The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-04


Sanitary Science cannot fall 10 receive
their appropriate share of attention by
the members Of our State Medical So
ciety- .''.- .'-'s 10 a % 5li u E9E-. FL.
1t is not my desire at this time TO en-
ter into a full and elaborate exposition
to this subject-all of you, and indeed
every medical man does know, thatthe
Immense results achieved by the inn
provement OF social and sanitary mat
ters of late years have. not only led 10
better appreciation of the cdIESs of dis
ease. but actually prevented the ocur-
renee of disease on u large scale. The
rude and very Imperfect beginning at
Systematic reform OF sanitary matters
made in Wheeling last year! r!shas re-
duced the mortality of that place from
25 in ], 600 to Is annually. The ppinion
is gaining ground every day among
medical men. and rapidly acquiring a
hold on the popular mind, that the .oc-
currence of disease on q large scale tso-
called epidemic),i Is mainly due to a
total disregard OF sanitary science and
proper sanitary arrangements by pub
lie authorities, and a.failure to Appreci-
ate the cause of disease byinledical men.
Under the rigorous y. sanitary rule
insugurated by, General 6,Builer at
New Orleans, 'thereg WAS mo yellow
fever. Cholera at New York acquired
but feeble existence under the prompt
and. efficient council OF Hygiene and
public health OF that city, a better ap-
probation. OF the cause o of disease,
Occurringsl on Ia large scale, tePi-
memics SO called, a thorough study
and cultivation of sanitary science by
medical men, togsther with the estab-
lishment encouragement of proper
sanitary meabures by State or munich
pal authority would soon expel So
called epidemicsi from all civilized
countries and effeetually prevent their
future occurrence, The term "epidem-
ic" originated in medical ignorance,
and the prevalence Of "epidemics'' is.
undoubtedly relicof barbarism. -
Ii The extension OF. scientific RESEARCHES
so characteristic ofihe progress of med
ical science or the present period
far beyond theRetealled legitimate and
time ,honored course OF medical in
IslInetioni and observation, the expan-
sion .of the domain of medical science,
the. glorious triumphsA achieved and
every day Rchieving in the aexamina-
tion and calculation OF the cause of dis;
ease by the study and cultivation of san
Itary science and hyRiologyarP making
a TseiD era In practical medicine Pnblic
economy will irecoghiza the immense
value OF medicine as u pTOductiYe, art
and the labors of the physician as pro-
1es sthse ~ ttE tRs stdGy aud 6ditivaiib6n OF
sanitary science, mortality has every
where beeiI fessened, especially In our
country exoept 4Wherey through the
events of late years all moral harmony
and peace have BEEN destroyed, eand
restless excitement prevails, giving, 10
existing So called ENDEMIC intinences,
latitude and force. 81 Amidst
the luxury and Generalization OF the
times and, the conseq dent physical de-
terioration, Ia sad memorial OF modern
cfyilization,) smedicineS guided by sani-
tafy science has diminished and often
prevented the occurrence OF fpreventable
diseases and lessened Mortality. The
public economist" must admit, that
whilst the sphere of our professional
exertions Is limited, and omen sur
rounded by barriers, every member of
the profession-d does, Sbyit the study and
cultivation Of sanitary science, con;
andJ4 physical progress of uhumahl
society; his labor Is really pro-,
ductive labor Of the highest Valne,
especially 10 raeSsly developed commit
mites and, States, A.great deal, how
ever, depends upon enlarged ana
methodical D. observation. Sanitary
science Bls toor com prehensipe to rest
upon limited nd old fashioned medical
experience. A vast amountHof statis-
teal knowledge of physical and med
ical geography and, Mythology must be
acquired, before the cause of SO called
endemic and epideuiic 1iseases can be
properly elucidated ana appreclateu;
In fact, uanJextenaiHe8 survey of the
whole realm of organic nature, Is ne
cessary for, their proper, appreciation
and ultimate removal, How, intimate
ly,s for INSTANCE, are the diseases OF man
and amin ais related with unwholesome
food and OF unWholesQme food with
diseases ofSvegetabIe land animal life
Acknowledge therefore. of allthat Is
known of organic nature, of all ihe
great truths of scieIice. isindispenSRble' is
10 theT appreciRtion- of the cause OF so
called epidetIIic or endemic diseases,
and TO the proper arrangement of meas.
IluEes for the prevention OF many OF
them, The study and cultivation, OF
sanitary science is always an evidence
of the highest moral and. Intellectual
status OF Communities and States its
development and progress is Intimately
related ith-adVaneing- civilization
everywheFe. " arbarianss do not culti-
yate that Science, nor do they respect or
recognizes sanitary matters. II Land
dfainIhs and 7town-seWet ring was no
longer thought OF among the Romans
DURING =theJ Decentralization T. which
marked their decline. In demoIaliZed
communities human life has no value.
DeprhVdd and. .demoralized individuals
z 10 fliS Sdfeap men cub iiShIfIe sanitary
science is confded the physical and
moral WellaEeg and well being OF ma, ma,
lions and whole armies. Upon the,
torrect appreciation and hygienic man,
agement of the many causes leading 10
.ph ysical and moral deterioration, de-
pends in great measure the ultimate
successrof saIlsRoyernmentsSs states and
armies. OF what immense value are.
/ the. productive laborsA OF lsanttary
science In public economy How im1
portant, then, Is the duty of every med
,iCals man ltot cultivate that science
meth odIcally, 10 observe elueidate and
record, the laws which reghlate health
and disease IN the district, wherein he
resides 4 TO study the 8physical geogra-
plfy SoEi that district, and carefully 70
exainine the conditions and causes lun-
der which diseases are con dned TO cerr
tain localities Medical Geogrhphye sf.,
Thus many ohsenreI and 'heretofore'
incom pfeisnsibl so-cale led endemic in
f1uences and causes of disease viii be
elpeidRted and removed, mortality les
sened, lands Nnd Fhols distrietA ina-
proved in vRlne, and inestimable ser
vices Fend dered IN political economy. ne
h I In this way dicine becomes q pro-
'dttctfbe TIT, thslaboFiofJ the ply sician
cuItivating sanitary science a produc-
tive labor ofAmmepse Yalue to commits
aity and State. Is.d1 z7IGoilris. 60 . III. -y
= Medicine caunoEeure iiseaBe. Science
fnysst tig,4 ties The cause and directs its
removal, establishing for the human
sufferer the. best possible condition to
FeGain his health solely under the d.
vine and incomprehensible piS ndturGe
5HsfiedH-fr. "a no 1h9lga Ei & 9ag go
May you always labor in this drec.
tion for the advancement of science, the
finteEestSof mapkind and the moral
a1d physical Welfare pfpur StAtss
RICHARD BLUM.
q. RhsaIiag, Oct. 2. lsSTsianutzv cor =
|lQrant 81 Il Vast army Of people who be-