The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-09-25
THE CHOLERA,

we nave HO llGolIG W CIGdUc ullll6CCSSdly
alarm on this unpleasant topic, but we feel it
to be our duty to solemnly warn this commu-
nifty of the importance Of putting our city in
order, without waiting for the advent of this
terrible disease.
At meeting of physicians and surgeons,
held in New York last week, one of the facul-
ty gave it as his deliberate opinion that the
city of New York would be Uisited tg the pes
thence IN less than three aeeeks.
1t is doubted by many, that this disease will
make its mighty stride across the Atlantic
without first visiting France and Great Brit
ain, yet it is best to take it for granted that
it is coming, and go to work and clean up onr
streets, cellars, yards and cutters.
Philadelphia and Boston have taken action
in the matter, and are acting the part of wis
dom. Shall we hold back now, when bv the
judicious expenditure of few thousand dol
lars we may save hundreds of lives of our
citizens. We sincerely hope the board of
Health of this city will Immediately, wiM a
strong hand, hare h5s city Thoroughly cleaRsed
To show what is doing in Baltimore, on this
important matter, we give the following views
and opinions of an official in authority in sani-
tary matters
The City Physician, S. T. knight, in reply
to a resolution Of inquiry as to what sanitary
measures are judicious for the protection of
our city from cholera ard its ravages, says: |
beg leave to state th2.t every measure is judi
cious that has forl it's object the promotion of
domestic ard public cleanliness. The APP
proach Of epidemic cholera in 1882 was fore
shade wed and foretold with as much certainty
a., storm discerned by the rising OF the
clouds in the distance. That the present
alarm NAV prove false one we all earnestly
hope; but warned and guided by the past, it
becomes our imperative duty, in the face of SO
great danger, to enforce every precautlon.
No care can be too minute, too early, or too
instantly exercised. He then proceeds to state
the means resorted in 1882, in lessening the
mortality of the disease, VIZ: The doub-
ling of the number of street superlntend-
ents: the sweeping and cleaning Of alleys
and streets twice week; the cleaning
and whitewashing of all cellars; the visit
ing. twice weekly, of all vacant lots, lumber
wards, slaughter houses, manufactures, dis
tilleries cattle yards and hog pens the exam
nation of cutters, &C.; the fire plugs opened
twice a week, and cutters and sewers well
washed out; no stagnant water to be sprlnkled
on the streets all vaults and privies to be ex-
amined and lined; all street manure after de-
post to be lined all low, wet places, mouths
of sewers, &C., to be lined, and the discretion
given to the Board Of Health to continue the
regulations as long as necessary. The City
Councils at that time appropriated $4,000, a
portion of the money to be spent for the sick
Door. and the remainder for the above purii-
cation members The Physician then proceeds
to say that five superintendent the number at
present employed, is insufficient, and recon-
mends one for every two wards, thus doubling
the number, which would enable the Board to
put the city in thorough sanitary condition.
To show the great importance of such precau-
ton, should the cholera really visit the city
the Doctor states that in 1882 the cholera sud-
denly appeared in Montreal, where little or nc
preparation had been made for its coming, and
with a population of $4,000, no less than
4385 died of that disease; whereas, in Balti-
more, where several weeks had been bestowed
upon the work of publication, with a popula-
ton of 100000, only 853 deaths occurred.
nj