Letters addressed to the Board of Health, and to Richard Riker, recorder of the city of New-York : on the subject of his agency in constituting a special medical council / by James R. Manley.

  • Manley, James R., 1781-1851.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters addressed to the Board of Health, and to Richard Riker, recorder of the city of New-York : on the subject of his agency in constituting a special medical council / by James R. Manley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    are in progress which they trust, with the blessing of God, will be found calculated to mitigate much of the severity of the disease if unfortunately it should increase ; and they rely with confidence on the co-operation of every class of the commuuity in completing the great, the essential, the indispensible work of purifying every part of the city ; and they in return will communicate all informa- tion in their possession for their satisfaction,* Now 1 would very respectfully ask whether there is a single sentence in this paper calculated to provoke the treatment which I have received, and to which I have been obliged to submit from the day above mentioned to this hour ? Is not this conduct with- out precedent, and does there appear to be any circumstance to qualify the character of the insult offered to me, or to the consti- tuted authorities of the State from whom I hold my appointment? The Recorder has been long enough a judge to know that a statement under oath made by a credible witness challenges be- lief in matters of opinion, as well as in matters of fact, in the ab- sence of all adverse testimony ; and that neither he nor the Board had a right to withhold their confidence is sufficiently shown by their pievious conduct. They believed that the advent of cholera was probable ; they had but a few days before sent Drs. Rhine- lander and Dekay to Canada to gather information concerning it; they had taken measures for a thorough purification of the city ; and to crown the whole, they had seen and conversed with both those gentlemen after their return and previously to the presenta- tion of this paper ! Here I leave the Board of Health to justify themselves to the public as they can. I have only stated the naked fact, and if I could, would make their apology; there is one man, however, who if he were willing, is abundantly able to give the explanation, if not the apology, and that man is the jRe- corder, whom I design to honor with a special communication. JAMES R. MAN LEY, Resident Physician. No. 19 White-street. October 6, 1832. * This clause was the only one which the Recorder incorporated in his address (o the public of July 3d, striking out the word increase, and substituting the word exist!!! —vide Address of Board of Health.