If a public nuisance shall be committed within the city limits, any person affected thereby may make complaint in writing specifying the nature of such nuisance, the location thereof, and the name of the person committing the same, to the health officer; and it shall then be the duty of the health officer to examine the premises complained of as a nuisance. If, in his judgment, such nuisance exists, the health officer shall make or cause to be made a complaint against the person committing such nuisance, or permitting the same to exist upon any premises occupied, used, owned or controlled by such person before the proper court of competent jurisdiction to try such complaint, and shall cause such complaint to be prosecuted before such court.
(1953 Code, ch. 18, ยง 39)