The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-26
Cleanliness.

30 many more given us in the blessed booh
cf Books 1t is true, that the disregard OF the
nrecepts of the ALMIGHTY always mas, anu
always will, bring curse upon the cohtehl-
ners of His will; but yet poor foollsh man
o,es on. and will not receive admonltlon from
his Maker-and with his eyes open, rushes on
to destruction.
In nothing is the truth of these remarks
soen more clearly, than in the little prepare
tion we are making for the approach OF chol-
GRO While the original cause OF this fell DIS
oose is one of the great secrets OF nature, Tor
,nb;ch man can no more account than be can
fn, 60 many other ultimate causes-yet we
now too we'll its dire effects in Norfolk, and
Il ia wonderful indeed, that we have taken no
more stringent measures to prevent lis at
lacking us. a..
There is nothing truer than the fact, that
COP has given us our five senses 10 De our
guides, to enable us to avoid what is hurtful
to health. When the senses are not cor
rupted by luxurious living and artlhclal stlm>
ulants, their guidance is unerrlng. Alter oil
A. had effects of civilization, in blunting their
SHARPNESS, and distorting their perceptions,
tbev are still our dir ectors for health; and
when the sense Of smell, especially, is offended,
the offensive matter must be injurious to
health.
In walking about the streets of Norfolk,
we have often to turn away in disgust from
the pauseating eff1uvia of what is thrown out
into the streets; and we refer, not to back
slums and alleys, but to the chief thorough
fares of our city. The contents of washtubs,
the refuse of the kitchen, and all sorts of
filth. assail our nostrlls, showing that Norfolk
is indus for the reception of cholera.
Inhabitants of city are so accustomed to
foul smells, that they do not always attach
due i'm portance to the warnings of the oltac-
tory organs. We remember that in the
string Of 1866, our residence being then in a
rural district, we paid visit to this city, just
before the breaking out of the Epidemic
The streets were as clean as we had ever
seen them in former years, and the people.
seemed to be we'll satisfied with their santa
rycon1ition. Yet to our noses, accustomed
to the pure air of the country, the scents
which met us at every step were lnsupporta-
Bile, and we were mot at all surprised, shortly
after our return to our abode in the country,
to hear that the frightful yellow fever was
desolating Norfolk.
We fear that the present condition of things
is but too similar to that of 1855. Our OIL
factories have become blunted since we have
taken up our abode here; but we are even
now often dreadfully annoyed at the offensive
odors on many of our streets, and have mourn
full forebodings of the approach of cholera.
Our authorities should be more energetic,
and see, not only that our streets are clean,
and that all garbage is speedily and effectually
removed therefrom, and that those who are
in thu habit of depositing these nuisances be
severely punished; but they should rigidiy
inspect all the lots Of the city, and see that
no offensive matter accumuates upon them,
and that the cesspools are keptin good order.
our people will not take care of their own
health the authorities should make them do So
The subject Of municipal cleanliness sug-
gests another kind of cleanliness, not less i'm
portant, viz: that of the person; that indeed
to which ST. PAUL refers in the quotation
with which we commenced this article
There is no city on this continent worse off
for water than Norfolk. In every other town
its size that we know Of, there are facilities
by which the population may have any
amount of water for washing purposes, and
there are but few houses without the modern
improvements" the most valuable of which
Is a bathroom. Such is the inferior, scanty
and precarious supply of water here, that we
are to very great degree, cut off rom the
advantages of other communities
1t is true that we have salt water in album
dance; but from making use of this great
means of keeping our persons clean, many
classes OF our population are totally debarred,
or can only take advantage of the salt water
bath to very limited extent Their bust
ness, or the weather, or the tides, may prevent
their bathing more than very few times in
inc season. Moreover, the very few bathing
houses around our city afford but very few
facilities for those who cannot go to dis
lance, and who yet wish privacy. Besides all
this, salt water bathing does not suit all con-
stitutions aasaa
Yet, in spite of all these drawbacks pecu-
liar to Norfolk, our people could do more
than they do for personal cleanliness There
are various appliances in the shape of hip
baths, &C., &C., by which small amount of
water may be made to go good way towards
The Ike. ping our persons clean. If we can't
afford to buy one of these, we can at least take
aoasin Of clean water every morning, and
Lowell or sponge, and cleanse ourselves thor
oughly.
The skin is one of the great organs of the
.pody We say organs, for, by its action
oelng properly maintained, one of the great
est sources of health is secured. It's healthy
condition is sine qua non to the health of
!ne whole system How important, then, is
1t That we should use every means in our
. power to promote its natural action.
\, We have made the above remarks, as we
mink that they are needed at present We
are not scientific men, and possibly some of
p pur terms might be objected to by those who
nave taken their degree in medicine; but we
ore satisfied that they will approve of our
ooooggestlons; for they are the promptings OF
s .onneon sense, and of a just regard for the
maitn OF our fellow citizens. If followed
nut properly, they will greatly diminish the
Probability Of any serious damage from
;if"olera, even should it appear among us and
oi. our city and our persons are kept properly
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