Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-11
The Uygenic Condition Of the Ciy-Thc Approach
Of Recommendations Of the Academy Of

Of ChoIera-Rr CONNIE ndatomS orthe Academy Of
Medicine
10 the Mayor and GouncH Of The CHyG Rich
mOnd
GENrLEMEN-The members of the Richmond
Academy of Medicine, being deeply impressed with
the importance of preparing the city for the proba-
BILE advent of cholera during the ensuing spring and
summer, beg leave, in their corporate capacity very
respectfully to urge upon your honorable b"dy ur
ad0ption and execution of the following sanitary
recommendations.
Whatever differences of opinion may exist as to
the mode Of propagation of the disease all aIe
agreed upon the one important fact that IFS extent
and mortality are exactly proportioned to the I'M
purities engendered by n crowded and mixed popu-
ation. The first great object, therefore, should he
to secure a thorough cleansing of the city and lis
suburbs.
For this purpose we suggest the following plan
Have the city divided into large number
of districts and to each district let one physl-
clan and one police officer he assigned as q
Sanitary Committee Grant to these commit
tees discretionary powers to visit every domcll
and every part of all premises within their reSer-
tive districts and give notice To the owners or Occu-
piers OF property of all nuisances and all sources Of
disease they may find, and require them to be abattd
or removed within twenty-iour hours, and in the
event of their failure to do so, to have it done by the
city authorities the expenses in all eases, TO be ro-
lected from the parties to whom notice had been
given.
Make 10 the uuIN OF lneSc NdOldIN NulHhlltttN ~
make their house to house vistatlonS not less than
once a week and Oftener when circumstances seem
to require it, Compel the owners or occupierS OF
propertv TO have lime or other disinectanlS spread
literally over all places likely to emit noNious eNha-
aons and where the parties are not able to pay Tor
it, il should he provided at the expense al the city
To encourage the general use of lime, 1t should he
bought at wholesale by the city authorities and de.
posed i'm different parts of the city, where 1t would
be furnished to the citizens ut cost
Enjoin it upon the Sanitary Committee to
examine with care the back buildings of even
the best premises, with the view OF ascertaining
the number of their occupants; their means OF
subsistence, and their general mode OF living
When too much crowded they should be provided
with other quarters.
Persons should be required to deposit i'll barrels or
boxes all decomposabe animal and vegetable mat
ters and have them ready to he hauled away; and
this should be done as often as possible, but certain
ly not less than twice or three times week. For
this purpose carts should he sent round at stated n
tervals.
Wood and coal ashes although offensive TO the
eye are not of impurity and, to the extent
of their alkaline and absorbent properties Mt least
may be considered as atmospheric dlspectants-
The additional expense of removing SUCH deposits
should not be unnecessarily imposed upon the own
ers or Occupers of property.
Special attention should be paid to the water
drains and prives, which are known to be prolific
causes of disease in all localities. Moisture is an
essential element in the generation OF the cholera
poison hence the Importance OF thoroughly
drained surface in every part of the city.
The use al disinieCtants should be insisted on
generally; and Of these the different preparations
of lime are the cheapest the most convenient
and the most efficient Quick lime for outdoor and
the chOrdes for indoor purposes should he furnished
to those who are not able to procure them. The
lining and thorough ventilation of cellars and
easements should be insisted on, as the disease is
usually most rife i'm such situations,
Special attention should he paid to the sewers in
every part of the city. and, when not already done
steps should at once be taken to prevent the eXhaa
tions from their openings from being diifuSed
through the atmosphere. The stencil traps should
be frequently and carefully examined and ceanSed
and their impurities ayered by a iTee Use OF lime
about the openings.
In view of the advent of such disease as cholera
a thorough cleansing of the city is important not
only as a humane duty, but rs an act Of Just and
liberal economy. The prevention OF disastrous
epidemic by entire publication of the atmosphere
of tie city viii Compensate tqn fold in oar oummer
cial and business relations for the money expended
in attaining that object. Whether, then, rs a mea
sure of health. or, a meIe matter OF dollars and
cents, we can but reieTatc our advice to cleanse,
cleanse, cleanse
Should the disease unfortunately make It's appear
ance in our midst it will become the duty Of the
constituted authorities 10 make s0Ble provision for
such of the sick IA know not the comforts of home.
IL has been proved by experience that the crOwdng
together of patients in large hospitals is attended
with the most unfortunate results. The time lost
and the eXertOn used in conveying patients TO dis
tant points almost certainly fatal terInina-
ton of the disease hence the importance of having
houses sci apart in central portions OF each district.
with accommodations, including medicines and
medical attendance fora limited number of patients.
The condition of the negro population should bea
subject of special attention. The propensity OF ne
groes to live in filthy crowds is prOyerbial and their
utter indifference TO the early approaches of disease,
is equally notorious. This crowding together should,
therefore, be prevented far as possible; and when
it becomes a necessity. the prompting OF humanity
suggests that they should be visited from day TO day
by an intelligent physician IN order 10 enquire into
their sanitary condition, and make provision for
their wants. In this way the spread of the disease
and its consequent mortality may be much dlmIn-
ished
In every fatal epidemic the occurrence of a few
cases is so rapidly multiplied by irresponsible rumOr
that panic in the public mind is at once created
The only wayt avoid or to modify such pancs is to
keep the public accurately and reliably informed OF
every case OF the disease as il occurs To withhold
all truthful information under such circumstances, is
to magnify the evil in public estimation. To avoid
such grOundless alarm. then we would respectfully
suggest the enactment OF an ordinance requiring
every physician in the city, under proper penalty
for neglect of duty to report to the President OF the
Board of Health every case of cholera he may be
called to visit giving the date of attack, the To-
caty Of its occurrence, and as possible, its
termination when ia death, A synopsis of these re-
ports should be published in daily bulletin, at least
until the existence of the epidemic is fairly estab-
lished The same requirement should be made in the
case of all diseases calculated TO create public alarm.
In conclusion, we beg leave to urge upon you the
great importance of doing promptly whatever is to