Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-25

nal cleansing Of dwellings, in the l.condtioped districts
The CHIEF predsposng causes Of every epidemic and es
Pecay OF cholera, are damp molstue flh animal and We
geable matters in state of decomposition and in general
whatever produces atmospheric impuy all of which hay.
the effect Of lowering the health and vgor ohe system and
OF increasing the susceptibility disease particularly among
the young, the aged, and the feeble.
The attacks Of cholera uniformly found 10 be most fra
quen and vruon in owlyng Districts on the banks of
in the neishborhood Of and be
are large collections OF refuse particularly amidst human
dwellings In recent proclamation issued for the pro,ec
ton of the population Of the Russian Empire the mportsnt
influence OF these and similar has been ana
the practical recommendations founded thereon are keen
the person and the dwelling place clean allow no sinks
close to the house, to admit Of poultry or animals within
house. TO keep every apartment airy possible by ven
taton and TO prevent crowdng wherever there are sick
Househoders Of all classes should be warned that their first
means of safety lies in the removal Of dung and solid
and liquid filth Of every description from beneath or about
their houses and premises Though persons long amarzed
to the of such refuse may perceive lis offensive
ness nor believe In It's noxous properties yet all who desire
TO themselves from danger should labor for the entire
removal of filth and the thorough cleansing Of their premises
which also the law will require Of each person for the pro,ec
ton Of his neighbors, well for his own safety.
Next TO the perfect cleansing of the premises dryness ought
to be carefully promoted which will of course require the
keeping up of sufficient fires particularly in the damp and
unhealthy Districts where this should be resoed tofor
the sake OF ventilation well of warmth and dyness
From information recently obtained from Russia it appears
that IN some barracks and in other places which large num-
bers OF people congegated where these conditions have
been attended to in that may be equally in
private houses, there has been comparative immunity from
the prevailing epidemic exactly this country where pub
lie institutions though yet by perfect in the means
OF ventilation, there has been almost entire exemption
from epdemcs which have ravaged private houses the very
same districts.
But while certain amount of cleansing can be effected bv
every householder each in his premises the Of
thoroughly purifying the densey populated districts are be-
yond the power of private individuals.
Accordingly, by the Act II and IL Wet c. l23 s.
j. uf
charged the cleansing operations upon certain public bodies
namely "the Town Councils any commissioners
for the drainage, paving lighting, cleansing, manag-
ing, or directing the police, any other body of like ma
tue any commissioners OF guardians of the
| poor"
By this act it is provided that upon notice in writing sign
ed moeinhabtant househoders that any dwelling
house or building Is IN filthy and unwhoesome condition,
or that there upon such premises any foul and offensive
cespoo tIain gutter, ditch, any accumulations of filth
or that swine kept to be injurious to
health the authorities shall examine the premises to
be examined; and if upon examination, upon a medical
certificate two legally qualified practitioners appears that
the nuisance exists the public authority shall make complaint
before two Justices who required to make order for the
of such nuisance The amended provisions contain
ed in this act should be esry considered promulgated and
enforced especially those for the proper cleansing open and
foul bitches habaon by the aborcrs under the dec
ton of surveyors trustees Of highways
The Union Medical Officers whose duties take them to the
relief Of the destitute sick, necessarily familiar with the
places in which disease is prevalent fatal and these
invariably found be the drest localities where con-
sequeny the cleansing operations most required and
the nusanees removal act imposes upon the guardians the duty
of directing and enforcing tho proper performance Of these
OF eraions.
In several districts the police in going their usual rounds,
have been employed with great advantage in reporting daily
as to the houses courts alleys passages, and streets within
their district most in need Of cleansing the careessness
neglect Of the scavengers in the performance Of their duties
and the existence Of nuisances of various kinds The
boards guardians special committees formed Of their
special committees Of town councils who, by their watch
miee have the control of the police and engage these
purposes the valuable services Of this force.
Highly important services have been rendered by the pao
chs clergy and other ministers Of religion in association with
lay committees, for the purpose of maintaining system of
house tohouse visitation In the depressed districts and
wherever it practicable the boards Of guardians
mended to associate with special committee Of their own
number ho Tor the time may he exempted from ordinary du-
es) the clergy Of the respective parishes and the ministers
of other religious denominations and to call upon the med-
cal and other union officers give their aid this committee.
II is conceived that such Parochia Spec1l Committee
would among other useful purposes be peculiarly scrvceabe
in communicating information the poorer classes the
particular means Of prevention within their reach, and
the urgent necessity this season. OF personal and house
hold cleanliness of ventilation, and Of careful aud temper
ale mode of living.
BY the contagious diseases prevention act the Genera
Board Of Health required frame regulations to
and direct the Guardians Of the Poor and other local a
thores in the performance Of the special duties imposed upon
them whenever the country visited threatened any for
mdsbe epidemic contagious disease and accordingly the
Board has lost time in putting itself in communication with
the Poor Law Commissioners, with the view o. taking all
practical precautions sgsi the scouge which steadily
approaching shores and the Board is engaged in
preparing regulations pr the public and general
OF prevention and aeviaton which will be issued and
put in execution in the several districts their par
cular condition shall have been ascertained.
In the time, it, Notwithstanding every precautionary
measure which be taken, this disease should unhsppy
break in any dstct then il will be essential TO the safety
the inhabitants that they should be fully impressed with the
importance Of paying instant attention TO the premonoy symp
tom that announces the commencement of the attack
This premonitory symptom is looseness of the bowels
which there regard universally preceding the
setting in Of the dangerous Of the disease Some
times indeed under the circumstances already described
namely, where the poison exists in unusual intensity, the
constitutional predisposon is unusually grea,ihe first stage
appear TO be suppressed occasionally happens IN vo
lent attacks Of other Diseases but in cholera this
to be practically Of account and in all countries
and under all varieties Of conditions in which this disease
has been epidemic the experience this point uniformly
with what observed at the present at Ham
| lurg.
In most cases" writes the British Consul respecting the
epidemic which has just bioken in that city, "he dis
has first manifested itself in slight reaxson Of the
bowels which, if properly attended to- the patient generally
but il the symptoms neglected. spasmodc at
lacks and death follows mostly in from four TO six
| hours"
This looseness Of the bowels may be accompanied with
degree Of pain which, however, Is generally slight
but in many pain wholly absent and for hours
and days, this bowel complaint may be slight