HEALTH LAWS, 
Ordipapces and Regulaliogs, 
OE THE 
V 
CITY OF CHICAGO. 
1874. Health Ordinances 
AND 
SANITARY REGULATIONS 
OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO. 
1874. LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS, CITY ORDINANCES AND BOARD 
REGULATIONS, RULES AND FORMS, HAVING REFER- 
ENCE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITARY CON- 
DITION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO. 
LEEISLATIVE ENACTMENTS. 
Provisions of the Charter of the City of Chicago Creating the Board 
and defining its powers. 
BOARD OF HEALTH. 
Section 1. The Mayor of the City of Chicago, with six other persons to be appointed 
on the passage of this act by the Judges of the Superior Court of Chicago, each of whom 
shall be a resident of said city, and three of whom, and no more, shall be physicians, shall 
constitute the Board of Health of the city of Chicago. Said Board of Health shall have, 
and there is hereby conferred on said Board, such powers and duties as may be necessary 
to promote or preserve the safety or health of the city, or improve its sanitary condition. 
Sec. 2. Said Board of Health may enact such by laws, rules and regulations as it may 
deem advisable, in harmony with the provisions and objects of this act and all acts the 
object of which is to promote and preserve the health, safety and sanitary condition of the 
city, now existing or that may hereafter be passed, not inconsistent with the Constitution or 
laws of this State, for the regulation of the action of said Board, its officers and agents, in 
the discharge of its and their duties, and for the regulation of the citizens or the public, 
and from time to time may alter, amend or annul the same. 
Sec. 8. The six members appointed, as herein provided, shall be divided into three 
classes. The first class shall hold office for two years, the second class for four years, and 
the third class for six years; and they- shall determine, by lot, at the first meeting of said 
Board, which two of them shall hold office for the respective terms of two years, four and 
six years. Vacancies occurring in the Board by the expiration of the term of office of each 
class, shall be filled by appointment by the Judges of the Superior Court of Chicago for 
six years; any vacancy caused by either removal, resignation or death, shall be filled in 
like mariner for the unexpired term. The members of said Board, appointed as herein 
provided, shall receive an annual salary of not less than $500, to be fixed by the Common 
Council. Before entering upon the duties of their office, they shall take the oath prescribed 
for State officers in the Constitution of the State, and they shall also give bonds to the said 
city in the sum of $25,000 each, conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties as 
members of the Board of Health under the provisions of this act, said bonds to be ap- 
proved by the Judges of the Superior Court of Chicago, and filed with their oath of office 
in the office of the City Clerk. And in case of failure to comply with the requirements of 
this section prior to the first meeting of said Board, the office of such member, so failing to 4 
take the prescribed oath and give a bond, shall be deemed vacant, and shall be filled as in 
this act provided. The members of the Board of Health may be removed from office for 
like cause and in like manner, as the Board of Police or the members of the Board of 
Public Works. 
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Board of Health, on or before the first Monday of 
April in each year, to report in writing the condition of the Health Department, and a 
statement of the expenditures of the Health Board for the year, to the Common Council. 
Sec. 5. The said Board of Health shall meet at the office of the Mayor of the city of 
Chicago, on or before the first Monday of April next, and organize by the election of one 
of their number President, and by appointing a competent person to be Secretary of said 
Board, and the successive Presidents of said Board of Health shall be annually elected 
from the members thereof. The Secretary shall keep a correct and complete record of all 
the acts, doings and proceedings of said Board; he shall receive an annual salary to be 
fixed by the Board, and shall hold office during the pleasure of said Board, but shall not 
be a member thereof. 
Sec. 6. The Board of Plealth are hereby authorized and required to select from the 
number one who shall act as Sanitary Superintendent, and who shall devote his whole 
time to the duties of said office, for which he is to receive, in addition to his salary as Com- 
missioner, the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, payable at such times and in such 
manner as the salary of Commissioner is now paid. 
Sec. 7. The Board of Police shall appoint such additional police patrolmen, to be 
subject to the rules and regulations of the Police Department, as the Board of Plealth may 
from time to time in writing request to be detailed as a sanitary squad, and be paid out of 
the health fund, the length of time for which they are wanted to be stated in said written 
request. 
Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Board of Health to prepare and submit to the 
Comptroller on or before the first day of May in every year, an estimate of the whole cost 
and expenses of providing for and maintaining the Plealth Department of said city during 
the current fiscal year, which estimate shall be laid, by said Comptroller, before the Com- 
mon Council with his annual estimate. The Common Council may provide for the amount 
so required in the general tax-levy to be laid on said city. Said money shall be paid into 
the City Treasury, and shall be styled *■ the health fund," and shall be drawn out for 
health purposes on the warrant of the City Comptroller, which shall be countersigned by 
the President or acting President of the Board of Health. The warrant of the Comptroller 
shall not be drawn on said fund except on the certificate of the President or acting Presi- 
dent of said Board of Health. 
Sec. 9. In case of pestilence or epidemic disease, or of danger from anticipated or 
impending pestilence or epidemic disease, or in case the sanitary condition of the city 
should be of such a character as to warrant it, it shall be the duty of the said Board of 
Health to take such measures, and to do, and order, and cause to be done, such acts for 
the preservation of the public health (though not herein, or elsewhere, or otherwise au- 
thorized), as it may, in good faith, declare the public safety and health to demand. 
Sec. 10. The Common Council, for the purpose of providing for the contingency men- 
tioned in the preceeding section, may order the Mayor and Comptroller to borrow a 
sufficient amount to cover such extraordinary expenditure for a space of time not exceeding 
the close of the next municipal year, which sum, together with the interest, shall be added to 
the amount authorized to be raised in the next general tax-levy, and embraced therein. 
Sec. 11. Any person or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of the 
health laws or ordinances of the city, or any of the by-laws, rules or regulations of the 
Board of Health, in addition to existing penalties, shall be subject to a fine of not less than 
five dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and on failure to promptly pay the same, 5 
may be imprisoned in the County Jail, Bridewell, or House of Correction, as in other cases 
of failure to pay a fine, or such person may be both fined and imprisoned, in the discretion 
of the court or magistrate. 
Sec. 12. All laws or parts thereof, relating to the health department of the city of 
Chicago,, now in force, not inconsistent with this act, are continued in force, and all powers 
therein conferred on the present Board of Health, not inconsistent herewith, are hereby con- 
ferred on the Board of Health of :he city of Chicago, as provided for this act: Provided, 
That nothing in this act contained shall be construed as in any manner giving to the said 
Board of Health any power or control as Police Commissioners over the Police Depart- 
ment of the city of Chicago. 
Sec. 13. In addition to their other powers and duties, said Board of Police* shall also 
perform the duties of a board of Health; and shall make diligent inquiry with respect to 
all matters affecting the health of the city, and cause all nuisances which may exist, which 
they may deem obnoxious to the health and lives of its inhabitants, to be abated or removed 
at their discretion, under a penalty of not less than five nor more than five hundred dollars, 
for every neglect or refusal of any person to comply with any order of said Board. 
Sec. 14. It shall be lawful for said Board to take such measures as they mav from time 
to time deem necessary, to prevent the spread of any pestilential or infectious disease; to 
see that suitable provisions are made for the accommodation of such sick persons as properlv 
come under the care of the city; and to make daily, weekly or monthly reports of the 
mortality of the city as they may think proper and expedient. 
Sec. 15. Every person practising physic in the city, who shall have a patient laboring 
under any malignant or yellow fever; or other infectious or pestilential disease, shall forth- 
with make report thereof, in writing, to the Secretary of said Board ; and for neglecting so 
to do, shall be considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and be liable to a fine of fifty dollars, 
to be sued for and recovered in an action of debt, in any court having cognizance thereof, 
with costs, for the use of said city. 
Sec. 16. It shall be the duty of said Board to detail some officer of the police force to 
visit and inspect all boats and vessles coming or lying, and being within the harbor 
of the city, which are suspected of having on board any pestilential or infectious 
disease, and all stores and buildings which are suspected to contain unsound provisions or 
damaged hides or other articles, and to make report of the state of the same to the 
President of said Board. 
Sec. 17. All persons in said city, not residents thereof, who shall be infected with any 
pestilential or infectious disease, and all things which, in the opinion of said Board 
shall be infected by, or tainted with pestilential matter, and which ought to be removed, so 
as not to endanger the health of the city, shall, by order of said Board, be removed to some 
proper place, not exceeding fifteen miles beyond the city bounds, to be provided by the 
Board, at the expense of the person who may be removed, if able; and the Board may 
order any furniture or wearing apparel, to be destroyed whenever they may judge it to be 
necessary for the health of the city, by making just compensation. 
Sec. 18. In case any boat or vessel shall come or be within the harbor or jurisdiction 
of the city, and the said Board shall believe that such boat or vessel is dangerous to the 
inhabitants of said city, in consequence of her bringing and spreading any pestilential or 
infectious disease among said inhabitants, or haye just cause to suspect or believe that if 
said boat or vessel is suffered to remain within the harbor or jurisdiction aforesaid, it will 
be the cause of spreading among the said inhabitants any pestilential or infectious disease, 
it shall and may be lawful for the said board, by an order in writing, signed by the Presi- 
dent for the time being, to order such boat or vessel to be forthwith removed to any dis- 
tance not exceeding fifteen miles, beyond the bounds of said city, after the delivery of such 
*See next preceding Section. 6 
order to the owner or consignee of said boat or vessel to quarantine, under such regulations, 
and for such time as the Common Council or said Board may prescribe; and if the master, 
owner or consignee, to whom such order shall be delivered, shall neglect or refuse to com- 
ply therewith, or if after such removal, such master, owner, or consignee, shall neglect or 
refuse to obey the regulation which may be prescribed, the said President may enforce such 
removal or other regulations in such manner as the Council may, by ordinance, direct; and 
such master, owner or consignee shall be considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and on convic- 
tion, shall be fined a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, and imprisoned not 
exceeding six months in the jail of Cook County, or in the city bridewell, or house of cor- 
rection, by any Court having cognizance thereof. The said fine shall be paid into the treasury. 
Sec. 19. The Common Council shall have power to prescribe other powers and duties 
to be exercised and performed by said Board for sanitary purposes, and to punish by fine 
and imprisonment, or both, any refusal or neglect to observe the orders and regulations of 
the Board upon this subject. The members of the police force shall be authorized under the 
direction of said Board, to enter all houses and other places, private or public, and boats 
or other vessels at all times, in the discharge of any duty under the sanitary provisions of 
this act. 
Sec. 20. It shall be the duty of all person or persons, corporation or corporations, 
having the ownership or control of dead, undressed, unslaughtered hogs, cattle or other 
animals or animal matter, within the city of Chicago, or within four miles of the limits of 
said city, to remove the same within twenty-four hours of their arrival within the above 
described locality, to some point not only out of the city of Chicago, but beyond the dis- 
tance of four miles from the limits of said city, and in case the person or persons having 
ownership, control or possession of such dead animals, shall fail to remove them within 
the time specified, it shall be the duty of the Health Officer of Chicago to take immediate 
possession of and remove the same. 
Sec. 21. No person or persons, corporation or corporations, shall render or try out any 
dead, undressed hogs, cattle or other animals, or any decayed, putrid or unsound animal 
matter, either in the city of Chicago, or within four miles of the limits of the same; nor 
shall it be lawful for the Common Council of the city of Chicago, or .any other board or 
body, to license, authorize or permit establishments for the above described business within 
the limits aforesaid. 
Sec. 22. No person or persons, corporation or corporations, shall render or manufac- 
ture any lard, tallow or soap grease within the limits of the city of Chicago, without adopt- 
ing such measures, in the way of condensers and other machinery, "to the end" of pre- 
venting unwholesome and disagreeable odors, as the Health Officer of the city may direct. 
Sec. 23. The owner, agent or occupant having charge of any tenement used as a 
dwelling, or for lodging purposes, within the city of Chicago, shall furnish the same with 
a sufficient drain, under ground, to carry off waste water, and also with a suitable privy, 
sufficient for the accommodation of all who may use it; nor shall the contents of any 
vault be allowed to accumulate within twelve inches of the even surface of the ground, or 
otherwise being offensive. 
Sec. 24. It shall be the duty of the Board of Health of the city of Chicago to appoint 
some person who shall be known as Health Officer of the city of Chicago, and whose duty 
it shall be to see that all ordinances and laws affecting the health of the city are enforced, 
and who shall be liable to be removed from office by a majority of said Board, and who 
shall be paid out of the health fund such salary as the Board may direct, and it shall 
be the duty of the Health Commisioners at all times to detail a sufficient police force to 
enable the said Health Officer to enforce the provisions of this act, as well as all Health 
Ordinances of the city of Chicago ; it shall be the duty of the Common Council of Chicago 
to provide sufficient funds to enforce the provisions of this act. 7 
Sec. 25. Any person or corporation violating the provisions of the first section of this 
act shall be liable to a fine of one hundred dollars for each offence. 
Sec. 26. Any person or persons neglecting to comply with the provisions of section four 
of this act shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars for failing to comply with the same, 
within a reasonable time (not to exceed thirty days) after notice from the Health Officer of 
the city of Chicago, and a fine of five dollars for every day's neglect and failure thereafter 
to comply with the provisions of said section four. 
Sec. 27. Any person or persons, corporation or corporations, neglecting or refusing to 
comply with the provisions of section three of this act within a reasonable time (not to 
exceed thirty days) after being notified by the Health Officer of the city of Chicago to com- 
ply with the same, shall be liable to a fine of one hundred dollars, and fifty dollars per day 
for every day thereafter that he or they shall so refuse or neglect to comply with the pro- 
visions of said section third* 
Sce. 28. The penalties provided for in this act shall be recovered in an action of debt> 
to be brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, against the party offend- 
ing, in any justice court or court of record in the county of Cook ; one-half of the penalty 
or penalties shall go to the informer who may institute and prosecute such action, and the 
other half of such penalty shall go to the city of Chicago. 
Sec. 29. It shall be the duty of the'States Attorney for the county of Cook to institute 
and prosecute actions for all offenses under this act which shall come or be brought to his 
knowledge, and when so instituted and prosecuted by him, he shall be entitled to one-half 
of such penalty as his fees, the other half going to the city of Chicago. 
Sec. 30. Any person or persons violating the second section of this act shall be liable to 
a fine of not less than one hundred dollars per day for every dav they shall continue in 
violation of the same; and it shall be the duty of the Health Officer of said city of Chi- 
cago to at once enter upon and take possession of the premises and fixtures of said person 
so violating, and where said prohibited business is being conducted, and immediately there- 
after file with the State's Attorney for Cook county a sworn statement of complaint, setting 
forth facts of such seizure, and describing the premises seized, together with the name or 
names of the owner or owners thereof, and thereupon the State's Attorney shall at once file 
an information in any Court of record for the city of Chicago, or County of Cook, in the 
name of the People of Illinois, and against the person or persons owning such establish- 
ment, and said information shall be tried and determined in the court where the same has 
been filed, with all convenient speed, giving the same precedence of all but criminal busi- 
ness in said court; and if the person or persons so charged in said information shall be 
adjudged guilty, then, in addition to the fine herein provided for, the costs shall be taxed 
against the defendant or defendants in said information, and the court shall issue a writ of 
injunction perpetually enjoining said establishment, and the owner or owners thereof, from 
renewing or continuing the said prohibited business. And it shall be the duty of the State's 
Attorney to file an information against any person or persons owning or running any such 
establishment, upon the sworn complaint of any three citizens and free holders of Chicago, 
and immediately upon the filing of the same, the court where the same may be filed shall 
issue process directed to the Health Officer of Chicago, or to the Sheriff of Cook county, 
authorizing and requiring them or either of them to enter upon and seize the premises and 
fixtures where such business is being done, and retain possession of the same until a tria} 
upon said information shall be had, as in this act before provided; and if the parties so 
charged shall be adjudged to be guilty, a writ of injunction shall issue from said court, 
perpetually enjoining said parties from renewing or continuing said business, but if adjudged 
not guilty, the premises and fixtures shall be restored to the owner or owners thereof. 
Sec. 31. If any person or persons corporation or corporations, shall be engaged in 
rendering any dead animals, or grease of any description whatever, or in the manufacture) 8 
preparation or storage of any offal, blood, or any other animal matter, or in the slaughtering 
or feeding of any animals, or in any other business tending to produce noxious or unwhole- 
some matter, within the city of Chicago, or within four miles of the limits thereof, in such 
a manner as to create unwholesome and offensive odors, it shall be the duty of the State's 
Attorney for Cook county, upon a complaint in writing, and under oath, filed with him 
made by the Health Officer of said city, and whose dnty it shall be, having knowledge of 
the fact, to make such complaint upon like complaint made by any three residents and free- 
holders of Chicago, said complaints to set forth the fact of the carrying on of a business 
producing unwholesome, noxious, offensive odors, together with a description of the 
premises where the same is conducted, and the name or names if the same can be ascer' 
tained, of the person or persons conducting the business, to file an information in the 
name of the People of the State of Illinois, in any court of record in and for the city of 
Chicago or county of Cook, against such establishment, or the persons carrying on the 
same; and immediately upon the filing of such information, process shall issue from the 
court whence such information shall be filed, directed to the Health Officer of the city of 
Chicago, or to the Sheriff of Cook county, authorizing and requiring them, or either of 
them, to take possession of the premises and fixtures where such business is being con- 
ducted, ami retain possession of the same until a trial of said information shall be had, and 
to summon the person or parties in said information named, so as to appear and answer the 
same forthwith. And it shall be the duty of the court, in which such information may be 
filed, to proceed to the hearing of said information as soon as may be, giving the same prece- 
dence of all other causes, except criminal business; and if, upon the hearing of said cause, 
the person or persons against whom the said information shall be filed shall be found guilty as 
in said information charged, they shall be adjudged to pay the costs and fine of not less than one 
hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and the court shall issue a writ of in- 
junction, perpetually enjoining him or them from continuing such business in any offensive 
or injurious manner. In case the parties so charged shall not be found guilty, the property 
seized shall at once be restored to them. If in any case prosecuted under the eleventh and 
twelfth sections of this act*there existed probable cause for the complaint or seizure, it shaft 
be the duty of the court to so certify, and no action shall then lie against the party or parties 
making such complaint or seizure, and in that case the costs shall be paid by the city. 
Sec. 32. All ordinances heretofore passed by the Common Council of said city, and 
now in force in relation to the abatement of nuisances, shall continue in full force and 
effect until altered, amended or repealed by the Common Council, except so far as the 
provisions thereof may be inconsistent with the provisions of this act; and it shall be the 
duty of the Common Council to pass, from time to time, all such additional ordinances and 
regulations as may be found necessary or expedient for the carrying out of the objects of this 
act. 
Sec. 33. This act shall be deemed a public act, and be in force from and after its 
passage. 
ORDINANCES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. 
HEALTH DEPARTMENT 
Section 1. The Board of Health may take such measures as they may from time to 
time deem necessary to prevent the spread of the small pox (or other pestilential diseases,) 
by issuing an order requiring all persons in the city, or any part thereof, to be vaccinated 
within such time as they shall prescribe; and all persons refusing or neglecting to obey such 
order shall be liable to a fine of not less than three dollars nor more than twenty-five dol- 
lars : Provided, That it shall be the duty of the Board to provide for the vaccination of 
such persons as are unable to pay for the same, at the expense of the city. 
♦Sections, 30 and 31. 9 
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Health Officer to carry out all the orders of the 
Board of Health and the laws of the State and ordinances of the city in relation to the 
sanitary regulations of the city; to proceed from time to time, to make a thorough and 
systematic examination of the city, and cause all nuisances to be abated with all reasonable 
promptness. And for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing requirements, he shall be 
permitted at all times, from the rising to the setting of the sun, to enter into any house, 
store, stable or other building, and to cause the floors to be raised, if he shall deem it 
necessary, in order to a thorough examination of cellars, vaults, sinks or drains; to enter 
upon all lots or grounds, and to cause all stagnant waters to be drained off, the pools, sinks, 
vaults, drains or low grounds to be cleansed, filled up, or otherwise improved or amended ; 
to cause all privies to be cleansed and kept in good condition ; and to cause all dead ani- 
mals or other nauseous or unwholesome things or substances to be buried or removed 
beyond the limits of the city. 
Sec. 3. In order to the carrying out of the provisions of the foregoing section, it shall 
be the duty of the Health Officer to serve a notice in writing upon the owner, occupant or 
agent of any lot, building or premises in or upon which any nuisance may be found, or 
who may be the owner or cause of any such nuisance, requiring them to abate the same in 
such manner as he shall prescribe, within reasonable time: Provided, That it shall not be 
necessary in any £ase for the Health Officer to specify in his notice the manner in which 
any nuisance shall be abated, unless he shall deem it advisable so to do; and such notice 
may be given or served by any officer who may be directed or deputed to give or make the 
same, and if such owner, occupant or agent shall neglect or refuse to comply with the re- 
quirements of such order within the time specified, they shall be subject to a fine of not 
less than three dollars nor more than fifty dollars for every such violation. And it shall be 
the duty of the said officer to proceed at once, upon the expiration of the time specified in 
said notice, to cause such nuisance to be abated : Provided, That whenever the owner, oc- 
cupant or agent of any premises in or upon which any nuisance may be found, is unknown 
or can not be found, the said Health Officer shall proceed to abate the same without notice ; 
and in either case the expense of such abatement shall be collected in the manner provided 
by the city charter and amendments thereto. 
Sec. 4. It shall be the further duty of the Health Officer to visit and examine all sick 
persons who shall be reported to him as laboring, or supposed to be laboring under any 
yellow or ship fever, small-pox, cholera, or any infectious or pestilential disease, and under 
the advice of the City Physician, cause all such infected persons to be removed to the 
cholera, small-pox or other hospitals, or to such other safe and proper place as he may think 
proper, or as he shall be directed by the said City Physician, not exceeding three miles froth 
said city, and cause them to be provided with suitable nurses and medical attendance at their 
own expense, if they are able to pay for the same, but if not, then at the expense of the city. 
Sec. 5. It shall be the further duty of the Health Officer, when directed by the City 
Physician, or by the Board of Health, to cause a notice, printed or written in large 
letters, to be placed upon or near any house in which any person may be affected or sick 
with small-pox, upon which shall be written or printed the words, small-pox here; and if 
any person or persons shall deface, alter, mutilate, destroy or tear down such notice, without 
permission of the Board of Health, or of the Health Officer, such person or persons shall 
be liable for each offence to pay a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty dol- 
lars. The occupant of any house upon which such notice shall be placed or posted, as 
aforesaid, shall be held responsible for the removal of the same, and if the same shall be 
removed without the permission of the Board of Health, or of the Health Officer, such 
occupant shall be subject to the like fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than 
fifty dollars, unless he shall notify the Board of Health or the Health Officer, within twenty- 
four hours after the removal of the said notice. 10 
Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Health Officer to see that the hospitals of the city 
are supplied with suitable nurses, furniture, nourishment, fuel and medicines, under the 
direction of the Board of Health or City Physician, and that persons dying therein, or in 
other places under the charge of the city, are decently and promptly buried by the city: 
Provided, Such deceased persons have not the means to defray their own expenses of 
sickness or burial. 
Sec. 7. No person shall throw, place or conduct, or suffer his or her servant, child or 
family to throw, place or conduct into any street, alley or lot, any putrid or unsound beef, 
pork, fish, hides or skins of any kind, or any filth, offal, dung, dead animal, vegetables, 
oyster-shells, or any unsound or offensive matter whatever, or anything likely to become 
offensive. Nor shall any person allow such filth, offal, dung, or other offensive matter as 
aforesaid, to be or remain upon their premises, or in any out-house, stable, privy or other 
places owned or occupied by them, or in any alley or. street in front of such prem- 
ises, in such manner as to be offensive to the neighborhood. And any person who shall 
violate any of the provisions of this section shall be fined in a sum not exceeding twenty- 
five dollars. 
Sec. 8. No person or persons shall throw, place or deposit, or cause to be thrown, 
placed or deposited, any dung, carrion, dead animal, offal or other putrid or unwholesome 
substance, or the contents of any privy, upon the margin or banks, or in the waters of Lake 
Michigan within the limits of said city of Chicago, or upon the margin, banks, or into the 
waters of the Chicago River or either of its branches, or upon any public grounds, or upon 
any lot within the limits of said city, under the penalty of twenty-five dollars for each and 
every offence, and a further penalty of five dollars for each and every day the same shall 
be allowed to remain after a conviction for the same offence. 
Sec. 9. Every practising physician jn the city, who shall have a patient laboring under 
any malignant or yellow fever, small-pox, or other infectious or pestilential disease, shall 
forthwith make report thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Board of Health, describ- 
ing the street, number and locality of the house or place where the said patient may be 
located, so that it may be easily found, and for neglecting so to do, shall be liable to a fine 
of fifty dollars. 
Sec. 10. No person shall put out, remove or allow to be put out or removed, from the 
premises or place occupied or owned by him, into any street, alley or other public place, in 
said city, any person having the small-pox or any other infectious or pestilential disease, but 
such owner or occupant shall immediately report such case to the Health Officer, or Secre- 
tary of the Board of Health. Any person who shall violate any' clause of, or neglect to 
perform any duty required in this section, shall pay a penalty of not less than ten dollars 
nor more than one hundred dollars, and may be confined in the City Bridewell, not exceed- 
ing sixty days. 
Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the City Physician : 
First. To have and exercise a general supervision over the sanitary condition of the 
city, and to report to the Board of Health all nuisances, the prevalence of any epidemic, 
contagious or infectious disease, or other causes, which in his opinion are likely to be detri- 
mental to the general health. 
Second. To keep on hand, at all times, a sufficient supply of genuine vaccine matter, and 
to see that all persons, so far as he may have it in his power, are properly vaccinated, 
especially those in the vicinity of any person attacked by small-pox. 
Third. Upon being informed of the existence or introduction of any contagious or in- 
fectious disease within the city, to inquire immediately into the facts, and report the same 
to the Board of Health, and see that the orders of the Board of Health are obeyed, so far 
as practicable. 11 
Fourth. To superintend the small-pox, cholera and other city hospitals, and admin- 
ister to all persons conveyed there, who have no other physician, or who are unable to 
employ one; to attend and administer to such other indigent persons as he may be 
directed to by the Board of Health or the Health Officer; and to visit and administer 
to prisoners, sick in the city work-house, calaboose, watch-house, police stations, or house of 
correction, and to make at least three visits to the house of correction each week. 
Fifth. To attend the meetings of the Board of Health, and report to it all cases where 
any sick person has not been properly attended to, and all other matters which he may 
deem important, and give such information as the said Board may desire, in relation to the 
sanitary condition or regulations of the city, so far as he may be able so to do. 
Sixth. To examine, at the request of the Board of Health or Health Officer, boats and 
vessels coming into port, the officers, crew or passengers of which may be supposed to be 
affected by any contagious or infectious disease, and advise the Health Officer what dispo- 
sition shall be made of the same; and to perform such other duties as the Common Council 
shall hereafter prescribe, including the vaccination of the children in the public schools, or 
of others requesting him to do so; and to make a monthly report of his transactions to 
the Common Council, together with such suggestions as experience may point out as calcu- 
lated to promote the general sanitary condition of the city. 
Sec. 12. The Board of Health, by and with the approval of the Common Council, may 
select, purchase, lease and'establish such sites, places and boundaries for quarantine stations 
and purposes, and with the approval of said Council may erect from time to time such 
buildings and hospitals upon such sites and places, and so keep the same in repair, as in 
their judgment shall be deemed necessary. And the said Board, whenever and at such times 
as by them it shall be deemed necessary, may, by proclamation, (the approval of the Common 
Council being first had and obtained), require all boats, vessels, railroad cars, or other 
public conveyances bound for this city, before the same shall land or stop at any wharf, 
depot, or landing or stopping place therein, to touch or stop at any or either of the sites, 
places or boundaries so selected and established for quarantine purposes, and leave all such 
emigrants, travelers, or persons recently from seaboard, and all such sick, diseased, or un- 
clean persons, with their stores and baggage, as in the opinion of the officers stationed at 
such quarantine sites, places or boundaries, shall be deemed proper, on account of the exis- 
tence or general report of cholera, ship fever, or any contagious disease or disease appre- 
hended to endanger the health of the city; and whenever it shall be deemed necessary to 
issue the said proclamation, it shall be the duty of the said Board to send the same, together 
with the substance of the regulations for quarantine, and the period for which the same 
shall be in force, unless sooner revoked, to New York, Buffalo, Detroit, Toledo, LaSalle, 
St. Louis, Galena, Dubuque, Burlington, and such other cities and places as by them shall 
be deemed proper; and shall also cause to be stationed at such quarantine sites, places and 
boundaries as said Board may deem advisable, one or more physicians or health officers, 
whose duty it shall be to go on board and examine all boats, vessels, cars, or other public 
conveyances, so as aforesaid required to touch or stop at said quarantines respectively, and 
then and there determine what emigrants, passengers or persons (if any) shall be per- 
mitted to come to the city, and what emigrants, passengers or persons (if any) shall stop at 
such quarantine; and it shall be the duty of all persons conducting or in charge of any 
such vessel, boat, car, or public conveyance, to aid and assist any physician or health officer 
so as aforesaid stationed, in the exercise of his duties ; and the said physicians or health 
officers shall attend to all sick persons who may be landed or placed in quarantine, and 
provide medicines and necessaries for their use, and shall have general supervision of such 
quarantines, and compel persons therein to purify their bodies, clothes, and baggage, and do 
all such acts and things as shall be proper in the premises, keeping correct accounts of all 
expenditures and wages, which shall be allowed and paid by order of the said Board. And 12 
whenever the physician or officer in charge of any quarantine station or place, as aforesaid, 
shall, upon examination, be satisfied that there is no longer occasion for the detention of 
any boat, vessel, car, or conveyance at such quarantine or place, and such boat, vessel, car 
or conveyance shall have been thoroughly cleansed, and such persons as aforesaid landed 
and placed in the care of such physician or officer, such physician or officer shall give such 
vessel, boat, car or conveyance, a permit, signed by him, to enter the city, which shall be 
ample authority for the entry of said boat, vessel, car or conveyance. And the said officers 
respectively shall discharge all persons in quarantine by their certificates for that purpose, 
whenever they are satisfied that such persons are free of disease, and their baggage and 
effects properly purified : Provided, however, That the Board, in their discretion, by pro- 
clamation for that purpose, may, during the prevalence of cholera, ship fever, or other con- 
tagious oi' fatal disease, forbid the admission of emigrants or others peculiarly liable thereto, 
into any or all of said quarantines or stations, until, in their opinion, the health of the city 
will justify the same. 
Sec. 13. It shall be the duty of the said Board, whenever by them it shall be deemed 
necessary, to keep at the quarantine station or stations a sufficient police force, whose duty 
it shall be to enforce all regulations by this chapter required, or by said Board to be estab- 
lished, and to arrest all persons violating said regulation, or committing any breaches of the 
peace, and bring such persons before any court having jurisdiction, for trial, and to arrest 
and hold for trial all persons disobeying or interfering with, or resisting any physician, 
health officer, or other person in authority at such quarantine site, place or station. 
Sec. 14. In case any boat, vessel, car, or public conveyance shall leave any quarantine 
station, place or boundary without a permit as aforesaid, or shall fail to stop at the same, 
when so as aforesaid required by the issuing of the said proclamation, or whenever the per- 
son in charge thereof, or any person under his command shall fail or refuse to obey any 
regulation or command of the said Board, health officer, physician, or person in charge of 
any quarantine station or place, or of any provision or requirement of this chapter, the said 
Board shall have power, and it is hereby made their duty, if in their opinion the health of 
the city requires it, to send sufficient police force to such boat, vessel, car or public convey- 
ances, and cause the same, with the crew and passengers on board, to be landed, or stopped, 
or conveyed to the quarantine station or place, and there to remain until properly discharged 
by the permit as aforesaid: and the owner, master, or the person in charge of any such boat, 
vessel, car or public conveyance, shall be liable to the city for all expenses and costs incurred 
by reason thereof; and if any emigrant, traveler or person, so placed in quarantine as 
aforesaid, shall leave the same without permission as aforesaid, he may be arrested and 
taken back to said quarantine, and there retained until such permission shall be given. 
Sec. 15. The said Board shall make such rules and regulations for the government of 
the quarantine or health of the city, as from time to time they shall deem necessary; and 
the physicians or health officers in charge of any quarantine station or place shall have 
power to make and enforce such regulations as may be necessary for the proper conducting 
and management thereof; and it shall be the duty of all persons in quarantine, and all 
agents, officers, policemen, or others employed by the city in and about said quarantine 
stations or places, to carry out and obey the same. 
Sec. 16. The said Board, by and with the approval of the Common Council, may ap- 
point one or more competent physicians as quarantine physicians, who shall be present at 
such quarantine stations as the said Board shall designate, and at such times as said Board 
shall direct, and attend to all the duties imposed by this chapter or by the regulations of 
said Board, who shall receive each, for actual service rendered, and for such time as such 
services shall be actually required, not less than five dollars nor more than ten dollars per 
day, to be allowed by the said Board; also the said Board may employ such agents, ser- 
vants, nurses, or temporary medical assistance, for the purpose of carrying into effect the 13 
objects and intent of this chapter, or of any regulation of the Board, as in their judgment 
shall from time to time be necessary, or authorize the employment thereof by the physicians 
or health officers in charge of any quarantine or station. All the salaries, wages and 
expenses in this section contemplated are to be audited and allowed by the said Board, and 
when so allowed, are to be paid out of the fund set apart for quarantine purposes, or in 
case of necessity out of the contingent fund of the city; Provided, That, -when practicable, 
the persons taken in such quarantines or stations, and receiving the aid and care afforded 
thereby, shall each pay a sum of money sufficient to meet all expenses, labor and care in- 
curred in his behalf, which said amounts shall be faithfully kept, reported and accounted 
for by the physician, health officer or other person in charge of said quarantine or station, 
to the said Board; and all other expenses incurred or to be incurred by reason of this 
chapter or of any regulation of said Board, shall be paid out of the fund set apart for quar- 
antine purposes, or when necessary, out of the contingent fund of the city. 
Sec. 17. No person, master, captain or conductor in charge of any boat, vessel, railroad 
car or public conveyance shall knowingly bring into this city any person or persons diseased 
of cholera, small-pox, ship fever, or contagious or communicable disease whatsoever; and 
no vessel, boat, railroad car, or public conveyance, at any time covered by the said procla- 
mation, shall pass by any quarantine station or place without stopping, nor shall leave the 
same without the permit aforesaid; and no person stopping in said quarantine, or so as 
aforesaid received therein, shall leave the same without first obtaining permission as afore- 
said ; nor shall any person aid or abet any master, conductor, or person in charge of any 
boat, vessel, railroad car or public conveyance, in violating, neglecting or evading any pro- 
vision or requirement of this chapter; nor shall any person interfere with, resist, or neglect, 
or refuse to obey the orders of any physician, health officer, policeman or other person in 
authority, at any quarantine station or place of quarantine so as aforesaid established, nor 
do any act or thing in violation of or in disobedience to any of the provisions, clauses or 
sections of this chapter; nor shall commit any breach of the peace, or do any act calculated 
in any way to defeat or interfere with the provisions or requirements of this chapter, or of 
any regulation of the said Board, physician or officer in charge of any quarantine. 
Sec. 18. The moneys appropriated to the quarantine fund shall be faithfully applied by 
the said Board to the true objects and purposes of its appropriation, and the said Board 
shall make reports of their doings and expenditures to the Common Council whenever 
requested so to do. 
Sec. 19. Any master of a vessel, conductor, captain or person whatsoever, who shall 
violate any clause, provision, requirement, duty or regulation of this chapter, or any rule 
or regulation of the said Board, or physician, or health officer in charge of any quarantine, 
or who shall fail or neglect to comply with any such clause, provision, requirement, duty 
or orders, or who shall interfere with, or in any manner resist any officer or agent of the 
city in the discharge of his duty as herein contemplated, or who shall commit any breach 
of the peace, or be guilty of any act or thing calculated to defeat or interrupt the carrying 
into effect any part of this chapter, or any regulation of the said Board, shall, in cases 
where no other penalty is provided, on conviction, pay a fine of not less than five dollars, 
nor more than one hundred dollars. 
misdemeanors. 
Sec. 7. If any person shall inhumanely, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, injure, or other- 
wise abuse any dumb animal, or overload any team, or expose any calves or sheep upon 
the streets or sidewalks, with their legs tied, he shall be subject to a fine of not less than 
five dollars, nor exceeding twenty dollars, in any case. 
Sec. 17. No person shall vend, give or deliver, within this city, any deadly poison, 
knowing the same to be such, without marking the same, in legible characters, "poison," 
under a penalty of five dollars for each offence. 14 
Sec. 27. Any person who shall keep or leave open any cellar door, or grating of any 
vault on any highway or sidewalk, or shall suffer the same to be left or kept open, or who 
shall suffer any sidewalk in front of his premises to become or continue so broken as to 
endanger life or limb, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars in every case. 
Sec. 28. No person shall sell, offer to sell or dispose of impure, unwholesome adulter- 
ated or diluted milk in said city, under a penalty of not less than twenty five dollars nor 
more than one hundred dollars for each offense. 
NUISANCES. 
Section 1. Any person or persons who shall own, keep or use, any yard, pen, place or 
premises within the city of Chicago, in or upon which more than ten cattle or swine shall 
be confined or kept at any one time, and any person or persons who shall own, keep or 
use any yard, pen, place or premises, hi or upon which a less number of cattle or swine 
than ten shall be so kept as to be offensive to those residing in the vicinity, or an annoyance 
to the public, shall be deemed the author of a nuisance, and, on conviction, shall be sub- 
ject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars in 
every case, and to a like fine for every day he or they shall neglect or refuse to abate such 
nuisance, when notified by the Mayor or Board of Health to abate the same. 
Sec. 2. Any person or persons who shall carry on, occupy or use any distillery, slaugh- 
tering establishment, or establishment for steaming or rendering lard, tallow, offal, dead 
animals, or other substances of like nature, within the limits of the city of Chicago, or 
within the distance of four miles therefrom, without permission of the Common Council, to 
be granted in the manner hereinafter provided, shall be deemed the author of a nuisance, 
and, on conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one 
hundred dollars in every case, and to a like fine for every day he or they shall neglect or 
refuse to abate such nuisance, when notified by the Mayor or Board of Health to abate the 
same. 
Sec. 3. Any person desirous of obtaining a permit, under the provisions of this chap- 
ter, shall make application therefor to the Common Council in writing, stating the business 
he is desirous of pursuing, and specifying the premises whereon the business is to be con- 
ducted. If such application shall be granted, the applicant shall thereupon be required to 
enter into a bond, with one or more sureties, to be approved by the Mayor, in the penal 
sum of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, conditioned 
that the said applicant will faithfully comply with all the requisitions of this chapter, and 
such other ordinance or ordinances as may be hereafter passed by the Common Council 
upon this subject. And upon the execution and delivery of said bond it shall be the duty 
of the Mayor and Clerk to issue a license to the applicant, under the corporate seal, which 
license shall continue in force for the period of one year from and after the date thereof, 
and no longer, and the Clerk shall keep a register of all licenses which shall be issued. 
Sec. 4. No person who shall obtain a license for any business, employment, or purpose 
mentioned in the preceding sections, or who shall conduct or carry on any such business or 
employment within the limits of the city, or within the distance of four miles therefrom, or 
upon the Chicago river or either of its branches, or within one hundred rods thereof, shall 
allow or suffer any blood, bones, offal, still-slops, or other offensive matter to run, fall or get 
into the Chicago River, or into either of the branches thereof, or any of the canals or slips 
connected therewith; or place, cause, or permit to be placed, or permit or suffer to remain 
on his premises, as aforesaid, any blood, bones, offal, filth, still-slops or other offensive 
matter, for a longer period than twenty-four hours at any one time, from the first day of 
March to the first day of November in any year, or exceeding forty-eight hours during any 
other part of the year; but the same shall be collected in tubs or vats, constructed as the 1 
Health Officer may direct, and removed within the time above prescribed, to a distance of 
at least forty rods from said river and its branches and from Lake Michigan, and a like 
distance from any dwelling or public street, or highway, in covered and tight boxes as the 
Health Officer may direct, and shall thep be buried in the ground and covered with a layer 
of earth at least twelve inches in depth, so as not to become a nuisance or a matter of 
offense. And every such person shall at all times keep his premises in a clean, healthy, 
and inoffensive condition. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this 
section shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars and not exceeding one- 
hundred dollars for each and every offense, and the license so granted to him, if any license 
shall have been granted, may be revoked, at the pleasure of the Common Council. 
Sec. 5. Any distiller, tanner, brewer, butcher, pork and beef packer, soap boiler, tallow 
chandler, dyer, livery stable keeper, or other persons whatsoever, who shall cause or suffer 
any offal, manure, rubbish, filth, still-slops, or any refuse animal or vegetable matter, or 
any foul or nauseous liquor, to be discharged out or flow from any premises owned or occu- 
pied by him, or to be thrown into, deposited or left in the Chicago River, or either of its 
branches or any of the slips or canals connected therewith, or into Lake Michigan, or into 
any slough within the jurisdiction of the city, or in or upon any street, alley, public square, 
vacant lot, wharf or dock, river bank or lake shore, shall be subject to a fine of not less 
than twenty-five dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars, for every offense. 
Sec. 6. No person shall permit or suffer any substance of the nature mentioned in the 
proceeding section which is liable to become putrid or offensive, or injurious to the public 
health, to remain on any premises owned or occupied by him for a longer period than 
twenty-four hours at any one time from the 1st day of March to the 1st day of November 
in any year, or not exceeding forty-eight hours during any other part of the year, but the 
same shall be removed or buried within the time above designated, in the manner and ac- 
cording to the requisitions prescribed in like cases in the fourth section of this chapter. 
Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine of not 
less than twenty-five dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars for every offense, and a 
further penalty of twenty-five dollars for each day the same shall be allowed to remain after 
a conviction for the first offense. 
Sec. 7. No person shall steam, or boil, or in any way render any offal, tainted or 
damaged lard or tallow, steam or render any animal substance in such a manner as to oc- 
casion an offensive smell, or which will, by undergoing such process, so taint the air as to 
render it unwholesome or offensive to the smell, within the limits of the city, or within the 
distance of two miles therefrom. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of 
this section shall be subject, for each offense, to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars 
and not exceeding one hundred dollars, in the discretion of the court. 
Sec. 8. Any owner or occupant of any tallow chandler's shop, soap factory, tannery, 
distillery, livery stable, cattle yard or shed, barn, packing house, slaughter house or render- 
ing establishment, who shall suffer the same to become nauseous, foul or offensive, shall be 
fined in a sum not less than twenty-five dollars, and not exceeding one hundred dollars in 
every case. 
Sec. 9. If any person shall own, occupy or keep any grounds or other premises, in such 
condition as to be offensive and a nuisance to the neighborhood, he shall be subject to a 
fine of not less than twenty-five dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars, and to a 
like fine for every day such nuisance shall continue after the first conviction. 
Sec. 10. If any person shall erect or continue any privy within forty feet from any 
street, or the dwelling, shop, or well of any person, unless the same be furnished with a 
substantial vault, six feet deep, and made tight, so that the contents cannot escape there- 
from, and sufficiently secured and inclosed, he shall incur a penalty of ten dollars, and a 
like penalty for every week he shall continue the same after the first conviction. 
15 16 
Sec. 11. If any person shall suffer or permit any cellar, vault, private drain, pool, 
privy, sewer, or sink, upon any premises belonging to or occupied by him, to become nau- 
seous, foul, offensive or injurious to the public health, he shall be subject to a fine of not 
less than five dollars and not exceeding fifty dollars in every case, and to a like fine for 
every day the same shall continue, after notice to remove and abate such nuisance. 
Sec. 12. If any person being the owner of any hog, shoat, or pig, shall suffer the same 
to run or be at large, or be found at large, he shall be subject to a penalty of two dollars in 
every case. 
Sec. 14. For the purpose of carrying the foregoing provisions into effect, it shall be the 
duty of the Board of Health to detail a sufficient number of the police force, not less than 
two from each division of the city, and said force to be under control of the Health Officer, to 
make, from time to time, and as often as may be requisite, a thorough and systematic ex- 
amination of the city, and to ascertain and report to the proper authority, for prosecution, 
all. violations of this chapter, and for this purpose they shall be permitted at all times to 
visit and enter into or upon any building, lot or grounds, within the jurisdiction of the city 
and to make examination thereof. 
Sec. 15. Whenever any nuisance shall be found on any premises, within the city, con- 
trary to any ordinance, the Board of Health are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to 
cause the same to be summarily abated, in such manner as they may direct. 
Sec. 16. In all cases where a nuisance shall be found in any building, or upon any 
ground or other premises within the jurisdiction of the city, twenty-four hours' notice may 
be given in writing, signed by the Board of Health, or by some officer of said Board, or by 
the acting Health Officer, to the owner or occupant of such building or other premises, 
where he is known and can be found, to remove such nuisance; and in case of his neglect 
or refusal to abate the same in accordance with such notice, he shall be chargeable with the 
expenses which may be incurred in the removal thereof, to be collected by suit or otherwise, 
in addition to the fine or penalty. 
Sec. 17. Any person or persons, other than members of the police force, who may 
hereafter give information that shall lead to the conviction of any person or persons guilty 
of a violation of this chapter, shall be entitled to one-half the fine imposed for such viola- 
tion, to be paid when the same shall be collected, upon the certificate of the clerk of the 
police court, stating the person who gave such information, and the time when it was given. 
Sec. 18. Every pile, timber or stone which may have been or shall be driven, placed 
or laid, or projected in, along or across the Chicago River or its branches, below low 
water mark or any water line which may be established by the Common Council, for the 
purposes of a wharf or otherwise, shall be deemed a nuisance. And every person who 
shall drive or place any pile, timber or stone, as aforessid, or be the owner of any premises 
on which the same shall be so driven, placed or erected, shall be subject to a fine of not 
less than twenty dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars for every violation hereof, 
and to a like fine for every three days such nuisance is continued after notice to abate the 
same. 
scavengers. 
Section 1. The Board of Health are hereby authorized to employ, from time to time, 
as many scavengers as they may deem necessary, upon such terms and with such appliances 
and conveyances as they may deem expedient, and to make, from time to time, such rules 
and regulations for the conduct of such scavengers as they may deem necessary. 
Sec. 2. The Board of Health shall cause a printed notice to be left at each and every 
hotel, tavern, eating-house and dwelling-house, in the city, stating that a scavenger will call 17 
for offal, garbage, swill, (and, on improved streets, ashes), at certain times mentioned in the 
notice, and requiring that such offal, garbage, swill, (and, on improved streets, ashes), be 
readv in tight tubs, or other suitable vessels, for the scavenger when he calls for the same. 
A copy of the third section of this chapter shall be appended to such notice. 
Sec. 3. Any person who shall, after notice, neglect or refuse to have the offal, garbage, 
or swill, upon his or her premises, ready for the scavenger in the manner and at the time 
mentioned in said notice, shall pay a penalty of five dollars for each and every day such 
offal, garbage or swill shall remain on such premises after the same has been called for by 
the scavenger. 
Sec. 4. Any person or company who shall engage in the business of removing the con- 
tents of privy vaults within the city for hire or profit, shall be deemed night scavengers 
within the meaning hereof. No person or company shall exercise the calling of night 
scavengers within the city, without first obtaining license in pursuance hereof. The mayor 
of said city is hereby authorized to license one or more night scavengers : Provided, The 
person applying therefor shall execute to the city of Chicago a bond, in the sum of five 
hundred dollars, with ample surety, to be approved by the mayor, conditioned that such 
night scavengers shall well and truly keep and perform all and every of the provisions and 
restrictions of this chapter; and Provided further. Such night scavenger shall pay, for the 
use of the city, the sum of seventeen dollars, and no other fees. Such licenses shall each 
expire on the expiration of one year from the date thereof. 
Sec. 5. Such night scavengers, so licensed, shall each provide himself with a team and 
wagon, with a covered water-tight box, of the capacity of twenty-seven cubic feet, which 
said box, when filled, shall be deemed a load. Upon each side of said wagon-box shall be 
painted, in letters and figures, the name and the number of the license. It shall be the 
duty of the owner, driver or manager, and each of them, of any night scavenger wagon, 
always to keep upon each side of said night scavenger wagon, in the night time, a lighted 
lamp, with plain glass front and sides, with the number of the license of such wagon 
painted with black paint on the side and front of each of said lamps, in distinct and legible 
figures, at least two inches in size, and so placed that said lamps may be distinctly seen, 
and said numbers easily read. It shall be the right and duty of such night scavengers, 
so licensed, (when requested Dy any owner, agent or occupant of any privy within 
the city), to clean and remove the con ents of the vaults thereof, and to deposit and 
bury the same at least three feet below the surface of the earth, at such place or 
places as shall be designated by the written permit of the Health Officer of said city : 
Provided, No such privy vault shall be opened, nor the contents thereof disturbed or 
removed, between the hours of six o'clock, A. M., and ten o'clock, 1>. M., of any day, nor 
shall such contents be deposited or buried within the city, except upon the special permis 
sion of the Board of Health of said city, and in such manner and places as shall be by 
them directed: and Provided further, That if any night scavenger shall not bury said 
contents as above provided, and cover the same so as to prevent any smell arising there- 
from, his license shall immediately be forfeited and annulled. Any owner, driver or man- 
ager of any such night scavenger wagon who shall violate any provision of this section, 
shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars for each and 
every offense. 
Sec. 6. Owners, occupants or agents of privy vaults within the city, desiring to clean 
and remove the contents thereof themselves, without the aid of night scavengers as afore- 
said, shall not be allowed to do so except upon the written permission of the Health Officer 
of said city, and then only in such manner as he in said permit shall direct : Provided, 
such Health Officer shall in no case permit any privy vault to be opened, or the contents 
removed, within the hours mentioned in the preceding section ; nor shall he allow any 
deposit of such contents to be buried less than three feet deep, nor within the city, unless 18 
the Board of Health shall first by resolution authorize him so to do : Provided, No delay 
or refusal of such Health Officer to grant such permit, or of such Board of Health to pass 
such resolution, shall be excuse or justification to any party for not cleaning any privy 
vault when directed so to do by the proper officer. 
Sec. 7. Such night scavengers, so as aforesaid licensed, shall be allowed to charge and 
receive for each load so by them taken, removed and buried, a sum not exceeding five 
dollars: Provided, Such scavenger having undertaken such work shall speedily and without 
delay complete the same, in all cases leaving the privy in as good condition upon the vault 
as when the work was undertaken. 
Sec. 8. Any person without license as aforesaid, who shall engage in business as night 
scavenger, or who shall undertake to remove any contents of any privy vault within the 
city, without license or permit as aforesaid, shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine of not 
less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offense; and any night scavenger 
so as aforesaid licensed, or owner, agent, or occupant so as aforesaid acting under permit 
as aforesaid, who shall violate any provision or section, or clause of any provision or sec- 
tion, of this chapter, shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine of not less than five dollars 
nor more than one hundred dollars, according to the nature of such violation, and shall, at 
the discretion of the Mayor of the city of Chicago, forfeit his license. 
Sec. 9. Whenever, in the opinion of the Health Officer, any privy vault shall be offen- 
sive and need cleaning, it shall be his duty to notify the owner, agent or occupant to cleanse 
the same within a period named in said notice ; also, together with said notice, to serve a 
printed copy of this chapter. Unless the person so notified shall comply within the time 
mentioned, it shall be the duty of said officer to cause said vault to be cleaned by one or 
more of the city scavengers aforesaid; and such person so failing to comply with said 
notice, shall, on conviction, be fined in a sum not less than twenty dollars nor more than 
one hundred dollars : Provided, That nothing in this section contained shall discharge the 
owner, agent, or occupant of the premises from any liability otherwise provided, to pay all 
the expenses of such cleaning. In case no owner or agent can be found in the city, such 
officer shall cause such offensive vault to be cleaned, and in either case the expenses shall 
be collected as in other cases of the removal or abatement of nuisances. 
REGULATIONS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
Sec. 
1. Permit required before cleaning privy vaults. 
2. Permit required before removing swill. 
3. Permit required before constructing privy vaults. 
4. Births and deaths to be registered-What the reg- 
ister shall contain. 
5. Copy of register to be returned to board 
6. Coroner to make return of Inquests held. 
7. Interments not to be made without permit. 
8. Physicians to register with Board. 
9. Unwholesome Vegetables, etc., not to be stored- 
To be condemned. 
10. Privy vaults to be disinfected-when. 
11. Day scavengers only to collect garbage, etc. 
12. Children to be vaccinated before entering schools. 
13. Penalty for selling unsound meat, etc. 
14. Maimed and diseased animals not to be slaugh- 
tered. etc. 
15. Sale of diseased meat prohibited. 
16. Sale of unwholesome provisions prohibited. 
17. Manner of carrying meat prescribed. 
18. Manner of carrying bones and grease prescribed- 
Vehicles not to stand. 
19. Penalties. 
20. Carriage of dead animals, etc.-Manner of. 
21. Penalty. 
22. Regulations for the sale of kerosene, etc.-Caution. 
23. Dealers in burning fluids to register. 
24. When "skimmed milk'' may not be sold. 
25. Preamble, regulation of distilleries, etc. 
26. Distilleries, slaughter houses, etc., prohibited in 
certain limits. 
27. When and where rendering is prohibited. 
28. No distiller ies,rendering houses,etc.without permit. 
Sec. 
29. Limit of Cattle to be allowed in city limits. 
30. Publication of regulations. 
31. Small-pox-Compulsory removal of patients. 
32. Slaughtering and rendering-Enacting clause of 
by-law relating to. 
33. House to be kept clean. 
34. Offal to be removed. 
35. Form of rendering tanks prescribed. 
36. Manner in use of rendering tanks. 
37. Removal of tank offal. 
38. Removal of blood, etc. 
39. Decayed flesh, etc., not to be rendered. 
40. Houses open to inspection. 
41. Forfeiture of permit 
42. Penal clause. 
43. Vaccination-In houses infected. 
44. Penalty-Refusing vaccination. 
45. Permit to clean privy vaults to be exhibited. 
46. Penalty. 
47. Refuse accumulations of meat markets to be re- 
moved daily. 
48. Owner responsible for removal. 
49. Penalty. 
50. Garbage and ashes to be placed in separate 
vessels. 
51. Penalty. 
52. General vaccination directed. 
53. Refuse removed by boats, not to be thrown into 
Chicago river. 
54. Refuse not to be thrown into Lake Michigan 
within four miles of shore. 
55. Penalty. 19 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO SCAVENGERS, ETC. 
Adopted May 24, 1867. 
1. Cleaning of Privies-Permit Required.] Ordered: That after June 1st, 1867, no 
privy in th:s city shall he cleaned without a permit from the Health Officer. 
2. Removal of Swill Regulated.] On and after June 15th, 1867, no person shall 
remove swill from the city without a permit from the Board of Health; and only in cov- 
ered, water-tight wagons or carts. 
REGULATIONS AS TO PRIVY VAULTS. 
Adopted May 27, 1867. 
3. Construction of Privy Vaults Regulated.] On and after June 15, 1867, no privy 
vault shall be constructed without a permit from the Board of Health, which shall stipulate 
how said privy vault shall be constructed. 
REGULATION FOR THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS. 
Adopted June 1867. 
4. Registration of Births and Deaths.] Section 1. On and after July 1, 1867, 
every physician, midwife, or other person who may professionally assist or advise at any 
birth, shall make and keep a registry of every such birth, and therein state the time and 
place (ward and street number) of such birth, and the sex and color of every child born, 
and the names and residence of each parent, and maiden name of mother, and occupation 
of father, so far as they can be ascertained; that every physician and professional adviser 
who has attended any person at a last illness, or who has been present at the death of any 
person, shall make and preserve a registry of each death, stating the person's name, color, 
sex, age, condition (married or single) of such, and specifying the date and hour, the place 
and street number, and cause of such death. 
5. Copy of Register to be Returned.] Sec. 2. Ihat it shall be the duty of every 
person mentioned in the foregoing section, or required to make or keep a registry of births 
or deaths, to present to this board a copy of such register, signed by such person, or a 
statement, by him or her signed, of all the facts required to be entered in such reg- 
ister, within four days after the birth, or within thirty-six hours after the death, of any 
person to whom such registry may or should relate. 
6. Coroner to make return of Inquests ] Sec. 3. The Coroner, or his deputy or 
deputies, shall make to this board, within three days after each and every inquest, a 
written statement, signed by him, stating where, when, and upon the body of whom such 
inquest was held, and the cause, date and place of the death of such person. 
7. Interment Prohibited Without Permit.] Sec. 4. That no dead body will be 
allowed to be taken from this city for interment, or interred in this city, until the certificate 
required by the above regulations shall have been filed at the office of the Board of Health, 
. and the permit of this board granted for such removal or interment. 
8. Registry of Physicians.] Sec. 5. That each and every physician practicing his 
profession in the city of Chicago, shall be required to register his name, office, and resi- 
dence, and any and every change in the location of his office or residence, in a book to be 
kept for that purpose at the office of the board. 
REGULATION CONCERNING VEGETABLES, ETC.. 
Adopted August 9, 1867. 
9. Unwholesome Vegetables to be Seized.] No decayed or unwholesome vegetables or 
fruit shall knowingly be brought into or exposed for sale within the city; nor shall any such 
article be stored or kept within the city after its character shall have been determined by a 
sanitary inspector. It shall be the duty of the Sanitary superintendent and Health officer 
to seize and condemn all such fruits, vegetables, and other articles, offered for sale as food, 
that are in an unhealthy condition. 20 
REGULATION CONCERNING PRIVY VAULTS. 
Adopted August 19, 1867. 
10. Privy Vaults to be Disinfected.] All privy vaults and their contents shall be 
thoroughly disinfected before removing the contents of the same. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO SCAVENGERS. 
Adopted November 5, 1867. 
11. Who may Collect Garbage.] On and after the fifteenth instant all permits given 
to private scavengers shall be revoked, and the following regulations be adopted: That no 
person or persons shall collect garbage from the streets or alleys except those with whom 
the Board of Health of the city of Chicago has already or shall hereafter contract to do 
said work, to-wit: the day scavengers. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO VACCINATION. 
' Adopted November 12, 1867. 
12. Vaccination Prescribed.] On and after the first of December next, no child shall 
be received or retained in the public or private schools of this city who has not been vac- 
cinated. 'I he evidence of vaccination shall be the presentation of a certificate signed by 
the family physician, or by a sanitary inspector of this board. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO UNSOUND MEATS, ETC. 
Adopted May 26, 1868. 
13. Penalty for Selling Unsound Meats; Etc.] For the further maintenance of the 
public health, it is ordered that, if any person shall, on and after June 10, 1868, sell or 
expose for sale in any market-house or elsewhere in said city, any emaciated, tainted, or 
putrid meat or provisions, which for these or other causes may be deemed unwholesome, 
such person shall, on conviction, be fined not less than five nor more than five hundred dol- 
lars for each and every offence, and it shall be the duty of the Sanitary superintendent or 
Health officer to forthwith seize and confiscate all such meat or provisions. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO DISEASED ANIMALS, ETC. 
Adopted July ", 1869. 
14. Maimed and Diseased Animals Excluded.] First.-That it shall be unlawful 
for any person or persons to drive, or bring, or slaughter within the limits of the city of 
Chicago, any animal which is maimed, bruised, afflicted with swellings, sores, or disease of 
any kind or nature. 
15. Sale of Diseased Meat Prohibited.] Second.-It shall also be unlawful for any 
person or persons to bring, sell or expose for sale, the meat or flesh of any such animal or 
animals, within the limits of said city. 
16. Unwholesome Food not to be Sold.] Third.--It shall also be unlawful for any 
person or persons to expose for sale, within the limits of said city, any emaciated, tainted, 
putrid, decayed, decaying, unwholesome or diseased meat, vegetables, fruit, butter or pro- 
visions of any kind. 
17. Carriage of Meat-Manner of.] Fourth.-On or after the twentieth day of 
July, A. D , 1869, it shall be unlawful for any dealer, or his agent or servant, to transport 
any fish, beef, veal, pork, mutton, or meat of any kind, through any street, alley, or public 
places within the limits of said city of Chicago, between the hours of five o'clock in the 
forenoon and nine o'clock in the afternoon of any day without entirely covering the same 
with some material impervious to blood, and which shall altogether conceal it from view. 
This by-law or regulation shall be held and construed to include retail dealers in the de- 
livery of small quantities to their customers and others, and also to wholesale dealers and 
others in the transportation of slaughtered animals, or parts thereof, from the slaughter- 
houses to the markets, and other places where the same are exposed to sale. 21 
18. Collection of Bones and Grease.-Manner of] Fifth.-It shall also be unlawful 
for any person or persons engaged in gathering bones and grease from the markets or other 
places, in the said city, to transport, haul or carry the same through the streets, alleys and 
public places therein, without having the wagon, cart or vehicle, in which the same is so 
carried or hauled, tightly and securely covered, to the satisfaction of the Health Officer; 
nor shall any such wagon, cart, or vehicle, be suffered to stand in or upon any street, alley 
or public place, at any time, longer than shall be sufficient to transact such business, and, in 
any case, not to exceed fifteen minutes. 
19. Penal Clause.] Sixth.-Any person or persons who shall violate any of the pro- 
visions of the aforesaid by-laws or regulations, shall be subject to a fine of not less than 
five, nor more than five hundred dollars, for each and every violation thereof, to be enforced 
in accordance with the provisions of section ten of chapter four, of an act approved March 
9, 1867, entitled, "An act supplementary to an act to reduce the charter of the city of 
Chicago, and the several acts amendatory thereof, into one act and to revise the same, 
approved February 13, 1863, and the several amendments thereto."* 
REGULATION AS TO TRANSPORTATION. 
Approved August 4, 1869. 
20. Carriage of Dead Animals, Etc.-Manner of] That it shall be unlawful for any 
person or persons engaged in gathering bones and grease or dead animals, from the markets 
or other places, in the said city, or for any person to transport, haul or carry the same 
through the streets, alleys and public places therein, without having the wagon, cart or 
vehicle in which the same is so carried or hauled, tightly and securely covered, to the satis- 
faction of the Health Officer; nor shall any wagon, cart or vehicle be suffered to stand in 
or upon any street, alley or public place, at any time, longer than shall be sufficient to tran- 
sact such business, and, in any case, not to exceed fifteen minutes. 
21. Penalty.] Any per-on or persons who shall violate any of the provisions of the 
aforesaid by-law or regulation, shall be subject to a fine of not less than five, nor more than 
five hundred dollars for each and every violation thereof, to be enforced in accordance with 
section ten of chapter four, of an act approved March 9, 1867, entitled, "An act supple- 
mentary to an act to reduce the charter of the city of Chicago, and the several acts amend- 
atory thereof, into one act, and to revise the same, approved February 13, 1863, and the 
several amendments thereto." 
REGULATION CONCERNING THE SALE OF KEROSENE, ETC. 
Approved January 4, 1870 
22. Sale of Burning-Fluids and Oil Regulated.] First.-That on and after January 
15, 1870, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to sell any oil, kerosene, petroleum, 
burning-fluid, or other fluid intended for the purposes of illumination, without attaching to 
each package, bottle, can, or other vessel containing the same, the following caution : " Do 
not attempt to light a fire with this oil. Do not fill the lamp while it is burning, or at night. 
A lamp in daily use should be cleaned occasionally and all the oil removed from it, by day- 
light and not at night. Fill the lamp with oil daily. Do not place the oil near the fire, or 
where there is more than usual heat. Keep it in a cool place. Neglect of the above dir- 
ections may result in the loss of your life and property." 
23. Registration of Dealers.] Second. -On and after January 15, 1870, it shall be 
unlawfuFfor any person or persons engaged in the selling of kerosene oil, petroleum, or 
other fluid intended for illuminating purposes, to continue in the same without having first 
registered with this board the name or title of the firm, and street and number of the loca- 
tion of the same. 
*Sec. 10. Any person or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of the health laws or ordinan- 
ces of the city, or any of the by-laws, rules or regulations of the Board of Health, in addition to existing pen- 
alties, shall be subject to a fine of not less than five dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and on failure 
to promptly pay the same, may be imprisoned in the county jail, bridewell or house of correction, as in other 
cases of failure to pay a fine, or such person may be both fined and imprisoned, in the discretion of the court 
or magistrate. 22 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO THE SALE OF MILK. 
Adopted May 17, 1870. 
24. Sale of Skimmed Milk.- Manner of] On and after July 1st, it shall be unlawful 
for any person or persons to sell, or expose for sale, within the city of Chicago, milk known 
as "skimmed milk" without at the time of such sale stating the character of the milk. 
REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE ERECTION OF DISTILLERIES, SLAUGHTER HOUSES, 
RENDERING ESTABLISHMENTS AND SOAP FACTORIES, WITHIN CERTAIN LIMITS, 
THE CARRYING ON OF BUSINESS DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH WITHIN THE CITY 
OF CHICAGO, AND CONCERNING THE KEEPING OF CATTLE WITHIN SAID CITY. 
Adopted December 12, 1871. 
25. Preamble.] In order to promote and preserve the health of the city of Chicago, 
and improve its sanitary condition, the Board of Health of said city, does hereby make 
and establish the following regulations, to-wit: 
26. Limits in which Distilleries, Etc., Prohibited.] 1. That from and after the fir=t 
day of January, A. D., 1872, no distillery, slaughter house, rendering establishment or soap 
factory shall be erected or put into operation in any building, not now used for such pur- 
pose, within the territory in the city of Chicago, bounded as follows, to-wit: Fnllerton 
avenue on the north, Thirty-first street on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and West- 
ern avenue on the west. 
27. Rendering Prohibited, When and Where.] 2. That in any such rendering establish- 
ment now existing, within said above described territory, there shall be no rendering done 
or carried on between the first day of April and the first day of October of each year. 
28. Distilleries, etc. to have Permit.] 3. That from and after the said first day of 
January, no distillery, slaughter house, rendering establishment or soap factory shall be 
erected or put in operation in any building not now used for such purpose, at any place 
within the limits of the city of Chicago, except upon a permit first obtained from the Board 
of Health of said city. 
29. Number of Cattle to be Kept.] 4. That from and after the said first day of Janu- 
ary no more than three head of cattle shall at any one time be permitted to be kept in or 
upon any lot or in any stable, shed or building within the limits of said city except a permit 
therefor be first obtained from the Board of Health of said city. 
30. Publication Provided for.] 5. That the Secretary of the board cause these regu- 
lations to be published in the corporation newspaper and hand-bills thereof, containing, 
attached thereto, section ten of chapter four, of the supplemental act amending the charter 
of the city of Chicago, approved March 9, 1867. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO SMALL-POX. 
Adopted January 23, 1870. 
31. Use of Force to Remove Patients.] Whereas : The pestilence of small-pox is now 
prevailing in this city, the Board of Health of the city of Chicago do hereby declare that 
the public safety and health demand that all small-pox patients (or cases) be removed, as 
soon as known, to the city small-pox hospital, and that the Sanitary superintendent be (and 
he is hereby) authorized to remove all such patients, by forcible measures or otherwise, to 
the said small-pox hospital, and to use such force to enter houses or chambers to effect such 
removal as he may deem necessary. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO SLAUGHTERING, ETC 
Adopted April 30, 1872. 
32. Enacting Clause.] No establishment or place in the city of Chicago shall be 
used for the purpose of slaughtering animals or rendering lard, tallow or grease between 
the first day of April and the first day of October of each year, except subject to the fol- 
lowing conditions which shall be incorporated in the permit to be issued therefor. 23 
33. Slaughtering House, Etc.-Cleanliness of] First. That the establishment or 
place in which such slaughtering or rendering shall be done, shall be kept clean, and so 
conducted as not to be offensive to the neighborhood of the same by reason of gaseous 
or noxious smells emanating therefrom. 
34. Offal to be Removed.] Second. No offal or other thing or matter to be rendered 
shall remain in or about such establishment or place more than twenty four hours without 
the same being rendered. 
35. Kind of Tanks to be Used.] Third. All such establishments or places shall use, 
for rendering, close tanks with an aperture not exceeding two feet in diameter, which aper- 
ture shall have an air-tight cover, which shall effectually prevent, during the process of 
rendering, any escape of steam or gas, and such cover shall, if necessary, be " packed " so 
as to prevent the escape of such steam or gas ; such cover shall not be removed for the 
purpose of adding to the contents therein contained at any time after the rendering of such 
contents shall have commenced, and said tanks shall be thoroughly washed and cleaned 
before any new material to be rendered shall be placed therein ; and after commencing the 
rendering of the contents of any tank the same shall be continued uninterruptedly until 
fully completed. All offal of the tank shall be removed from the tank within four (4) 
hours after such completion, and shall within one hour after such removal from the tank 
be carted away from such establishment or place, to some place outside of the city limits. 
36. Manner of Use of Tanks f] Fourth. All such tanks shall be supplied with a 
condensing pipe, of not less than one and a half inches in diameter, leading therefrom, and 
such condensing pipe shall (or by connection with a main condensing pipe), lead into a 
tank of water of suitable capacity (of not less, however, than six hundred gallons), in which 
tank there shall be a condensing surface of said pipe, of not less than nineteen square feet; 
such condensing pipe shall lead and discharge from such tank of water into a sewer, or body 
of running surface water. The water in such water tanks shall be kept at such temperature 
as will cause a condensation of the steam and vapor passing through said condensing pipe, 
and shall be changed as often as may be necessary. No condensing pipe shall lead into or 
pass through any tank or box used for the reception of the offal from the steaming or rend 
ering tank, nor shall any such water tank, or water while in such tank, into which such 
condensing pipe shall pass, be used for any other purpose than above specified. 
37. Removal of Offal.] Fifth. All offal from any such tank shall be removed from 
such tank directly into wagons to be carted away from such establishment or place into a 
box or tank preparatory to being placed in such wagon or wagons; and such box or tank 
shall be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected within one hour after the removal of such 
offal therefrom, and all wagons used for the removal of such offal shall have close fitting 
covers to be placed and kept thereon while removing such offal. 
38. Removal of Blood.] SIXTH. The blood from animals slaughtered shall be carried 
away in similar wagons to those above mentioned from any such establishment or place 
within eighteen (18) hours after the animal shall have been slaughtered. All blood-vats 
shall be above ground, that neither blood, tank-water, or the washings of any of the above 
named establishments be allowed to run over the ground, but that all tank water and wash- 
ings be carried off by a drain or drains, said drain or drains to have a properly constructed 
catch-basin for the purpose of catching what organic matter may be contained in the mate- 
rial passing through them; and also, that for each thousand gallons of the tank water, etc. 
that may pass through the drain, a half gallon of the heavy oil that remains after the distil- 
lation of coal tar, be placed in said catch-basin, for the disinfection of the material passing 
through, which catch-basin shall be cleaned as often as necessary, and also whenever 
ordered by any policeman, or any person connected with the Board of Health of said city, 
and such drain or drains shall have such connection with a reservoir or body of water as 
the Health Officer shall direct. 24 
39. Decayed Flesh not to be Rendered.] Seventh. No putrid, decayed, or offensive 
flesh, intestines or other animal matter, and no dead animals shall be rendered in or about 
any such establishment or place. 
40. Establishments Open to Inspection.] Eighth. All such establishments and 
places and every part thereof shall be open to the inspection of any member of the police 
force, or officer or peison connected with the Board of 1 lealth of said city, at any hour of 
the day or night, and full information as to any of the requirements of these regulations 
and as to any matter connected with the mode or manner in which any such establishment 
or place has been, or then is being conducted, shall be given upon request to any such 
member of the police force, officer, or person. The giving of false information (knowing 
to be false) as to any such matter or requirements, shall forfeit the permit issued for the 
carrying on of any such establishment or place. 
41. Forfeiture of Permits, 14-hen.] Ninth. The permit granted to any person or 
persons, shall, upon any violation of any of these regulations or any part thereof, be for- 
feited, and any slaughtering or rendering in any such establishment or place, after such 
forfeiture be prohibited. 
42. Penalty.] Tenth. Any peison or corporation who shall carry on any such estab- 
lishment or place within the period aforesaid, without having a permit, or shall violate any 
of the provisions of any of these regulations, shall be subject to a fine of not less than five 
nor more than five hundred dollars, to be collected and enforced as provided in Section 
10, of Chapter 4, of the act supplementary to an act approved March 9th, 1867, "to reduce 
the charter of the city of Chicago, and the several acts amendatory thereof into one act, 
and revise the same, approved February 13th, 1863, and the several amendments thereto." 
REGULATION AS TO VACCINATION, ETC. 
Adopted December 17, 1872. 
43. Vaccination Prescribed.] 1. The Sanitary superintendent, Sanitary Inspectors 
and Health officers shall be authorized, and it shall be their duty to vaccinate or revaccinate 
all persons in houses infected with small-pox, or to see that it is promptly done by others. 
44. Penalty.] 2. Any person or persons in any house infected with small-pox, 
refusing to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not 
less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars. 
REGULATION AS TO CLEANING PRIVY VAULTS. 
Adopted March 18, 1873. 
45. Permit to be Exhibited.] From and after April 1st, 1873, it shall be unlawful for 
the owner or occupant of any lot, house or premises within the city of Chicago, to permit 
the contents of any privy vault belonging to such lot, house or premises, to be removed by 
any person who shall not hrst exhibit a pennit from the Board of Health authorizing the 
removal of the same in accordance with the regulation of June 1st, 1867. 
46. Penalty.] The penalty for each and every violation of the above regulation shall 
be not less than five nor more than fifty dollars. 
REGULATION CONCERNING REFUSE OF MEAT MARKETS. 
Adopted June 17, 1873. 
47. Refuse Accumulations to be Removed.] Hereafter, between the first day of June 
and the first day of October, the refuse accumulations shall be removed daily from each 
and every meat market and butcher stall within the city of Chicago. 
48. Responsibility of Owner.] It shall be the duty of the owner, proprietor, or person 
or persons in charge of said meat markets and butcher stalls to cany out the provisions of 
this regulation. 25 
49. Penalty.} For any violation of, or neglect to cany out this regulation, the party 
or parties guilty of such violation or neglect shall be subject to a fine of not less than five 
nor more than fifty dollars for each and every offense. 
REGULATION IN RELATION TO GARBAGE AND ASHES. 
Adopted October 28, 1873. 
50. Garbage and Ashes to be placed in separate Vessels.} From and after November 
15th. A. D. 1873, all persons having garbage and ashes are directed to place the same in 
separate vessels, in a convenient place on street or alley for the city scavenger, otherwise, 
they shall be required to remove them at their own expense. 
51. Penalty.} Any person or persons violating this regulation shall be subject to a 
penalty of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars, in addition to the cost of 
removal as therein prescribed. 
REGULATION CONCERNING VACCINATION. 
Adopted December 23, 1873. 
52. Direct General Vaccination.} In view of the danger of small-pox becoming 
epidemic, this Board direct a general vaccination and re-vaccination of the whole city, 
in accordance with chapter 17, section 1, Revised Laws and Ordinances of the city of 
Chicago. 
REGULATION CONCERNING REMOVAL OF REFUSE BY BOAT. 
Adopted March 31rf, 1874. 
53. Reftise not to be thrown into Chicago River.} On and after the 15th day of April, 
A. D. 1874, all persons removing swill from distilleries or refuse of any kind by boat, shall 
not throw the same into the Chicago river or any of its branches. 
54. Nor into Lake Michigan.} Nor shall any still-slops, offal or refuse of any kind 
be thrown into Lake Michigan, unless the same be taken to a distance of at least four 
miles from the shore thereof, in a south eastern direction from the mouth of the Chicago 
River. 
55 Penalty.} The penalty for violation of the above regulation shall be a fine of not 
less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars. 
RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SANITARY 
POLICE. 
First.- The men must be on duty at 7 A. NL, and continue until 6 P. M. 
In the discharge of special orders they may be required to be on duty at any hour of the 
day or night. 
Second.-They must repoit daily at Head-quarters at such times as may be appointed. 
Third.-While on duty they must wear their uniforms and badges. 
Fourth.-They must thoroughly acquaint themselves with their respective districts, and 
to this? end should regularly traverse every portion thereof; giving special attention to 
crowded places, and premises so situated as to favor the formation of nuisances. 
Fifth.-It is their duty to take steps, promptly, to abate all nuisances, wherever found. 
Sixth.-Owing to their frequency, the following nuisances should have prominent atten- 
tion :- 
1 st. Manure in alleys and yards. 
2d. Foul and full privy vaults. 26 
3d. Garbage in alleys and premises. 
4th. Garbage in streets and gutters. 
5th. Obstructions in streets and gutters that may affect health. 
In these cases, as in all others, prompt notice must be served, and the cases followed up 
to see that the nuisance is abated. 
Seventh.-Parties detected in the act of dumping manure, night-soil, offal, or any offen- 
sive matter in any place within the city limits not specially appointed or set apart for that 
purpose by the Boaid of Health or city authorities, must be arrested. 
Eighth.-Parties detected in the act of conveying meat, carcasses of animals, offal, or 
other offensive matter in vehicles, without having the same covered, in accordance with the 
regulations of the Board, must be arrested. 
Ninth.- Parties detected in the act of cruelly treating any animal or animals, in any way, 
by overloading or otherwise, must be arrested. 
Tenth.-The proper steps to be taken in order to abate ordinary nuisances, areas follows : 
1st. Serve written notice stating time allowed for abatement. 
2d. At the expiration of the time stated, call and ascertain if the nuisance is abated. 
3d. If not abated, make formal report of same to the Health Officer. 
4th. If summons is ordered, the same must be promptly served ; and the officer must be 
in attendance at the C ourt to give evidence at time of trial. 
Eleventh.-Notices to abate nuisances should always be served on the parties offending; 
if these cannot be found then the owner, agent or occupant of the premises where the 
nuisances exist should be notified. 
Twelfth.-The men must promptly report all cases of small-pox or other contagious or 
epidemic diseases of which they may obtain information. 
Thirteenth.-Orders to put up or remove small-pox cards must be promptly attended to, 
and the disinfection of premises must be thoroughly made. 
Fourteenth.-The men must promptly report any neglect or omission on the part of the 
city scavenger, to go through his appointed beat at the appointed time, or to remove the 
garbage and ashes from the streets and alleys. They must also promptly report all dead 
animals discovered or reported, as well as any negligence of the contractor to remove the 
same. 
Fifteenth-No suit shall be brought against any one for violation of the enactments and 
ordinances on sanitary affairs, or the rules or regulations of the Board of Health, except 
by the consent or direction of the Health Officer, Sanitary Superintendent, or the Board. 
Sixteenth.-In the discharge of their duties, the men must be respectful in their demeanor 
and speech, but firm in carrying their instructions into execution. 
Seventeenth.-The men will be subject to the control of the Health Officer, and receive 
their instructions from him alone, or, in his absence, from the Sanitary Superintendent. 
RULES OF ' THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF THE CITY 
OF CHICAGO. 
1. The Board shall be organized at the first meeting in April of each year, by the elec- 
tion of a President to serve for the ensuing year. 
2. Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 27 
3. The Board shall hold stated meetings on Tuesday of each week. Special meetings 
may be held at such times as the Board may direct, or a Special meeting may be called by 
the President, or upon the written request of any two or more members of the Board. 
4. The President and Secretary shall perform the duties usually pertaining to those 
offices respectively; and at the end of each official year, the Secretary shall make to 
the Board in writing, a statement of the appropriations and expenditures for the year. 
He shall also make, for the use of the Sanitary Committee and Sanitary Superintendent, a 
tabular statement of the births and deaths for the year. 
5. 4 here shall be elected at the first meeting in April of each year, four Standing Com- 
mittees, viz.: a Committee on Finance, a Committee on Ordinances, a Sanitary Committee, 
and a Committee on Sanitary Police. 
There shall also at the same time be elected a Sanitary Superintendent and Health 
Officer. 
6. The Committee on Finance shall make out and present to the Board at the last 
meeting in April of each year, an estimate of the expenses of the ensuing year; shall rec- 
ommend the amount to be paid as salaries to all employees of the Board, and shall audit 
all accounts presented for payment; and no warrant or order shall be drawn on the Health 
Fund in payment of any claim that has not been previously submitted and favorably 
reported upon by the Finance Committee. 
7. The Committee on Ordinances shall consider all proposals to change or in any way 
alter the existing rules, ordinances, laws and regulations of the city of Chicago, so far as 
they affect the sanitary interests of the city; shall prepare and report such rules for the 
government of the Board as they may deem necessary; shall examine and report upon all 
forms and blanks that may be ordered by the Board or its committees; shall recommend 
from time to time the publication of such laws, ordinances and regulations as in their judg- 
ment the public interests may require; and shall perform such other duties as the Board 
may direct. 
8. The Sanitary Committee shall investigate all causes tending to produce epidemic, 
communicable, or preventable diseases; shall have a general supervision of the Sanitary 
Inspectors; shall consider and report upon the best mode of performing the work of day 
and night scavengers, the water supply, drainage and paving, so far as they affect the 
sanitary condition of the city, and such other questions as may be suggested in the 
growth of the city, or as may be referred to them by the Board. 
9. 4 he Committee on Sanitary Police shall consider and report upon all applications for 
appointment as Sanitary policemen, clerks and employees in the Health Office or the office 
of the Board. They shall also investigate all charges against such employees, and recom- 
mend such action in the matter as they may deem right or necessary. 
10. The Sanitary Superintendent shall be the executive officer of the Board. He shall 
also have charge of the vital statistics. Fie shall receive the reports from the Sanitary 
Inspectors^ and give directions to the Health Officer as to the performance of his duties. 
He shall cause the reports of the. Sanitary Inspectors to be compared from week to week, 
and shall make to this Board, at the last meeting of each month, or oftener if required, a 
report in writing, stating the sanitary condition of each of the sixteen sanitary districts of the 
city. He shall cause complaint-books to be kept in each district, at such place or places as 
may be most convenient for the citizens of the district, and shall see that proper action is 
taken on all complaints. In all cases of doubtful authority, he shall report to the Board 
and be governed by its decisions. 
12. The Health Officer shall perform such duties as the ordinances direct, or as the 28 
Board through the Sanitary Superintendent may order. He shall also make from time to 
time, as may be required, a report of the work d me under his superintendence. 
13. The order of business shall be as follows : 
1. Reading the minutes of the last meeting. 
2. Reading Communications. 
3. Reading report of Finance Committee. 
4. Reading report of Ordinance Committee. 
5. Reading report of Sanitary Committee. 
6. Reading report of Committee on Sanitary Police. 
7. Reading reports of special Committees. 
8. Reading report of Sanitary Superintendent. 
9. Reading reports of Sanitary Inspectors. 
10. Reading report of Health Officer. 
11. Miscellaneous business. 
12. Adjournment.