The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-01-28
JAN'y 21th, 1879.
A NATTER OF GREAT MOMENT.

MA Ell VI UKEAl MUMENl.
DEMAND FOR ACTION LOOKING TO THE
POSSIBILITIES OF NEXT SUMMER,
If any steps are to be taken by our peo-
pie with view to the possibility of an cpl
demic visitation, like that which
afflicted the city last year, the mat
ter should be delayed no longer. The
suggestions OF the Committee of Ten that
priyies be disinfccted, shade trees thinned
and cut down and pigeons shot, fall so
tar short of what the people expected and
what the necessities of the situation actually
demand, that nobody gives any weight or
Importance to them whatever. Indeed, the
only feeling we have heard expressed, if we
will except that Of ridiculc, is regret that
the committee attempted to do anything ut
all. It's action. amounting TO comparatively
nothing at all, has had the effect OF fore
sailing efforts that might have furnished
the ground work tor the best sanitary and
quarantine arrangements that science, en-
perience and investigation could suggest,
As we have intimated, the matter is one
Of vital importance, alike to our city and
citizens; and the disposition that has been
made of it is only rescued from the farcical,
by the seriousness with which il was
treated. To consider such momentous
questions as connect themselves
with the subject, the committee
should have embraced every physician
in the city, at least one lawyer
and half dozen or more Of our most SEN
sible and practical citizens. The commit
tee thus organized, should obtain copy
of the reports Of the Board of Health and
quarantine officers of the different cities of
the South that have had to deal with the
scourge, and also copies of the ordinances
and rules under which such officers acted
There should be an earnest and diligent in.
quiry into tie degree Of cleanliness man
tanned, the character of disinfectants used
and mode Of life. in those localities in the
smitten cities Of the South, that escaped
the epidemic altogether. The committee
should know what conditions invite the
scourge, and what remedial agents to apply.
1t should thoroughly famiiarzc itself with
the experience of those who have fought
the disease for fifty years or more, and util.
lie as much of the knowledge thus gained,
as might seem applicable to our condition.
The committee should have fixed place OF
meeting come together, as often as two or
three times a week, and not even think of
satisfying itself with the conclusions formed
until at least week had been given TO
thought and investigation, 4 report from
such u committee would command the res
pcct and inspire the confidence of the peo-
pie since it would give to Cairo the bene-
fit Of the experience of those who have bat
tied with the pestilence for period Of
fifty years or more would enable us to
select the best from all the means that
have yet been devised to keep the Scourge
at hey, and to deal with it when it over.
leaps the barriers raised against it.
1t may be asked: "Who will give all the
time and thought necessary to carry out
these suggcstions.' Wercply that no man
who has an identity Of interest with the
city, will hesitate about serving, one instant.
The lives Of our citizeas and the well being
Of our city-both Of which are at stake,
may demand the time Of any citizen. Let
the City Council take the matter
in hand, name the committee.
and the member who declines to act be-
cause he is chasing down dollars and cents
the man who shows disregard for the
health and lives of his felow-citizens, and
the future welfare Of the city, because he
has personal affairs to look after, shall not
escape the public ccnsure and eXccration his
"hoggish' seliishness and inhuman indiiler-
ence invite. No citizen who has the feel
ings Of man, and brains enough to be
Of any service on such COM
mittee, will even think of declining