The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-03
dht9ttelIigsneer:
Some further Reflection. upon
the Health Report for July.

ored to show that the recent increased
mortality OF the city has been largely due
no, so much to any unfayOrabie change
in our sanitary condition, as to thee1ceS'
,iye heat and humidity Of the atmosphere
the sudden grea, reduction Of tenPefA
ture occurring in the latter Part Oh 'u'y'
and to the prevalence Of both scarlet rne
fever and measles in addition to our
ususl summer diseases in children An
other important point in this connection
II the fact that until the present year an
accurate % m death report has never been
cached on account Of the eimpericct meth
ad,of obtaining physicians certificates
Under tho old plan, the certificates oil
death were given to the sections Of the va
riOus cemeteries, by.them returned to the
City Clerks Office and there collected BY
the Health Officer. Thus some certlh'
Gates were taken away from the city with
the BODY Of deceased, some were never
returned by the sections, and no doubt
others were lost in the clerks office. The
recent Inv requires every certificate to be
returned directly TO the Health oIicer'
"beiore the removal Of any corpse Tor
burial within tho city or elsewhere" So
that the mortality reports Of the present
wear are believed TO be absolutely cor
rect. .I,Et. ~,
While Othe facts here referred to very
satisfactorily account, in large measure,
for our recent high death rate, yet we
must look for still other causes before
we are entirely satisfied. We may say
that high degree OF temperature, espe'
cially il long continued, aggraVates all
other predisposing causes Of summer
diseases. One Of these is undoubtedly
an insalubrious state OF the air which
many children are compelled to breathe.
A considerable proportion OF people are
naturally filthy in their habits and mode
Of life, aud would, II placed in d palace,
soon reduce it to the condition Of ahovel.
Others are compelled to reside in locali-
ties which are filthy, by reason ot the
want Of proper improvement and cleans
ing Of our streets and alleys.
"Uncleanllness must be reckoned," !" says
distinguished Sanitarian, "as the dead
liest Of our present removable causes OF
disease. Populations living amid filth
within direct reach OF its polluting intiIi'
ence, succumb to varlou. diseases which,
under opposite conditions, are compHra-
lively unknown" The truth OF this gen
Sral statement is seen by n comparison
between the mortality OF the different
wards OF this city. In the Sixth Ward,
for instance, there occurred during July
25 deaths, OF which, as we find by refer
ence to the "Record OF Death" in the
Health Office, one.half were from intes,i'
nal diseases and convulsiona, the latter
dependent in large number Of cases
upon some form Of inteStinal diseases. In
the Eighth Ward there occurred l6
deaths, one.half OF which were from diar'
rhual diseases. These wards are low, flat
and defective in drainage and paving,
and the Sixth is no.oriously the iilthiest
ward in the city. In the Seventh Ward
which is the cleanest in the city, and has
more Of the characteristics Of the coun'
try, there occurred but four deaths
only one Of which was from diarrhGal
disease. Two OF the other deaths were
from chronic disease, and the fourth wa
Of a lady aged SO years. So much healthier
ia the Seventh Ward than other parts o
the city, that some ofour physicians have
been utilizing it as sort OF sanitarium
and advising the parents OF sick children
to have the little patients spend a part oi
each day in the open air on the best parI
OF the Island. Nodoubt good results may
be thus accomplished, and at little cost o.
trouble.
Unsuitable food is another prolific caus
OF infant mortality in the summer. Par
ents OF good sense in ordinary matter
will allow very young children to sit a
the table with the family, and generousl.
partake Of whatever may have been pro
vided, even though tho dinner Shoul'
consist Of corn, beans, cucumbers, cabbag
and melons. Perhaps improper foot
and ovet.fecding cause more death
smoug infants under three year
old than any other cause. ir
addition TO the above causes, many par
ents, through either ignorance, careless
meas or necessity, allow their young chill
drcn to spend much OF the time in hot
kitchens, filed with unwholesome odori
This should always when possible be al
tosether avoided. Let the children hay
the coolest, airiest, cleanest Apartmen
Of the house, and carefully regulate thei
diet, and the result viii bc decided
beneficial. It is calculated that OF al
infants born, about 20 per cent, or on'
nth, die in tho first year, and in som
very unhealthy localities us many as 8
per cent; while "of 100 children borr
hardly "A complete 8 years Of liie'
What proportion Of this fearful Sacritic
of life is unnecessary, 1t is impossible I
tell, but it is safe to say that il the wei
known laws oihealth were strictly obsery
ed, this mortality might be generally re
duced. Nothing is Of vaster importanc
than cleanliness Of person, Of clothing, @
dwelling and surroundings. OF no les
Importance is proper food properly pre-
pared, and given in proper quantities
Let these hints be considered, and cor
tAtnly good results may be expected.
The Ohio County Democratic