Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-08
THE FATAL FOURTH.
Travels of the Health Commit
tee-SOme Interesting Statis-
tics of the Fourth Ward.

Pursuant to their adjournment on
Thursday evening, the Council Com
mittee OH Health met at the city build
ing on Saturday afternoon, armed and
equipped for an inspecting tour into the
"scourge-stricken Fourth" sOi-disdm.
Only one member was absent, and Health
Officer Edwards accompanied the
party in the capacity Of guide. Vehicles
were called into requisitlon, and the
committee were adjusted to a nicely,
the pOnderous form OF Chairman
Schultze being cOunterbalanced by one
of the light weights Thus mounted, III
obedience to the command OF boot and
saddle" the cavalcade started upon its
really important mission.
To chronicle its doings and sayings
and the sights, scenes and incidents OF
the trip would be to exclude other mat.
ter. The inspection was systematic
and thorough. The diphtheria district
received special attention and the
system OF sewerage proper TO the
locality was discussed and planned.
The committee Will meet this evening
and frame a report for the regular
meeting of Council tomorrow night.
We had a lengthy conversation yes
terday with DR.. Edwards in regard to
the sanitary condition OF the city and
the method OF keepingthe health record.
From all that has been said OF the death
rate, the public will be surprised to
learn that not one death from diphtheria
has occurred this month. This Is all
solutely true Us the record will verify.
There have been seven deaths in
various portions OF the city, but none
OF these were from diptheria. This
rather knocks the bottom from a
statement made in Council, comparing
the deaths in this city with those OF
Memphis. ....
There is an explanation OF the dispar-
ity between the number OF deaths IN
August 1878 and 1879. In the former
month there were 80 and in the latter
IS, making a difference OF 81. This
seemed enormous and was attributed TO
the ravages OF diphtheria. 1t may be
easily explained. During the admins
trati0n OF DIR. Edwards predecessor, tine
records We're not kept as exact as they
might have been, and as the BOOKS VIII
testify. When death occurs, the. at
tending physician gives a certl.
ficate TO the undertaken; the latter
brings this TO the Health Officer
and from him gets a burial permit
which is given to the sexton. From the
physicians certificate, the Health OIL
Ger makes up his record. During the
administration referred TO, undertakers
were sometimes unable to find the
Health Officer and buried their bodies
simply on the physician 5 certificates.
When DR.. Edwards Was elected, on
the 18th OF March, the books were not
written up further than February LIST
And it was Il labor Of some weight 10
90 back and do this. DR.. Edwards has
expressed u determination to visit the
various sections, replace theircertihcates
with permits and properly enter up the
former, bringing the books into shape.
In regard TO the fatality of the Fourth
ward, the Health Officer is OF opinion
that it is exaggerated, though he admits
| il is bad enough. And from the
records it certainly seems Overdrawn.
We were informed upon good authority,
! that four deaths from diphtheria had oc-
Cured on Monday and Tuesday OF last
week; but now it seems there were
none. He is fully aware, however, OF
the detective condition OF the city and
! has received as high as twenty-seven
! com munications, in one mail, inviting
! his attention 10 certain localities.
Whether Council will lay itself out to
redeem this condition, remains To be
] gaan