except when and for such period of time as the Mayor, President of the Medical Society and Board of Health " should declare by proclamation.
The charter defined the manner of procedure to be adopted by the Board of Health against individuals or corporations whose business, conduct or property should be deemed detrimental to the public health, and provided for the right of appeal on the part of the lat- ter to the City Court of Brooklyn, including the pro- viso that no established business, or the rights to prop- erty, of any person, should be interfered with until the offender or offenders therewith charged should have been duly summoned by not less than five days' notice to appear before the Board and show cause why such declaration or order of prohibition should not be cn- forced against him, her or them.
In conjunction with the Department of City Works, the charter gave the Board of Health power to contract for the removal of offal, dead animals, garbage, night soil and other refuse matter; all contracts to be signed by the Presidents of the two Boards, and no contract to be made or terminated except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Health and the Department of City Works, acting conjointly; all contracts to be carried out by the Department of City Works, partially under control of the Board of Health, to whom all complaints of neglect of duty on the part of a contractor were ordered to be made; the President of the Board of Health having power to con- vene a joint meeting of the two Boards whenever, in the opinion of the Board of Health, any contract en- tered into by the two Boards should be improperly or imperfectly executed by the Department of City Works.
The ordinances passed by the Board of Health were numerous, and of such an import and range as to pro- vide for the preservation of the public licalth so far as is possible, in view of the present developments of science; and no means to the proper carrying out of the purposes of the health department have been overlook- ed in framing them. Every known precaution against infection and contagion was adopted.
The Board of Health acts in conjunction with the
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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
Health Officer of the port of New York and his deputies, for the protection of the city against discase brought to the port by foreign and other vessels; the Health Officer keeping the Board of Health informed by wcekly reports of the number of vessels in quarantine, of the number of persons sick in the floating or other hospi- tals, and of the diseases with which each of them is afflicted. The Health Officer of New York, or his as- sistants and deputics, receive into the floating hospital all cases of yellow fever found in Brooklyn; and do not allow the return to the vicinity of the city, without permit of the Sanitary Superintendent, any person, ves- scl or article which the Board of Health has ordered to quarantine.
The supervision of the Board of Health of the con- struction of residences, business and public buildings on sanitary principles, and in the healthful reconstruction of old and dangerous buildings, has done mnch tow- ard rendering the city healthy and ameliorating the condition of many thousands of its inhabitants. Every means to prevent the quartering of people in unhealthy domiciles has been made available ; and the school buildings, churches, halls, theatres, and other public buildings of Brooklyn, are as well ventilated and as healthful as those of any city in the Union.
Under the provisions of the charter, the Board of Health, in 1873, was composed of General James Jour- dan, Dr. Joseph C. Hutchison, and John T. Conkling. M. D.
In 1874, the organization of the Board of Health was changed by the addition to its constituency of the Pres- ident of the Board of City Works ; and it was compos- ed as follows : General James Jourdan, Dr. Joseph C. Hutchison, Dr. John T. Conkling, Lorin Palmer, and Jacob I. Bergen.
In June, 1875, another reorganization of the Board of Health took place, by which a physician must be its President, and it was constituted of Dr. Andrew Otter- son, President ; Jacob I. Bergen, President of the Board of Aldermen ; and Daniel D. Briggs, President of the Board of Police. January 1st, 1876, John French succeeded Mr. Bergen. In the winter of that year Mr. Briggs died, and was succeeded by General James Jourdan. January 1st, 1877, Mr. French was succeeded by William H. Ray. In June, 1877, Dr. Otterson was replaced by Dr. James Crane. Mr. Ray was succced- by Francis B. Fisher, January 1st, 1878, and in turn suc- cecded the latter January 1st, 1879. Mr. Ray was succeeded, January 1st, 1880, by Robert Black. In September, 1879, Dr. Crane was succeeded by Dr. Ot- terson. Otherwise the composition of the Board was unchanged till 1880.
Office of Health Commissioner Created .- By an Act in relation to the Government of the City of Brooklyn, passed May 5th, 1880, the organization of the Board of Health was changed, and the office of Health Commissioner was created ; it being enacted
that "within thirty days after the passage of this act, the Mayor and Comptroller shall meet at the May- or's office and * * *
designate * *
* proper person who shall be the head of the De- partment of Health and designated as the Commis- sioner of said department ; and the President of the Department of Police and Excise and the President of the Board of Aldermen shall thereupon cease to be members of the Board of Health."
Dr. JAMES CRANE was appointed Health Commis- sioner, June 17th, 1880, and served as such until suc- cecded by Dr. JOSEPH H. RAYMOND, who was appoint- ed February 1st, 1882.
The work of the Department of Health is now car- ried on by Commissioner Raymond and the following corps of subordinates and assistants :
R. M. Wyckoff, M. D., Secretary and Registrar; G. F. Elliott, Esq., Counsel; E. F. Page, M. Farrell, G. Iremonger, S. R. Tuomy, W. R. Kerr, W. Hughes, J. Lewis, Clerks; W. E. Griffiths, M. D., S. N. Fisk, M. D., J. Corbin, M. D., Sanitary Inspectors; E. Pen- dleton, M. D., J. J. Gleavy, M. D., J. B. Mattison, M.D., A. M. Burns, M. D., G. Wieber, M. D., R. N. Dennison, M. D., Ernest Palmer, M. D., G. McNaughton, M. D., W. A. De Long, M. D., H. A. Archer, M. D., N. Titte- more, M. D., W. J. Cruikshank, M. D., W. E. Beardsley, M. D., T. J. Wheeden, M. D., Assistant Sanitary In- spectors; E. H. Bartley, M. D., Assistant Inspector and Chemist; W. J. Hobday, Inspector of Meat; J.J.Powers, P. M. Moffatt, W. J. Roche, J. F. Williams, S. Bower, Inspectors of Plumbing; L. McLcan, Veterinary Sur- geon; L. T. Bell, Consulting Veterinarian.
AMBULANCE SURGEONS .- E. F. Pearce, M. D., J. Merzbach, M. D., A. A. Reid, M. D., Western District, located at L. I. College Hospital ; C. P. Peterman, M. D., J. N. Dimon, M. D., Eastern District, Hospital and Dispensary; C. F. Drake, M. D., D. P. Maddux, M. D., Central District, Homeopathic Hospital; J.B.Hammill, M. D., L. E. Tieste, M. D,, St. Mary's Hospital.
Report of the Health Department for 1883 .- Health Commissioner Raymond's annual report to the Mayor, for the year ending Nov. 30, 1883, states:
The total deaths in the city within twelve months, ending November 30, 1883, were 13,833, or 1,180 less than the actual mortality during the calendar year, 1882. Assuming that this total, 13,833, fairly represents the mortality of 1883, and estimating the population to be 624,118, we fix the death rate at 22.16 in each thousand of persons living.
This rule is lower than that of 1882, when there died 24.84 in each thousand, the population at that time being held to be 604,356. In other words, there has been a saving of life this year, as compared with 1882, amounting to more than 1,600 lives.
He congratulates his fellow citizens on the fact that there seems to be a permanent improvement in the sanitary condition of Brooklyn, and fortifies his opinion by the following :
567
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
COMPARATIVE TABLE OF MORTALITY BY PROMINENT CAUSES OF DEATH IN RECENT YEARS.
1881.
1883.
1883.
Total from all.
14,533
15,013
13,833
Zymotic class
4,952
4,880
2,700
Smallpox
35
12
2
Measles.
56
168
54
Scarlet Fever.
151
892
542
Diphtheria
1,169
632
426
Croup
458
334
322
Whooping Cough
118
248
131
Typhoid Fever
99
83
96
Malarial Fevers.
306
289
266
Cholera Infantum.
1,028
1,007
992
Diarrhoal diseases, all ages.
1,707
1,893
1,595
Diarrhoal diseases, under 5.
1,493
1,600
1,340
Consumption.
1,754
1,806
1,840
Bronchitis.
471
684
597
Violence.
402
433
319
Under 5 years
6,865
7,136
5,907
Under 1 year
3,633
3,816
3,556
Death rate per 1,000
24.83
24.84
22.16
The saving of life was most remarkable among children under 5 years of age-the decrease amounting to 1,229. The decline in deaths of zymotic diseases was over 2,000, and is very significant of a better tone of the public health.
Diseases of the zymotic class flourish when the community is broken down in its health, and they are expelled or re- duced when the city's pulse and circulation come back to the normal. In last year's report to your Honor, I referred to the exceptionally cleanly condition of our street sewers and the probable good effect thereof upon the health rate. I have no reason to abate anything that I then said, but am impelled to state my conviction that the efficient operations of the Department of City Works have vastly improved our sewer system, and, for some months, at least, have given us purer air to breathe, by giving us relatively cleaner streets under the new contract; and have thus, indirectly, come to the aid of the sanitary authority in its fight against zymotic disease. It will also be seen by the above table that at no time since 1875 has the zymotic mortality fallen below 3,000 until the present year; while, in 1881, it rose to nearly 5,000. This low zymotic ebb is extremely gratifying to all who watch the progress of the city's health, for there can scarcely be a question that our city is destined to make advance in this direction and make a name for herself as a wholesome home city. A further examination of the parallel columns in the table shows that the only diseases cited therein that have a higher total this year than last, are consumption and typhoid fever, and in respect to both of these, the increase is significant.
He reports as to
THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, organized in May, 1873, by resolution of the Common Council, and placed by that body for management in the Board of Health, was, for the first time, established on a permanent basis by the charter amend- ment passed June 4, 1880 (chap. 545), which reads : " Said Board of Health, as thus constituted, and its successors, shall have power to act as a legislative body in regard to, and shall have and exercise exclusive power in said city over all mat- ters pertaining to public health, the removal and burial of the dead, the maintenance and operating of an ambulance service for the speedy removal of sick and injured persons, etc." The ambulance districts are four in number, each under the charge of a surgeon and an assistant. The surgeon of the Western District is located at the Long Island College
Hospital, Henry street, corner Pacific ; that of the Eastern District, at the Eastern District Hospital, 108, 110 and 112 South Third street, and that of the Central District at the Homeopathic Hospital, on Cumberland street. This latter district is one which has been in existence since January, 1881, and the ambulance used is the property of the hospital, although it is under the management and control of the De- partment of Health. During the present month, an addi- tional ambulance has been provided by St. Mary's Hospital, on St. Marks avenue, near Rochester, and its services have been placed at the disposal of the city by the authorities of that institution; the expenses of its maintenance, however, being paid by them. The rooms of the surgeons are con- nected by telephone with Police Headquarters, and also with the stables where the ambulances are located, so that prompt- ness characterizes this service equally with that of the Fire Department. The cost of maintaining this service is $5,200 annually ; $1,200 of this amount is raised by the Board of Estimate specifically for the services of the ambulance of the Homeopathic Hospital. The city owns four ambulances, two of which are always on duty, the others acting as re- serves. It was deemed wise at the inception of this service in 1873, to make contracts with livery-stable keepers to furnish horses and drivers, rather thau for the city to assume the work ; this plan has worked so satisfactorily that it has not been changed. The amount paid for each district is $1,000 annually, the city furnishing the ambulances and ap- paratus and keeping the same in repair.
In order that this service may be of the greatest possible value, the city is divided into districts, and the duties of the surgeons distinctly defined.
Since the organization of this service, in August, 1873, there have been 15,785 calls for assistance answered by the ambulances, divided by years as follows :
1873, 159; 1874, 601; 1875, 821; 1876, 911; 1877, 884 ; 1878, 1,340; 1879, 1,572; 1880, 2,014; 1881, 2,282; 1882, 2,498; 11 montlis of 1883, 2,703. Total, 15,785. The surgeons serve without compensation.
NIGHT MEDICAL SERVICE. - In the year 1880, the Legisla- ture of the State of New York passed an act, chapter 588 of the session laws, entitled "An Act to organize a night medi- cal service in the City of New York, and to provide medical assistance in cases of sudden sickness, or accident, during the the night time." It was urged, at the time this act was in- troduced, that there were many cases of sudden sickness oc- curring during the night, and that it was very often difficult" to obtain the services of a physician. This measure was de- signed to overcome the difficulty.
In the following year a similar act was passed, chapter 221 of the Laws of 1881, making the same provision for the city of Brooklyn.
It is mandatory upon the Board of Estimate to apportion and insert in their estimate of the expenses of said city, in each year, an amount necessary for the support of the aforesaid night medical service. The Board of Estimate of 1881 had adjourned sine die before the act was signed by the Governor, consequently no provision was made for the sup- port of the service for 1882. In 1882, however, $1,000 were appropriated for its maintenance during the year 1883. On the 1st of January of the present year, the service was or- ganized, and 86 physicians have registered their names for duty.
During the eleven months ending November 30, there have been eighty-nine calls. for which the city has paid $267. In addition to this amouut, $95 have been expended for forins and the necessary books of record.
I am satisfied that, in one instance at least, a human life
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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
has been saved by a physician of the service, and that, in many cases, pain and suffering have been alleviated.
For the coming year, $600 have been appropriated-a sum which will undoubtedly be sufficient to meet all demands.
THE PLUMBING LAW .- This law, which practically went into effect May 1, 1882. has been enforced since that date, and has undoubtedly contributed a large share to the im- provement noticeable in the public health. During the past eleven months, 2,223 new houses have been plumbed in con- formity with this law, which requires the work to be done under the supervision of this department; making in all 3,451 buildings in the city, which have the benefit of im- proved sanitary plumbing, and are occupied, probably, by not less than 20,000 persons.
INSPECTION OF FOOD .- This work has been continued with the zeal and vigor which its importance demands, and has
resulted in giving to the citizens of Brooklyn a supply of meat and milk second to no city in the State.
PUMPS AND WELLS .- The examination of pump water, which was commenced last year, has been continued during the year 1883; and, at the present time, we have the result of the analysis of the water from every pump in the city. It will be seen by reference to the table hereto appended that when this work was begun, there were 296 pumps. Of these, 230 have been condemned as furnishing water which was unfit for human consumption, and 17 were found to be so unobjectionable as not to warrant condemnation. The Common Council have given the necessary authority to close 172, and these have all been filled, and are, therefore, no longer in existence. There still remain in the city 124, of which number 106 have been condemned; and 18 have not been condemned."
THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND BUILDINGS. BY THE EDITOR.
WESTERN DISTRICT.
The First Fire Company of Brooklyn, 1785 .- The first fire company within the present city of Brooklyn was organized on the 30th of April, 1785, at a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants, held at the dwelling of the Widow Margaret Moser, who kept a house of entertainment in what is now Fulton street, near the ferry. The following persons were appointed members of the company, viz. : Henry Stanton, cap- tain, Abraham Stoothoof, John Doughty, Jr., Thomas
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