Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-11-04

of Ebcnsburg. on the Stb day Of July, 1851, and
adopted the necessary preliminary measures for
forming County Society, which was finally or
ganized on the 4th day OF August, 1851, by the
election of the following officers:
PreSident-Dr. VIM j. Smith.
Corresponding Sscrstdry-Dr. Campbell Sherl-
idan.
Recording Secretarg-Dr. David W. Lewis.
Trcas,reI-Dr. John Lowman.
Since that period, the meetings oT the Society /
hare beenregularly held alternately at EtensbarS
and Johnstown, and muchintoTest eyllccd by the
members in its PROCEEDINGS. The meetings Of
the Society arc held semi -snnualy on the second
Tuesday Of February and August, at which writ
ten or oral communications are required and DIS
cussed. The Society now hunters eleven mem
bers, located in different sections Of the county,
and ali maintain the most friendly relations with
each other: whilst, at the same time the benefits
to be derived from the association IN promoting
professional or scientific objects, or social inter-
course, are already beginning to be felt. The
officers for the present year are
President-DR. JOHN BOWMAN.
Rec6Tding RSaaS7d14l Sesreiarp-DR. WN. a. SMITH.
Delegate TO the american Nsdical association,
1853-DR. JOHE LOwAAS
Delegate 10 the State SOcIety, lSJ3-DRs JOHN
LowSLAN and JAMES c. How.
The Treasurer was directed to pay the sum Of
five dollars, being the quota assessed upon the
Society towards defraying the expenses for prIn-
ting the Transactions OF the ) ate Society for
1852.
Cambria County is bounded on the east by the
Allegheny Mountain on the west by the Laurel
Hill, which latter becomes depressed and broken
as it passes northward on the north by Clear
! field County, and on the south by Somerset
/ County. It occupies one Of the most elevated
regions Of the State the western dCclIylty OF the
Allegheny being very gradual, not exceeding that
/ of ordinary hills, and demonstrating the exist
/ ence of broad, elevated table-land between the
| Allegheny mountain and the subordinate range
Df'I !, !,
is about 35 miles, and its breadth from east to
/ west 10 area 670 square miles, and population
/ about 20 600. The face Of the country Is much
! broken and the numerous springs of pure crys-
1 tai water which gush from the hills IN every
! direction, would not only impress the beholder
with the idea OF being IN salubrious region, but
! also of a well watered country.
! EbenSburg, the seat Of justice, is located near
! the centre OF the county, and the streams north
/ of the town form numerous tributaries to the
/ Clearteld and Chess Greeks which run in nor
! thern direction to the West Branch Of the Sus
! quehanna, which also rises in the north part of
/ the county, and whose waters are fiually emptied
/ into the Atlantic Ocean. On the other hand,
/ the two branches Of the Conemaugh and Pain
/ Greeks drain the mountains and southern part
/ of the county, and break through the Laurel Hill
/ below JohnstOwn to send their waters to the Gulf
| Of Mexico. The Blackjack Creek, after running
| in western direction through the centre of the
county, also breaks through the Laurel Hill and
I
Indiana County, but no stream passes the great
barrier on the east.
The Allegheny Mountain is the boundary be-
tween the great secondary coal formation of the
West, and the iorey secondary strata of the south
/ eastern counties. Coal and iron have been found
| to exist in great abundance in the deep and wild
/ valley of the Conemaugh, also upon the Black
lick; and other seams of coal and iron are expo
sod on the northern waters OF the county. The
Allegheny Portage Railroad and Pennsylvania
2 PoTlv n,
/ ty along the valley of the CoTRmaugh, in a di-
rectIon from north cast to southwest and along
which very large portion Is engaged in mining
coal, numbering, etc. At the termination of the
Portage Road, and near the confluence of Stony
Greek with the Conemaugh, IS situated the town
Of JOhnstoWn, containing q population Of about
5,UUO persons, which IS also surrounded by seye-
raj large iron manufactures. In Lhe central and
northern parts Of the county, the population IS
Principally engaged III agriculture and lumber
ing. Some portions Of the county are in GEe
state OF cultivation; IN Others, the 'clcarings'
are Of recent date, whilst the remainder Is GOV
cred with forest Of heavy timber consisting Of
spruce, hemlock, beech, wild cherry chestnut
white oak, ash, maple, &c, &c. with an under
growth Of laurel along the streams.
Inc soil IS OF 4 cold nature, and better adanted
10 the raising OF potatoes oats, and spring crops
generally, than fall grain although in the north
eTll part of the county, some very fine wheat has
been raised. The spouty or boggy nature of he .
soll, IN many parts has also proved it 10 be well
adapted for grazing country.
The climate is very variable The summers
are short, and the winters long. During the
neat OF summer, the thermometer will sometimes !
rise to 30 or 100 degrees, and in winter fall to
upwards Of 20 degrees below zero. But no ma /
ter what may be the season, sudden theometr;cal
changes from 20 to 80 degrees viii freouentIy
occur, and consequently be productive Of much
disease.
Vegetation is about three weeks later than the
east ot the Allegheny, or west Of the Laurel
HIlI but the constant Succession Of showers
succeeding he breaking up of winter, brings on
vegetation very rapidly, and the cool and refresh
ing breezes which cons autly play upon the sum
mt OF the hills during the heat of summer rem
der the season not only delightful one but
c0nJoIned with pure and invigoraiing atmos
period Of the year
Diseases are most prevalent in the fall, winter.
and spring. This Is sufficiently accounted for
by the sudden transitions of the weather from
warm to cold and from cold to warm at those
periods, and the necessary exposure and want Of
care on the part Of the laboring population The
complaints most prevalent, are generally Of an
lniammatory character, and do not require much
nouce. All the anginose affections, catarrhs
tTacheltIS, bronchitis, plcuTitiS, pneumonia acufe
rheumatism, &c, are annually to be met with
upon the recurrence Of cold, or & moist ajmos-
phere. Phthiss pGlmOnalis does not occur so
frequently as might be supposed from the Yaria-
D!euess OF the climate, and the cutaneous func-
ton DeIng SO liable to sudden and frequent inter
Tuptions or variations Of activity. However
when cases are met with, the progress of the dis
ease to fatal termination has generally been
observed TO be rapid
vi the epidemic or contagious disorders. Scar
latina, Measles, Varcella and Pertusss are rnct
with most frequently. Scarlatina has been seen
IN all It's forms in different quarters of the coun
y, and generally most prevalent during the lat ,
Ter part OF the winter season. In some seasons
II mas been found easily managed, whilst at 9TH
1 al s-.nH l.