The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-18

was put OF. and one nearer the house used
that previously was only used for stock aud
washing. 1boue II and not very far dis
tant were the stables, stock-yard, aud COM
post heaps. A few ounces Of water from
this well gave, on evaporation, residue
that burnt; gave the unmistakable smell OF
organic matter, decomposed animal and
vegetable refuse. The old well also gave q
small residue, but entirely Of inorganic
salts. The expenditure OF a few dollars
shsnRed matters, and from the time the first
water was used a rapid change TO health and
normal condition took place.
Our Easements are damp, very damp, %
. general rule. The red clay is compact -
little water can enter II. Most houses are OF
brick. fronts OF close-grained pressed brick,
sides and back porous, common material.
Take bucket OF water after dry day aud
you can pour it by dippersiul on the wall,
nTe feet from ground. and will all be ab-
soTbed before II reaches the ground. 20 In,
and settle steadily down TO the foundation
and as 1t is easier to come through inside
than out, 1t comes through, mildewing the
papering and rotting the woodwork. Close
the majority OF easements tightly for day
In warm weather, and then 20 In and notice
the mustY smell. Fires 10 winter do away
With this to certain extent, but not en-
tirely. To remedy this cement your base
ment walls on the outside to the foundation.
aud paint your bricks. think there will
be happier, cheerier people inside that
house, and less throat aud lungtroube.
Another point Let the health fathers keep
a close record OF the set OF the wind twice
daily. Keep 1t in connection with their
heat, pressure, and rain readings, and
venture to say they will ind that the true
malarisl troubles Of all kinds Will be found
to be greatest when the prevalent winds
bave been essterly-thst is, anywhere east
OF the north aHd south line OF the compass.
The best report will follow prevalence OF
westerly winds-winds from the west side
OF the north and south line. This Is mala-
ria. East OF US are huge tracts OF low,
marshy country, sluggish rivers, aud
suamps. A slow, steady wind from That
point surrounds Us with its fever.laden,
heavy air. For years l have noticed and
looked for this, and claim prevalence OF
easterly winds equals decided rise In the
death rate and the doctors calls.
Our wells, our houses, we can take care
OF, and we should do So. 10 the other case
precautionary measures can only be used.
Avoid unnecessary exposure 10 the night
air, particularly on the eastern side OF the
house, after the dew point Is reached, when
the air begins to feel damp, and in late sum.
mer and fall months. Eat regularly and OF
healthy food. Keep the pores open by
abundant bathing, and avoid sudden
changes OF temperature, whca is best ae-
complisbed by light flannel worn always
next to the skin, and when tired and worn
out get plenty OF sleep.
These points have long engaged my mind,
and would bring them TO the attention OF
more competent authority-the medical
gentlemen, who have charge OF these mat
ters. and whose profession best enables
them to carry on such Investigations.
am not a medical man. R.
RsiOinder or MEG.
Messrs. Editors,-i am very glad that the
| object for which my letters Of August llth
and August 14ih were written has been
accomplished, and that many OF the medical
profession and the people generally are
learning and discussing some OF the causes
OF the heavy mortality OF this city. When
freely dscussd and understood have full
faith they will be corrected. This was my
only motive in writing, and ! would soon
lose sight Of 1t and iniure the cause am
advocating il ! attempted TO Snswer all OF
the replies TO my letters. Some OF them
could not answer. / cannot, for instance,
discuss this subject with one who denies
that sewer-gas is poisonous, or with one
who states that wells and springs are not
Injured by contact with sewers, or with one
who urges rs a strong argument That ne
knows the names OF q thousand men who
drink OF well-wtter and are not hurt by it.
would as soon think OF discussing some
natural law with one who denies the law Of
grayitation, or OF cohesion and attraction (;
/ fnfn with
who states that as a thousand men be could
name came out OF the army alive, no one
was hurt during the late war. L mean these
gentlemen no discourtesy, but they must
pardon me for declining 10 answer their
arguments" Nor can | consent TO answer,
through the columns you have so generous
| ly allowed me TO use, an article containing
any personal abuse OF myself, or belittle the
object am after by any personal newspa-
per controversy.
DIR. CabelI In his official letter as presi-
dent OF the Board Of Health. says that
have mi.led the people by producing an
d" erroneous immersion about the health
| OF Richmond, which IL calculated TO "serl-
ously affect the interest OF the city," de
claims that ought to inform myself better;
that il | had gone to him he would bave
gwen me the information which | lacked.
| IN the Doctor will read again my first letter
be will see that while allude TO- the fearful
mortality OF the preceding week, L speak
OF the "general mortality report (of Rich
mond) when compared with that OF other
clties.D am speaking Of the death-rate OF
Of this city for year-the year 1879, or 1880,
or both. Now, let us see II have produced
an erroneous impression. The dealh-rate In
Richmond for the year 1880 was 26.lO per
], I,OOO-ihat il, out OF 63803 people l,76O
died. There is In the whole OF the United
States but one city OF over 10000 inbabit-
ants New York, whose deatb.rale is 26.H
per 1,000) with as bad record. Brooklyn,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, New
Orleans, Cincinnati, st. Louis, and many
others have q smaller death-rate, and must
be regarded as healthier places. Oh all the
cities of over $4,000 people in the United
States Richmond stands fourth in Its
heavy mortality-rate. In 1879, reckoning
the population even as great as 1t Is now,
68.S03-snd OF course II was not 50 large
I.9I2 people died, making death rate OF
% 90 per 1000. IL was even worse than
that in 1880.
Such Is the melancholy record which DR..
Cabell says should have gone 10 him for.
Possibly the Doctor had better come TO see
me think there is something rather in
consistent in the first part OF DR.. CabelPs
letter, saying bad done very wrong in
deed, with the latter part, when be says he
has been trying year after year before the
Council, in the papers, and with pamphlets, |
TO do the very same thing tbet have done. |
l protest DIR. Cabel should thank me for |
the help I have given him, and not blame |
me for the mode have taken TO do IL; for |
i think my letters and the answers to