The Metropolitan Health Bill was the first bill in the
New York state
New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...
which put legal grounds for
comprehensive control of sanitary conditions in the cities.
[Comments to ''Harper's Weekly'' Cartoon of the Mont]
“The Hygiene of New York City”
/ref>[ It was signed into the law on February 26, 1866. It was the basis of the Metropolitan Health Law, and the success of its implementation and its thoroughness had made it the example for similar laws all over the ]United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
.[Smith, p. 156]
History
One of the active proponents of the Health Bill, Stephen Smith, in his book ''The City that Was'' outlined the history of the passage of the Health Bill, from his perspective.[Stephen Smith, ''The City that Was'']
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Stephen Smith recalls the case when a certain tenement building in New York City was identified as a major source of epidemic diseases, but it turned out there was no law or ordinance under which the City Government could force the owner to remedy the situation. Eventually the owner was forced to fix the building after a threat of public shame as a court. This incident was a trigger event in the growing sentiment towards health regulations reform, and soon the Sanitary Association was organized, which for several years introduced annually the Health Bill, which was routinely defeated by the City Inspector.
When in early 1860s the Citizen's Association of New York was formed, the Sanitary Association's cause was met with sympathy, and two committees were formed within the Citizen's association: one on health and another on law. In this new setting, it was decided to create a pilot Health Bill to introduce as the 1864 Legislature to test the objections. The City Inspector denied the alleged unsanitary conditions, and the Bill failed. Upon learning the obstacles, the two-pronged strategy was adopted.[Smith, pp.42-44]
The first line of attack was to prepare a solid proof of the unsanitary conditions. To this end, a thorough sanitary inspection of the city was carried out. The inspection resulted in a 20-volume study of sanitation in the entire city, and its summary was published as ''Report of the Council of Hygiene and Public Health of the Citizens' Association of New York'' (known as ''Citizen's Association Report on the Sanitary Condition of the City''):[Report of the Council of Hygiene and Public Health of the Citizens' Association of New York upon the sanitary condition of the City]
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, 1865
The second line of attack was a political one: it was decided to bypass the Democratic machine of Mayor Tweed
Tweed is a rough, woollen fabric, of a soft, open, flexible texture, resembling cheviot or homespun, but more closely woven. It is usually woven with a plain weave, twill or herringbone structure. Colour effects in the yarn may be obtained ...
and introduce the bill on the state level dominated by the republicans, arguing that the health of the New York City was interdependent with the health of its surroundings and that the Metropolitan Health District was to be created, coincident with the Metropolitan Police District.Reuben Fenton
Reuben Eaton Fenton (July 4, 1819August 25, 1885) was an American merchant and politician from New York. In the mid- 19th Century, he served as a U.S. Representative, a U.S. Senator, and as Governor of New York.
Early life
Fenton was bor ...
on February 26.[
Stephen Smith writes that in fact the Metropolitan Health Bill was instrumental in shifting power from Democrats to Republicans in the state Legislature: the Bill became a prominent issue during the elections and caused the defeat of the 17 Democrats who voted against it.]Metropolitan Health Law The Metropolitan Health Bill was the first bill in the New York state which put legal grounds for comprehensive control of sanitary conditions in the cities.Comments to ''Harper's Weekly'' Cartoon of the Mont“The Hygiene of New York City”/ref> ...
in 1866 for the formation of the Metropolitan Board of Health The New York City Metropolitan Board of Health was the first modern municipal public health authority in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by the New York City Common Council at a suggestion by the New York Academy of Medicine, following a ...
.
References
{{reflist
Healthcare in New York (state)
New York (state) law
History of New York (state)