Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-28
MORNING LEADER.
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 2s, 1868.



A writer in the Phils5elphia Nerth
American has q communication under the
above caption.
"HolV to propagate scarlet tegsr and to per-
petuate consumption n q. a.faHlity.' The writer
who signs himself "a Physician states
that there is no more certain method Of ef-
feetipg these results than the practice now
adopted by many Of our citizens, Of keeping
the house closed for weeks or months after
a death has occurred in it. The author Of
this paper, who is also a physician, would
earnestly call the attentinn ofyour readers
TO the melancholy results Of this practice,
which, though Of comparative modern orl-
pin, seems to have taken deep hold among
as, and which, in Language Of the writer
before quoted, is fast giving to Philadet-
phia. one of the most healthful cities in the
world, the appearance of q town smitten
with a pestilence" No house can be in a
healthful condition which is not daily open
to the light and air. haven doubt many
Of your readers can give personal testimo-
ny to othedepressing effect on their nervous
system, from which the inmates Of such
houses suffer.
If the practice be Objectionable in our
larger houses, it b ,"Ames a grievous Gala
nifty in the houses Of the poor. But few
days since I was called to see a poor wo-
man in the last stage Of mortal disease.
She lived in q little house with one room
on floor. Five months before she had
lost daughter by consumption. From
that time until my visit she had lived in
her little room with the shutters closed,
completely excluding the light and pure
air. So efectual was this exclusion, that
although my visit was made at an early
afternoon hour, was comyelled to resort
to artificial light to properly investigate
her case. Another instance was that Of
poor washer woman, left widow, with a
young family dependent for support reEl eEhl
months did these poor girls strain their
eye-aght, while sewing in the little dark
ened room which they were compelled to
occupy, and when demonstrated with by a
kind friend, who endeavored TO show the
mother the sbsurdity of thus living in the
dark, the reply was, Sure, and wouldn't
you have us do like quality 2" Many
similar instances might be given. shall
mention but one About year since the
writer was asked to visit, in consultation
with medical friend, poor man in the
last stage Of pulmonary consumption
The visit was made at eleven o'clock Of 9
bright, clear morning, and yet on entering
his chamber we were positively obliged tC
grope through the dark to find his bed. he
had lost his wife three months before, and
in spite Of the remonstrances of his at
tending physician, has persisted in living
in this dsrkened chamber, that he too
doubtless, might be "like the quality"
These instances are not exaggerated
any one need but walk through some Of oul
smaller streets to convince himself Of theil
truth. In view Of these facts, I would
earnestly appeal to my fellow-citizens t.
lend their influence in discountenancine
this unnecessary practice. 1 appeal Il
clergymen, TO physicians, to all classes, tC
give their aid in discouraging fashion 81
detrimental to health, and in every way
Teprehensible. Some of our oldest fami
lies have steadily refused to adopt this ad
vertisement Of their grief which was un
known to their fathers, and it needs bu
the cooperation Of few more Of our in
fuential citizens to set an example, which
will be gladly followed by others. Thu!
will their homes and those of their neigh,
bors be rendered more healthful, our city
present more cheerful appearance, while
the chamber Of poverty and sickness viii
be lightened of one of its most depressing
eoneomitants.
A. PHYSICIAN.