Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-07-04
Police ITedicaIe.

There is no subject which interests
this community as much as the sewerage
of our village.
And hope that instead of ending in
heated partisan discussion, that it will
be coolly and fully discussed, and some
plan adopted whereby we may be bene-
fitted by the experience of Others, and
the atmosphere of our village be purified,
and those fearful, deleterious emana-
tions from our streets and cutters, with
all its danger to the lives of our citizens,
be fully and effectually removed.
The necessity for the removal of what
is deleterious to man, from our premises
streets and gntters, is a question that
has long sincebeen settled by all humane
and civilized communities. The most
learned and scientific minds of Europe
are now deeply engaged in solving the
great problem of the economic removal
and utilization of the sewerage of their
great cities.
At the last meeting of the British As
ISOLATION for the Advancement of Sci
ence, of 1871, and presided over by the
celebrated Huxley, these questions re-
ceived a large share of their attention.
A few years ago the Thames became
so offensive to the citizens of London as
to become uncomfortable, compelling them
to devise means for cleansing it, which
was finally accomplished under their
most skillful engineers at a cost OF
twenty-one million two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, the cost To be
paid off in forty years. 1t is fortunate
that beside the mere opinions of scien-
tific and medical men we have abundant
facts, recorded by those who have in
vestigated the invasion of those fearful
epidemics occaSioned by a reckless or
ignorant defiance of natural laws.
The well known experiment by DAT
iel Webster at Marshfield, Mass, in
1912, exemplifies the perniciOus influence
of decomposing animal matter on the
surrounding inhabitants.
Daniel Webster. to enrich piece of
land, covered it with fish, some hundreds
of carloads, which were left to decom-
pose during the hot weather There
was no unusual sickness in Mr. Webster's
neighborhood. but two miles from there.
in South Marshfield a very malignant
form of typhoid fever began to prevail
about the middle of July, as recorded
by the physician of the place. who saws
some of those attacked died in forty
eight hours without reaction. Many of
those who lived week had gangrenous
spots which sometimes become sloughing
ulcers an inch deep. A few recovered.
In the latter part of August there pre-
vailed malignant form of erysipelas
with rapid and extensive sloughing of
the skin. There is no doubt, adds the
writer, that these diseases appearing rs
they did to leeward (by prevailing wind)
of the great accumulation of putrid fish,
We're due TO this cause.
This is but one historical fact among
thousands of similar ones that might he
quoted. | do not propose to discuss the
theory of the causes of disease. bnt mere
ly to present what is universally ac-
knowledged and acted on by the general
sanitary regulations of all cities. that
filth and foul air gives great energy 10
all the numerous diseases that prevail in
community.
The general acceptance of this doc
trine IS shown by the careful care dock
ing mp the stable after the horse is stolen)
In which sanitary regulations are carried
out in cities, on the approach of cholera.
For months past the people of the
city of New York have been using their
utmost exertion through the public press
to stimulate its health officers to secure
thorough cleansing of the city. No
doubt much of the fatality of smallpox
has been greatly influenced by the filthy
conditions of the dwellings and streets
where it has prevailed.
Cleanliness, then. is Indispensable
even IN the air we breathe and the water
we drink. 1t matters not whether dis
ease is caused by organic germs. noxious
gases or solid particles floating in it. or
carnations from the soil. if we only
know the remedy and apply it. Among
eminent medical men, Dr. III. !. Bowditch
has most conclusively shown that damn
ness or moisture is the great cause Of
consumption, so that the air we live in
must not only be free from noxioUs
gases and organic germs, but also dry.
10 promote the health of a community.
Again the negative side of this cues
tlon IS ably argued by our best physi-
cians and medical writers of the present
Gay, who, IN their reese arches. have
round tnat absolute cleanliness. 1. G..
pure AR, etc, are among the most DOW
ctIul means we have to arrest and treat
diseases. One of our inspectors of the
army (there were only eight Mt that
tl,he) was asked the question: Doctor.
Mhat Is the best treatment of ervsipelas
no business TO have it, was his reply.
~ lie nad found that where perfect ven
tliation and cleanliness was followed.
erysipelas was absolutely eradicated or
annihilated.
our distinguished townsmen, DR..
GOLDSMITH, one of our strongest adyo-
GATES Tor better sewerage, who made the
great and valuable discovery of the use
OF Bromine, in hospital gangrena and
efyslpelas, will tell you that it is owing
10 It's great cleanliness that it derives its
potency Now in view of these few
PREF facts, have we any demands ON MS
mere IN this village of Rutland in remov-
ing the acknowled causes of diseases.
ANY one who will take the trouble to
walk our principal streets, for the pur-
pose OF investigating the subject, will be
astonlshed at the veritable defects of our
sewerage. Main street and nearly every |
street leading from it, with natural IA
ciiitles, from its elevation, for the best of |