The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-17
MEDICINE MEN.
what They Think Of the Health Of
the City and How They Differ
About the Water ofOur
Wells and Springs.

--~--~-------
Further Discussion ON n Subject Of Interest q
all Our People" McG." Reviewed by the
Board OF Heaith-The Impurities of Well.
and spring-wateri Does IL Kin:-Testi.
mony from Experienced Physieians-A Doc.
tor Who Very Nearly Agrees with " "MeG."-
The Slime on the Rocks in the River Proba.
bly, Dangerous to Health-various Opinions.
! Following are several communication
discussing the questions raised by MEG"
Many important facts ore being brought To
| light. The Board OF Health assert "that
the large mortality in the last month was
not confined to this city," and "that a
similar rise in the death rate was manifested
| in nearly every city, with the exception
possibly OF New Orleans" The Board,
while criticISing the mode adopted in bring
| ing these matters TO public attention, ad-
mits that certain oiten.uTged legislation Is
needed from the Council. One writer dis.
cusses our sewerage system, including pri-
vate sewer connections, and points ont what
may be efruitiul sources CT disease, also refers
to the greasy covering Of the rocks fn the
river. which In low water give out poison
, Gus effluvia. Another claims that the water
| from wells and springs, the gases from
Shockoe creek IAN "open sewcr"), and the
! filthy alleys In many sections are stimulants
| OF disease. Another offers Ito furnish the
names Of over one thousand persons who
have used well water for from fige to TWEEN.
! ty-fve years without the slightest injury TO
their beslih," and then goes on TO charge
"McG." with ignorance as to several mat
tiers in dispute, and TO quote authorities.
These communications are all worth read
ing, and present ideas that are entitled 10
serious consideration:
Letter from the Board OF HOaIth.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH,l
Richmond, August 10, 1881.
Messrs. Editors,-Two articles have sp-
pesred in Jour paper OF late calculated 10
produce sn erroneous impression, ema-
mating, as 1t is thought, from an eminent
medical gentleman Of this city. They, in
consequence Of their source, carry with
them much weight, and II allowed TO pass
unnoticed will seriously affect the interests
of this city.
The writer OF these articles should have
informed himself oi the mOrtuaTy statistics
OF the other cities OF the Union al the time
when such articles were penued. Had be
sought information from this Office be would
have been furnished with statistics which
would have satisfied him that the large NOR
tality In theTlsst month was not confined to
this city. He would have aScertained that
similar rise in the death-rate bad been
manifested 10 nearly every city with which
this office Is in correspondence, with the
exception, possibly, Of New Orleans. Chi
csgo's death-rate in one week went up to
80 in 1000, New York TO 40, and other cities
-. -
round numbers.
The various causes alluded 10 in these
publications as producing disease have
been noticed year after year by this Board
in its annual report forwarded to the Coun-
Gil. Nothing new has been given TO The pub
lie In these letters. Every suggestion made
by the writer bas been made and urged upon
the City Council by this Board year after
year, published in the papers, and in pam.
phlet form distributed to every physician in
the city.
This Board instituted an examination Of
the potable waters OF this city-the exami-
nation OF the hydrant water extending
through period OF twelve months. Many
OF the springs and wells OF the city were
examined, and sn analysis made OF the
waters, al published, and opinions ex-
pressed as to the character OF each, warn
Ing being thus given as to the purity or lm-
purity Of such sources OF supply.
The spring alluded to OF we are correct
in our conjecture, at the corner Of Franklin
and Twelfth streels), "frOm which water 10
supplied to the guests OF particular hotel,"
and which the writer describes as being so
impure, was analyZed by DR.. William II.
TAYLOR, State Chemist, and member Of this
Board, and he pronounced it good water,
not deieterious; its peculiar taste being
due TO magnesia, which is not hurtful.
am glad to mud that at this late date the
Board have an endorser OF the many sug-
eestions made by il for the Improvement OF
the health of the city. The most ehectusl
plan of accomplishing this beneficial result
would be 10 impress his views upon the
members OF the Council, with so many OF
whom be is brought into familiar aud pro-
fessiOnal intercourse.
We question whether the mode adopted
by the writer was the one calculated to 40
complish the result be desired; we have
but little doubt that the interests OF this
city have been unnecessarily ieopardized
by these articles.
We should not have deemed any reply ne
cessary, but We find that another Influential
paper Of this city has endorsed the views
expressed in the articles referred TO aG TO
the unbealthfulness OF this city. The month
OF july was characterized By extreme heat.
We are glad to see that the papers are
prepared now 10 endorse and urge tue adOp-
ton of the measures iterated aud rel Grated
year after year before the Council by this
Board.
The causes Of the large mortality IN this
city are discussed in our annual report, aud
II shows that zymOtic diseases hSYe lessen
ed. We bespeak the cordial cooperation
from the profession and the press in urging
upOn the Council the adoption OF measures
which, in the opinion OF the Board, will re.
duce the mor.uary list. Very respectfully,
j. &. CABELL,
President Board Of Health.
our TrOubles-What IL tho Remedy
Messrs. Editors,-When it is known that
our main sewers are from eight to twelve
feet under ground and imbedded in close,
tenacious clay soil, which admits OF no tl-
tration, you can hardly account for our
want Of health in supposiEg them TO be the
fruitful causes OF disease. SO far as sewers
are concerned, the trouble is in the private
sewer connections from premises which are
sometimes only two feet deep (or perhaps
less), aud made OF poor, porous brick and
bad cement, which admit OF leakage under
best construction, aud are liable at any time
10 be undermined by rats, causing the
bricks to tumble in, leaving a permanent
pool or trap through which the ofal cannot
pass, thus throwing the gases back into the
houses. The remedy must be applied here.
Parties must be required TO use terra Gotta
piping, and that under strict regulations
and official surveillance. But to make any
system OF sewerage complete you must dis
-