The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-03-07
Comm,.nicat ony;fpr;oi,midr ssthe1 BOARD
So ,sA
,Sts of Health. -; III. -.


cleanliness. 10 consideration Of tho unelean
condition Of the town Of Charleston, and I
prospective visitation Of epidemic cholera, The
Town Council appointed Board Of Health,
making it The duty Of the Board to enforce, il
necessary, by fine, . reform in. the general
sanitary condition Of tho town. Cd
In order to accomplish this, We must have
tho earnest cooperation Of the people, which,
With cholera staring US In the face, we hope
to haIe-we rsM! have it. There 10 much To
DO done, and but ., little time in which to DO
it; consequently We must commence at once,
and that with energy and resolution. Some
express hope that We will not be visited by
cholera. This is most earnestly hoped by US
all; but at the same time, we have little
foundation for such expectation, il tho past is
any criterion by rlch to judge tho future. 49,.
Let US clean up at any rate, and cholera or
no cholera, We will obriate disease and lose
nothing, but improve tho appearance Of the
town.
II is easier to proven, than cure, and in
prerennon rests our chief hopo. 1t is much
moro easy to throw up o2r defenses ana await
ON enemy, than to expsl him after his arrival
among us.
Tint we need Improvement and reform in
the hygiene Of the town, none will need to be
told-it is painfully plain. .
Tlc fnw u. S,D,, I'M NJ ,ha 90 ~, n
| time, the system Of drainage is most imperfect
| tnd inefficient. The drains arc too shallow,
| and not wide enough and small as they are,
, they are too often neglected and allowed to
fill up. Il requires attention and some labor
to keep them in n proper condition, but the
! object is worthy Of our attention, and this it
must have. In some cases, and not few,
the drains pass under houses; this, if they
are left open, mny be no disadvantage to the
inhabitants, but they are frequently allowed
| to dam up, causing pools Of water 10 stand
under the houses, which is o fruitful source Of
disease.
On IL tour Of inspection, VIC found the drains
in the rear Of tho Beach House quite INSULT
Glen: to accomplish the object intended, cuus-
ing quite pond in tho yard. good intcn'
ton was shown here, but the drain is toO
smaH and mus, be enlarged. The corporation
| is responsible for street drainage, and will be
expected to keep tho streets we'll drained
The prohibition laid upon hogs will aid us all
in this object Many Of the privios in town,
perhaps, require our first attcntioa-aud this
was specially spoken Of in the circular yor'
hnrc seen. "a word 20 the wise is sufficient.
The system OF scavengers organized will aid
us much in sanitary reform, but each family
WILL Of course, have to assist in this, or it will
be Of 10 use. On the two mornings Of the
week, as mentioned in the circular, all gnr.
bage for removal mus: be placed where the
scavenger can readily find it. Al! garbage,
stops, and everything subject to decomposl-
,ion, whether animal or vegetable, shouhl DC
removed, and public scaYc2sers will accom-
plish this If VIC DO our part. This mnSt no,
be trusted entirely to servants, but will require
rs it deserves, our ewa personal attention.
In the present, as we'll us past epidemics Of
cholera, it has usually made its first appear
uucc ON river banks, and This from obvious
reasons. The banks OF both kannwha and
El;i are now iu = bad sanitary condition, nnd
r,orirc the attention Of the occupant Of houses,
stores and shops, occupying these sites, anu
these will DC held responsible.
la visiting the sick among the poorer class
Of people, both black and white, NC often find
four or five too many individuals occupying
the smallest and mcaneSt houses. Probably
there is no more fruitful source Of disease
Than oyercrowdiny rooms and houses. Just
now il may be difficult to avoid this, but as
warn, weather approaches it must have the
attention of those owning tenement houses.
The owners Of such houses should be he'o
! RESPONSIBLE for the sanitary condition Of
property rented TO irresponsible parties. Those
crowded together in this way arc the first &c
suffer with disease, but, at the same time, they
furnish poison which oil must inhulei aud
let US, jus, Ns far as possible, remove Inc
cause. IAN ounce Of prevention Is WORTH
NOR, than pound of care" iu this case.
Their. are some vacant lots in town which
rc,u;rs the attention Of the owners, who viii
be tho parties held responsible. The sites o.
the old military stables should DO cleaned up
and those owning stables, either public OF
private, will be expected to remove all litter
as fast as it accumulatcs. -.
Impure water should, and can DC avoided
By cleaning os,, before Spring rains, our we'll:
and springs. In case Of cholera, soft water
either spring or cis,ern-is preferable to lime
ra,er-the latter should be avoided aS far a.
practicable.
Il, is difficult to enumerate everything thai
ia necessary TO be done to insure thorough
sanitary reform. The NEST thorough cleaning
up is needed. Yards, gardens and grounds
and all places where there !, or may 90 sn
accumulation OF decomposing matter, should
receive our attention. These measures vi" WI
no, only b6 adopted, but must De ae'sa upon
Ill