Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-09-08


of the College of Physicians
Md Surgeons, together with the Mayor
and the President of the Chamber of Com
nerce, held yesterday afternoon in tb.
City Hall, the Mayor of the CITY was
elected Chairman, and Dr. Thos. B. Carr
was elected Secretary.
On motion, after mature deliberation
the following recommendations were
adopted
To HIS Honor, Geo. Chddbourn, NaJor pro.
tenn. Of The CITY Of Wilmington
The Committee appointed by the Board
OF Health feel it our duty to make the fol-
lowing suggestions to the sanitary officials
and general public for the better protec.
ton OF our citizens, not only against the
local diseases peculiar to our climate. bnt
more securely to guard our city against
the introduction of either of the terrible
diseases now threatening us on either
side, viz: Cholera and Yellow Fever.
South of us. only distant one davis
travel, our sis er city, Charleston, is visi.
ted by the yellow fever, and threatened
with an epidemic form, which is second
only to the first mentioned awful scourpe
people in their great misfortune, we deem
it our duty to~use every means in orr
power to guard on selves against it's intro
duction here, "for preservation is the
first law of nature;" we therefore hope the
measures we shall advise will meet with
the iull appreciation of all.
At this season, under ordinary circum-
stances, it becomes the duty of every citi-
Zen to exert himself diligently. in remov-
ing every cause likely to generate dis
ease, thereby rendering our city, if pos
sible in a more healthy condition, and
protecting ourselves, not only against the
local diseases, but should it be our nlisfor-
tune to have any contagious malady
sooner or later present among us, this
duty is more imperative.
That the extent and severity of the ravaoes
of such diseases are dependent in e great
degree on the condition OF the localities it
attacks. is universally admitted. therefore
on the evidence of those measures suc.
gested and the efficiency with which they
are executed depends to great extent
our safety against and the mitigation of
it's effects. Yet nothing can be effec.
tive, let the suggestion be ever proper
and appropriate, without earnest co-opera-
ton on the part of all within the influence
of the causes of disease; we therefore, to
allay ali fear now, recommend rigid
quarantine both by land and water.
[Drs. NorcOm and Love agree
to personal quarantine In Difference to
the opinion of the public. and OF those ply :
siciansw who believe IN the possible communi-
cabiIity of yellow fever in this manner, and
not because they admit that it can be
| thus introduced
A thorough ventilation and disinfecting OF
public houses, low damp places, and thin
ming out of ell dense growth and trees,
cleansing of docks and keeping them free
from drifts, &c, and to make an earnest
appeal to every ole in this city to make a
careful inspection of their own premises,
and cause to be removedor disinfected every
substance emitting unWholesome exLala-
tions.
The appliances Cor removing the causes
of disease are varied according to the ma
ture of the evil. If there are filthy
streets or accumulation Of decom posing
matters IN cellars, privies or houses,
cleansing and disinfection or arrest of de-
composition are the means employed. II
there is q confined, Initiated atmosphere,
openings should b3 made letting in sun
light and air, the best of all di ,infectants.
The most important means for securing
health and preventing disease are pure
Water, fresh a and cleanliness of person.
Stale vegetables and unripe or overripe
fruit are active promoters of diseases and
our city authorities should have rigid OBJ
servance over this matter. All vegetable
matter removed from lots and streets,
should be placed in piles and burned. not
left to decay. Ali ponds and stagnant
pools should be filled with fresh earth and
disinfectants; no drains should be opened
from them to expose their beds to the
summers sun, for such condition of things
would generate fevers In the very health
lest localities. All animal matter should
be buried when practicable, otherwise u
free use of disinfectants, and the refuse,
such as in privies, should remain until cold
weather, and the night scaveugers should
be compelled to use disiufectants before
other Interference.
In the practical application of disinfec
tants we shall first speak of those which
arrest Fermentation, such as carbolic acid,
sesqui chloride of iron, sulphate of iron,
and zinc; and secondly those which effect
chemical Observation-Disclosures of
lime, sulphurous acid, chlorine and sesqui
chloride of iron. These may be used sep
arately or in combination; the latter is pref
cradle for fumigating rooms, disinfecting
clothing. bedding, dam % cellars, Easements,
privies, &c. Probably the cheapest and
most eHectual of all would be sulphate of
zinc in proportion of ounces to l ounce
of carbolic acid and gallons of water.
The metropolitan Disinfeciing Fluid is
highly commended by the health officer of
New York, DR.. Moreau Morris, as pre-
paration which has been employed during
the past years, for purposes of privy dis
infection, and was the result CT a tho ough
scientific experimentation by the officers
of the Metropolitan Board of Health.
which may be procured at small cost from
the Manufacturers in New York.
By the aid of chemical science we have
learned how to arrest, destroyand transmute
into innocuous compounds, the germs
that propagate disease. If the preventive
means here suggested, be once fairly es-
tablished, we then can CONTROL, If not en-
tirely destroy all epidemic and contagious.
| A committee will be appointed from our
body to direct the chemical preparation
of the most available and effec ual disin-
fectants for the city, at the City Hall,
whore sufficient quantities may be obtain
ed by all citizens desiring to use it.
On motion a committee of two, consisting
of Drs. Norcom and King, was appointed
to confer with the Marshal in regard to
the preparation OF disinfectants.