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case of epidemics, there is great need of such an organization to institute a uniform and consistent series of sanitary measures in regard to drainage, the construction and ventilation of tenement houses, and the abatement of nuisances, caused by stagnant water, and the filthy condition of lanes, alleys and yards.

By the ordinance reported last year, it was provided that the Board should consist of five persons, not members of the City Council, one of whom should be a member of the Suffolk Bar, and two should be physicians in good standing.

After mature consideration, your committee deem it advisable to change the organization somewhat, by providing for a representation of the two branches of the City Council on the Board. As amended, the ordinance provides for a Board of seven persons, — one alderman, two councilmen, two physicians, and two citizens at large, those not members of the City Council being appointed for a term of four years, one to retire each year. In other respects the ordinance is the same as the one submitted last year.

The committee unanimously recommend its passage.

For the committee,

MOSES FAIRBANKS,
Chairman.

In the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy

two.

AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A BOARD OF

HEALTH.

Be it ordained by the Aldermen and Common Council of the City of Boston, in City Council assembled, as follows:

SECTION 1. In the month of May, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-two, or as soon thereafter as may be, the Mayor shall appoint, subject to the approval and confirmation of the City Council, four persons, not members of the City Council (of whom two shall be physicians in good standing), one member of the Board of Aldermen, and two members of the Common Council, who shall constitute the Board of Health of the City of Boston. The persons so appointed shall enter upon the duties of their office forthwith; and the terms of office of the four persons appointed from the citizens at large shall be so arranged at the time of their appointment that the term of one shall expire on the first Monday in May in each year, and the vacancy so created, as well as all vacancies occurring otherwise, shall be filled by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council. The persons appointed from the Board of Aldermen and the Common Council shall hold office for one year, from the first Monday in January in the year of their appointment, and until others are appointed in their places. The members of said Board shall, at all times, be subject to removal by the Mayor for cause.

SECT. 2. The said Board shall organize annually by the choice of one of their members as Chairman. They shall also choose a Clerk, who shall not be a member of the Board;

and they may make such rules and regulations for their own government, and for the government of all subordinate officers in their department, as they may deem expedient.

SECT. 3. The Board of Health, as hereby constituted, shall have and exercise all the powers vested in, and shall perform all the duties prescribed to, the City Council or the Board of Aldermen as a Board of Health, under the statutes and ordinances now in force; and also all the powers vested in, and the duties prescribed to, the Board of Aldermen by the ordinance relating to the public health, passed the thirtyfirst day of December, A.D. 1869, and any additions or amendments thereto.

SECT. 4. The said Board shall annually, in the month of April, appoint a suitable person for City Physician, who shall hold his office for one year from the first Monday in May, in the year in which he is appointed. He may be removed at the pleasure of the Board, and a vacancy may be filled at any time for the unexpired term. He shall keep such records, and make such reports, as the Board of Health may from time to time direct.

SECT. 5. The said Board shall annually, in the month of April, appoint a suitable person for Port Physician, who shall hold his office for one year from the first Monday in May in the year in which he is appointed. He may be removed at the pleasure of the Board, and a vacancy may be filled at any time for the unexpired term. He shall keep such records, and make such reports as the Board of Health, may from time to time direct.

SECT. 6. The compensation of the Clerk, the City Physician, and the Port Physician, shall be such as the City Council may from time to time determine, and the expenses actually incurred by members of the Board in the performance of their duties shall be reimbursed to them.

SECT. 7. The said Board of Health shall annually, in the month of May or June, present to the City Council a report,

made up to, and including the thirtieth day of the preceding April, containing a full and comprehensive statement of the acts of the Board during the year, and a review of the sanitary condition of the city; and they shall at the same time, transmit to the City Council reports from the City Physician and the Port Physician covering the same period.

SECT. 8. Sections one, twenty-five, twenty-six, thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-seven, thirty-nine, and forty of the ordinance relating to the public health, passed the thirty-first day of December, A.D. 1869, and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed, said repeal to take effect upon the organization of the Board of Health as herein designated; provided, however, that the City Physician and the Port Physician, elected by the City Council to hold office for one year from the first Monday in April, in the year 1872, shall continue to hold said offices, unless removed by said Board for cause, until the first Monday in May in the year 1873.

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