Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-07-11
For The Girilidn and Iele1raph.

| three, but the greatest OF these is heaith. -
L. we cant have all the joys of sense al
once if we must dispense with one for
season, and hold another by but feeble
tenure, let us cherish that where absence
( will make riches poverty, and which is the
most efficient ai1e-de-camp to general happi-
ness. Let health dwell within lis in our earth
Iy mansions of rest" Let his ruddy face
brighten the joy of the morning, let him be
our cup-bearer at noon, and our chamberlain
when deep sleep falleth upon me !! Least
wise let us not obstracize our best friend
spread a banquet for his betrayer, and gar
nish the feast with the flower of beauty and
the strength of manhood
1t is well known that pure air is essential
to the health of man, and that decaying mat
ter tants the air. During the decomposition
oil organic matter, certain substance genera
ted which act rs poisons on the animal econ-
omy. 1t is immateral what we call the A.
gent, its immediate work is malaria, bad
air. whose effect, when inhaled is disease.
| Whatever the nature or the knot of the
combination" of Observation-Disclosures animal
culae, fungus or only noxious gases without
controversy great is the power thereof in
corrupting the the fountain of human life.
Comparatively innocuous in districts where
depse forests filter the air, or decompose and
neutralize the poison, this invisible and in
sidious enemy to health is most dangerous
wherever the living tree guards not the APP
proaches to the habitaton of man
Hence open plains, or villages and cities
unprotected by intervening forest or grove,
cannot with immunity indulge in the luxury
of bathing in an atmosphere rich in the pro-
ducts Of decay. Wanting the means of alb
sorbing hurtful influences they must seek
safety, in removal Of the cause. To kill a
rabid dog is easier than to cure hydrophobia.
The vicinity of the Dismal Swamp is
health because the generator of malaria is
insulated The woodman on the banks of
the Mississippi shivers with chills and burns
with fever, while the axeman, in the ad acent
wildly is almost wholly exempt from
such visitors.
1t may be there are natural agencies, in all
regions watered by streams, liable to aterat ons
OF overflow and great depletion, sufficient to
produce at times an iinwholsome atmos-
pherc. Such is the case here. And there
fore there is greater reason why we should
avoid any artificial combination of condi-
tons, Fastening or frightening the evil
But not content with incidents of food and
stranded timber and sun-shuck ooze, we have
planted a nursery for the propagation of
miasm and its offspring. We have collected
the raw material of disease which power
erful engine is daily working up for our
consumption. Perhaps in despair of estab-
fishing factories Of other fabrics we have re-
solved to have factory Of chlls aud fever.
However favored with wealth Of natural scene
ry,nc people are satisfied without erecting seine
temple Of art or monument of their skill
and taste. If they cannot hope to eclipse
or rival nature they will in some way pro-
duce artistic effect. Thus perhaps the pub
lie spirited guardians of the interests of
Cumberland have collected fleet of con-
demned canal boats and disposed them naive
ly and gracefully in our waters to challenge
the admiration Of every lover Of the beaut-
full. Having no pretensions to Il knowledge
Of high art will not attempt to decide
whether the design be directly ornamental or
to serve as Il foil to native charms. But for
whatever purpose these specimens of archi-
lecture may have been prcserved-if prescr
vatioE be the right name. | contend that
none Of lis who have families, whose health
aud lives we value, can afford to pay the
price demanded for such a system of decora-
ton. Our reputation for liboraity in prof
ferng studies to the artist may be dear to Us
but it would be too dear if we must exchange
for it the beauty of our homes the treas
ures we cherish most-the health or life Of
wife and children.
But such an enlightened body as our
Board of Health need only have the fact
called to their attention that mass of cor
ruption lies fostering in the Basin to be ap-
prised that the public health is thereby men
aco1 O,r ,h;aF ha,ltL Df,,nr =, ,,ou
informed Physician, requires only to be ad.
visetl that large quantity Of vegetable mat
ter, partially submerged in water of varying
depth, suns itself from morn to dewy eve,
within his jurisdiction, to infer the legitimate
consequences and learn his duty A reno
val can be effected without expense. Per-
sens desiring fuel would gladly embrace the
opportunity 10 feed their fires with no other
expenditure than that of little labor. And
| maintain, Mr.. Editor, that we all ought to
be willing to surrender any mere beautiful
effect in landscape, though justly a matter
of pride, rather than sacratice to it sub
stantial good, wherein hangs all the charm
of life The most devoted lover of nature
or art, shaking with ague, could find but lit
tie beauty even in gallery of rotting canal
boats or stream redoent of their delightful
PnlLHYGlEIA.
r"For Cleilian amt Telrgroph,"
Mr.. EDITOR. Through your columns,