Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-08-17
From the Journal of Health.
PREvENTIyES OF PEsTILENCI

We derive the following sensible OBJ
servations and advice from work too
little known, Webster (Noah) on Epi-
demic and Pestilential Diseases They
show the general sameness of rules to
prevent diseases of whatever kind or
name.
Having then arrived at the proper
causes Of the pestilential fevers which
afllict the earth, we are prepared to con.
slider the means of prevention.
"The first article under this head, is
the removal of all local causes Of disease;
such as every species ofputrescible sub
stances, which in the process OF putre-
faction emit a species of air highly I'M
friendly to health. 1t will be observed
that speak of putrescibte substances !;
for flesh or vegetables which have I'M
dergone the process of putrefaction, or
of digestion ina healthy stomach, dis
charge little or none of the pernicious
acid.
"Hence we observe that people in CT
ties rely too much on cleaning streets to
preserve public health. Experience
proves that the utmost care in cleansing
streets will not always prevent pesti-
lence. The reason is obvious; most Of
the filth of streets consists of Iexcremen-
titiouS matter from horses or oxen,
which has undergone the process men
toned, and contains no septic acid or
very little. Hence the accumulation of
dung in the farmers yard, is not known
to generate diseases.
various other substances, thrown
into the streets of cities, are more per.
nicious; as green vegetables, the gar
bage of fish, lees of fermenting liquor
and many others, which in hot weather
soon putrefy and discharge noxious air.
Such substances, however, never ought
to be thrown into the street in hot wea-
Their they should be thrown into the o.
cean, into rivers Of running water, or
what is better STILL buried, and that be-
fore putrefaction begins. If putrefac-
ton is begun they should be removed in
covered vessels.
"All filthy substances should be re-
moved from streets, both for the sake of
decency and health. If the pavements
of streets be covered with pure earth, it
would greatly lessen the heat but this
is not practicable. The only effectual
remedy is fresh running water-the on
ly article that unites cleanliness with
GOODNESS. Nothing, in a city, can be an
adequate substitute for while it removes
the causes of noXious vapours, and by
cooling the sultry air of a city, prevents
debility, it eXtricates a considerable
quantity ofnew and wholesome all, from
its own substance, and absorbs pernici-
Gus vapours.
Streets should be constructed as to
give the water considerable velocity.
The practice Of dwelling the surface ola
city, is most pernicious. Ifpossible ev-
cry street in city should have des-
cent of fifteen or twenty degrees. In
stead of dwelling the earth the police Of
a city should counteract even a natural
level, by throwing the whole into arti-
fetal elevations which give briskel
currency both to water and air.
cellars should be constructed as tc
retain no water often cleansed by scrap
ing. If the surface of the cellar can BIZ
conveniently changed, by removing F;
few inches ofthe old earth and introduce
ing that which is fresh. 1t would be &
very salutary labour. Nothing imbibe'
and neutralizes infectious matter, more
readily than fresh earth.
| The liberal use of water in and a.
bout house, cannot be too seriously re
commended.
"Water absorbs all noxious matter tina
comes III contact with it in substance
Applied to floors, wooden, stone o.
brick walls, to clothes, to furniture, t.
back yards and streets it is every where
salutary in the summer months.
Cali dead animals in city or its vi
cinity, should be buried or burnt; as cats
dogs and horses. The indecency alone
of suffering their carcasses TO putrefy
before the eyes of mankind, ought tC
make it strict article of police, to re-
move them. But they sEEid be buried
no one should be permitted to offend thu
q. eyes or nostrils of citizen. They arr
offensive to decency, to moral sentiment
and to health. The ancient method O
burning dead bodies was well calculated
to destroy the poison; but in Atlanti
America, burial is'cheapnr and equal,
ehectual.
Common sewers are often common
suisances. In cities, all filthy substan
ces should be conveyed off on the visibl
surface Of the earth, unless sewers ca
be so constructed as to deposite, wit
certainty all their contents in runnin
water. Serious evils arise from putri
substances LODGED in seNers- TINT are TO