The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-09

IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE
on HRALTH.-The unusually high death
rate OF this city last month, together with
the large amount OF sickness now in the
city, has excited considerable comment.
The Committee on Health met last night
to devise ways TO place the city in q bet
Ter sanitary condition. The Health OFF,
Ger reported twenty.eight deaths so far
this month, ten from measles and eight
from typhoid lever. Considering that
only eight days have so far elapsed, this
record has startling Significance.
The Committee will recommend TO
Council the appointment Of Sanitary
Inspector for each ward, whose duty 1t
shall be 10 make house to house inspec-
ton and report to the Health Officer the
condition OF all cellars, drains, privy
vaults, yards, and everything else worthy
OF notice OF filthy or unhealthy
character. This is q move in the
right direction. Council should pro-
vide for several inspections the year
round. 1t Is certainly not to be expected
that one man can keep supervision over
a population OF $4,000, and to look alter
the daily accumulations Of filth in q city
OF this size. It is lamentable fact that
people will not as rule keep their houses
and surroundings clean, unless forced so 10
do. No matter how good condition some
people may keep their houses in, II their
neishbor Is filthy, the danger Turks. II
is q duty that every citizen owes, not only
To himself and family, butte the commu-
nity at large, TO see that his and his neigh
boris premises are clean and free from
contamination Of every kind. Cleaning
and liberal use OF copperas and white.
wash may save valuable life. But peo-
ple must not forget that TO remove the
decaying matter and protect their houses
from sewer gas is OF the first importance
disiniection and whitewash next.
1t is the duty Of the city 70 provide bet
ter and more sewerage, particularly in the
Fourth and Eighth Wards. The attention
OF the Committee on Streets and Alleys
Is earnestly called to this; and also tc
pave more alleys and cutters. A large
amount Of disease-produCing filth Is hid
in obscure alleys and cutters, that on the
streets is more 10 be seen and the sooner
removed. :. =.
Every householder Is earnestly solicited
, to make 1t personal matter TO see 70 the
. Improvement OF his PREMISES Without
private interest in this matter all the city
NAV do will not avail much. Both musi
work together for the common good. Thii
is too important matter to be passed ovel
: lightly. Let every one who reads thit
artiele 90 down in the cellar and see j
There Is NOT some decaying vegetables
there, and remove them; see II the drain
ace Is not in some way defective, and have
m remedied; see II the privy Is not foul OIL
full, and have 1t attended to. II YOU
, house is connected with sewer, see TO Y
. that your drain-pipe is properly trapped
! 1t may save you much expense, sickness
, and trouble.
The committee will also recommend
that the present ordinance in relation u
cleaning priyy vaults be repealed, and thu
Health Officer was ordered to present
substitute. %,
One Of the most important actions Of thu
committee was the asking OF an appropria
ton for the purpose OF getting q report OF
the milk supply Of Wheeling. This SHOULD
pass by all means. It is now settled be
yond all dispute that milk is means o
much sickness and disease. Most otheI
cities recognizing this fact have provided
for Milk Inspector. 1t is probably al
under estimate TO say that 1000 sick per
sons and young children in this city de
pend in part, or wholly, on milk for sns
tenance. No person should be allowed e
sell to the people an article Of diet so deli
cate as milk, OF such universal use, excep
under conditions that shall reasonably
guarantee It's cleanliness and Its freedom
from every form Of poison.
Against such considerations no fictitiou
"personal liberty" to be nasty, no spurious
freedom Of trade" to supply the people
with adulterated and polluted food car
stand q moment.