The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-07-04 00:00:00

OF HALLTH.

For weeks put, in deference to strongly-ex premed
opinions of our friends, we have shared in the partial
suppression of the idea that, in common with most
other towns in England, Weymouth has been invaded
by small-pox. No sane man can think that • longer
continuation of the suppression policy is possible, and
we are quite sure that each an attempt would only
result in increased harm, by making our visitors believe
that things are so bad that one darts not to mention facts,
and also by conniving at any laxity on the part of our
authorities in dealing with the immediate causes of the
pest. That • hope to coonual is fruitless, every one
must admit; we have been exhibited in the London
papers, and our visitors hive been kept away, or those
who have come have enquired, and been told more,
probably, than was true, and our own townsmen hays
stood up in court at Quarter Besaionusad "let out whet
was no real secret at all. A fear has been creeping into
the publio miad that things are worse than supposed,
and many have been driven away by this dread who
would have been induced to remain it they knew that
the disease has only 'true* at or near exoeptionally foul
spots, far remote from where our visitors disport them-
selves. Let us, then look the foot in the face ; and,
instead of deriving combat from partial ebbs in the
disease, such as that which come, according to our in-
formants, about Yeomanry week, at the one which
happened a few weeks ago, or that which is said to
exist now, let as make up our minds that we have
amongst us • fell disease, that often damages where
it does not kill. Our Local Board have, we believe,
sat frequently, though with closed doors, and our
superintendent of police has, with his men, earnestly
and preseueingly invaded with lime-wash and carbolic
said, the most horrid dew. We could name plum
where by the blessing of God on the means He has merci-
fully given the disiafeetaita have positively driven the
, pest entirely out. Great stares of carbolic soap, disinfect-
ing powder, he., are kept at the police-station, and
dispensed on the most liberal terms to all who apply.
No sooner is • suspicious place revealed, than it is at
once attacked and cleanliness at any cost lemon there
' supreme. Vaccination and reoreminetion have been
at work, notwithstanding the fiercest and most plan-
sible opposition, and no lees than 1,500 operations of
this kind had succeeded many weeks ago, so that now
the number must be above 2,000. Be-vaozinated
' persons, if they have had the small-pox at all, have
had it very mildly, while others deterred by fear, pre-
judice, or the state of theirlbealth, from submitting to
re-vaccination, have =Sired. A peculiar severity
seems to have fallen upon some who object to vaccina-
tion. Except to warn others, we should never allude
to cumin of grief to any ;but, before the public safety,
private feelings must go down. The most notable
, instance Is that of •mu who made himself exceed-
bey prominent by a persistent opposition to vaccina-
tion—that man lost three it not four from his family
by small-pox. There are other oases very suggestive
of warning; but let the above suffice. And be it
noticed, that it is the old story; close, unventilated
courts, places where there is "something the matter
17Oitiorillha4 eYOF
ritbLie unal, 7AL11:1, .!naa.!!
y the wind, has been free. But from these evil'
smelling places, the contagion has occasionally been
carried into the most beautiful spots near, and people
have sickened in the cleanest houses, with the
sweetest of gardens for back-lets. This points to the
no:meshy for some means of separating the stricken
from the healthy, and that not only daring the time
of suffering, but when they have passed the danger.
No stage, one hoe heard, is so liable to spread infection
as when the patient is recovering, and certainly nothing
is more likely to produce frieht, at all events disgust,
than to see young people with their buses disfigured.
There is no denying that often has such • sight been
exhibited by those whom decency ought to have made
either slog at kome,or get away from the common haunts
Glum We read how the leper was commanded to stay
away from his fellows. do cover an affected put, and
to prevent others from too close approach. Let parents
keep their molted children infra playing with others,
till they have recovered white skins, let young people
keep away from assemblies, and even when they are
recovered conceal the appearance of the mark,. This
to assist in preventing Veto spread of disease; other
means the authorities have to deal with. Cleansing by
the pollee we have alluded to, and the Board of
Guardians have provided • proper disinfecting apparatus
for bedding and artistes of attire. Every one elan keep
the person clean; but it is not in the power of single
persons or families to atesomplish what the Board of
Health should do. Where is our small-pox hospital, to
say nothing of what is as important—an hospital for
valesceats ? What has been done in this matter? The
Board may have sat till they were weary; but the
publics want a risible remit. We dismiss with great
wonder • suggestion said to have been made—lo
erectt a hospital on the Marsh, of itself one would think
liable to engender evils The man that could have
mooted such • thing can never have lumbered the posb
tion of the plus, au never have thought of the yards
of town refuse piled up there. But to reject his
extraordinary proposition is not enough, unless an
actual place is provided by the Board, and, as a
tolerably suitable site is named, between the Wyke
and Chickerel roads, why should not the matter
be pressed to • priesthood decision? Then there
Is the question of the Backwater, which Is in
decidedly bad odour, and will continue to be so, while
any great part of the tows sewerage is discharged into
it. There is the matter of North Quay, and the smell
existing thers_the origin of which mast be trued and
removed. When people who have sickness in their
house' are obliged, Weeded opening them for fresh dr
to does windows to keep away smell from codrido, 'Or
onkel to flaY they have own to a subame." the