Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-09
HEALTH MATTERS.
Some Sound Sense from the
Committee ON Health.

The COMMITTEE on Health met last
evening and it was one of the most i'm.
portant meetings this committee has
held Tor some time. rs matters OF vital
interest were discussed.
The first subject that came up Tor dis
CuSsion was the present system OF clean.
ing vaults: The present rate allowed
by Council is ten cents per cubic loot;
this it is claimed by property holders
and among them our most prominent
citizens, is an exorbitant price, and one
they can not stand. In addition, it is
charged that the apparatus used is not
strong enough and has not sufficient
suction power To remove anything
but the liquid matter. This was
further discussed ut some
length, DIR. Reoyesl citing instances
that had come under his own personal
observation, and resolution was pass
ed asking Council 10 repeal the present
ordinance. The Health Officer was also
ordered to prepare an ordinance that
should throw the business open To COM
petition, the same, however. being un-
der the supervision aud control Of the
Committee on Health.
The chairman then stated that he
thought something should DO done in
relation to the frightful increase OF ~
phoid fever in our city, and asked the
cause OF il. DIR. Reeves stated that
1t was almost entirely due
to our bad system OF vaults.
The city is honeycombed with
them, and under the present bad sys-
ten Of cleaning them ii was almost i'm
possible To check the disease. The win
ter has been very open one and the
influence OF the weather on the vaults
has produced poisonous gases that are
deadly in their effects. They should be
cleaned in a most thorough manner and
any one failing To do so should be fined.
The Health Officer conceded in these
remarks aud the committee ordered the
officer to issue his annual order, order
ing all house holders 10 clean their prem
ises inside OF fifteen days.
A resolution also passed asking Coun.
ell TO authorize the hiring OF
eight men, to be selected ny
the Committee as inspectors, one ioI
each ward, to see that this work is exc
cuted
DR.. Reeves then spoke OF the milk
supply Of the city as being perfectly
damnable; as being highly injurious
and also poisonous. He further read q
report OF the Health Officer OF Milwau.
kee in which statistics were shown that
were perfectly horrible in their details
prs. Edwards aud Reeves stated tina,
they had no doubt that it would be
found even worse in this city, and both
strongly recommended the passage Of
an ordinance making it un'
lawful for any one TO peddle
milk without registering and taking out
license. A resolution also passed unan'
imously asking Council to appropriate
SO TO pay some experinced person, to
be selected by the committee, 10 inspect
all the diaries in this vicinity that send
milk TO this city, and make statistics in
relation thereto. From these statistics
the need can be SEEN and an ordinance
framed TO meet it.
Or. Edwards then read a letter that
had been received by a prominent
member OF Council from a person whose
name 1t is not necessary 20 give here,
stating that q large amount OF the sick
ness now prevalent in the city among
lsboring women was due to the lack OF
proper retiring rooms in the various dc.
partments in which they worked. That
with but q very few exceptions there
was but one water closet in establish.
ments where both men and women
worked, and that the natural delicacy OF
woman would prevent her from a
proper use OF the same, thereby
causing her untold suffering and
agony. This letter met with
the views Of all the committee, and the
Health officer was ordered to direct all
employers in the city TO provide water
closets for the use OF females in their
employ. The officer viii also incorpor.
ate something in regard 10 this in the
ordinance he Is preparing
The fearful condeition OF our streets
was also freely discussed, all agreeing
that while the present style OF paving is
kept up, il Is useless TO expend money
in cleaning. After some further con.
yersailon, the committee adjourned.