The Cecil Whig., 1876-05-27
Dry Earth, in its Sanitary Applications to
Farm Houses and Village Dwellings,.
BY THE RT. REV. HENRY c. LAY, DID,, l. l. D.,
BISHOP OF EAsToN.

BY THE RT. REV. HENRY c. LAY, ID, L l. D.,
BISHOP OF EAsToN.
CONTINUED
DR.. Gibson's account of the prevalence
of intestinal catarrh confirms the statement
of DR.. Simon. In his Report to the Privy
Council he says page 12):
"Among the effects which arise under
experimental septic infections, as likewise
in cases of accidental septicamia in the
human subject acute catarrh of the mucous
membrane of the intestnes is an extremely
prominent fact. The mucous membrane of
the intestinal canal seems peculiarly to bear
the stress of all accidental putridities which
enter the blood. Whether they have been
breathed, or drunk, or eaten, or sucked up
into blood vessels from the surface of foul
sores, or directly injected into the blood
vessels by the physiological experimenter,
there peculiarly the effect must be looked
for; just as wine, however administered,
would get into the head,' so the septic fer
ment, whencesoeyer it may have entered
the blood, is apt to find it's way thence to
the bowels, and there, as a universal re-
suit, to produce diarrhpa."
1t is a weakness common to many of us,
to dabble in medicine. We take, and we
administer prescriptions of our own, and
nostrums of the quacks. But there is one
department of medical science, and among
the noblest of them, into which we may
enter without intrusion, and where none
will regard us with jealousy. The science
of prevention is ground common to US all.
We may study the principles, and practice
the precepts by which disease is kept out
side our doors.
How large and important field this is,
one may learn from the frank and out
spoken words of DR.. Anstie on epidcmics.
Page 177}.
"One parting word may properly be
added on the subject of the durability of
the epidemic fevers. 1t is important that
the public should understand that the ma
jority of those diseases have definite mini
mum duration, which nothing can alter,
that their natural tendency is, on the whole,
to a favorable termination, and that the
best and most enlightened physicians are
the most firmly convinced, that there exists
no practicable means of shortening the
natural term of these maladies. There
fore, when we speak of cure by med-
cal treatment, we mean no more than this:
that the interference of vigilant and skill
full physician, frequently prevents the pa
tient from sinking under the disease, before
it has run it's natural course, or averts some
of those evil consequences which are apt to
follow. = 1t can never be too often
repeated, that by far, the most difficult and
scientific portion of the medical mans task
in the treatment of acute disease, is in the
direction of hygienic measures, and above
all, in the apportionment of the proper
food, and the exact manner in which that
food shall be taken; and that these are the
means by the right employment of which
the physician saves his patients, in ninety
nine out of hundred cases, which recover
from dangerous attacks of epidemic dis
ease
But if science must honestly acknowl-
edge its impotence to give prompt relief
when the evil is fastened upon US, it does
not hesitate to declare, that it can do great
things, if we will only heed it's voice, in the
way of prevention. This same writer de-
clares (Notes on Epidemics, page 75):
"In short, all observers arrive at the con-
clusion that it would be possible, by rem
dering our drinking water absolutely pure,
and by disinfecting our sewerage at the ear
liest moment, almost or entirely to sup
press typhoid fever
Even more emphatic is the declaration of
DR.. Simon (Report of 1875, page g.:
"That the deaths which we in each year
register in this country now about half a
million Year, are fully 1875, 600 more nu-
merous than they would be, if existing
knowledge of the chief causes of disease,
as affecting masses of population, were
reasonably we'll applied throughout Eng
land, is, believe, the common convictions
of persons who have studied the subject"
lHo HpoltduCo vi uuC hItCuIIOu W tuc
earnest advice of medical authorities finds
an illustration in the saving of human life,
during an outbreak of typhoid fever in
Port Deposit, in our own State of Mary
land, few months since. AS one crosses
the railroad bridge at Havre de Grace, he
may observe, at little distance, the town
of Port Deposit, situated on the very brink
of the river and at the foot of a precipitous
hill. 1t is said, although this may be an
exaggeration, that in one instance it is but
step or two from the third story window
into the back yard of the premises.
Now, this last spring, typhoid fever made
its appearance there, but within limited
range. My faithful missionary there, the
Rev. Mr.. Martin, wrote me, if recollect
Alright, that in thirty yards Of street front
he found as many cases of fever.
All the families thus affected, used the
water from a certain WELL Higher up Oh
the hillside there was dwelling in which
there had been typhoid patient a little
while before the outbreak of fever below.
There was good reason to believe that the
sewerage from these premises descended into
the we'll.
At any rate, the physician urged upon
the Town Commissioners the importance
of closing this we'll. His advice was taken,
but not without much opposition, and the
spring of infection effectually closed.
am indebted to DIR. r. Hamilton Mil
ner, of Port Deposit, for the particulars Of
this epidemic. They are substantially as
follows: On the lst of January, 1875, Frank
Rogers, employed as conductor on one Of
the trains running between Philadelphia
and Port Deposit, moved with his family
into that portion of our town called Mid
dletown. He occupied the third house on
! the MINER side of the street counting from