The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-20

Some Points In hrgard 10 their Respect
I've HeAIIhfulneHB,

SAAA I'M
some Points IN hSgArd 10 their Respect
I've HeAIIhfmIness,
A few years ago the word country was
the synonym Of a place Of mental and
physical health. A farm house well was
regarded as a veritable fountain OF youth.
The air in the country was presumed by
the residents Of large towns 10 be chemlc
ally pure, with the exception Of the odor
Of sweet flowers and Of medicinal plants.
To go into the country was to find oil the
conditions most favorable to health, hap
plness and length OF days. Country food,
as served up IN farm houses, was regarded
o. superior to any drugs for freeing the
system from disease in any form. Many
city people believed that most OF the
deaths iu tho rural districts were the 70.
sults Of lightning, moving machine acct
dents, or old age. -.
But opinions about the heslthiulnsss Of
farm life and the sanitary condition Of
most portions Of the country have under.
gone a great change during the past few
years. Many physicians who have praC-
tiCed in country and town declare that the
death rate is larger and the cases OF sick.
ness more numerous In the former than In
the latter. They state that all kinds Of
malarlal diseases prevail In the country
much more generally than In the city, and
that dyspepsia, which Is generally sup.
posed 10 result from high living, Is more
common among the persons who live and
work on farms than among people Of lels.
ure 10 the city. 1thAs lately been affirmed
that the largest class Of patients In our
insane hospitals 10 composed OF the wives
Of farmers, In short, there is strong evi.
dence that a higher degree Of both bodily
and mental health exists among city PEG.
pie than among residents Of the country.
A physician Of large experience In Chicago
states that his services are always in active
demand during the fall by those persons
who have spent a considerable portion Of
the summer in the country. They con.
tract diseases there and come home To OBJ.
tain relief. They were disappointed about
finding healing waters and purifying air.
1t is difficult 10 institute q comparison
betW cen the death rate and general SAM
taty condition in city and country o. the
account Of want Of statistical information.
In the city there is a record Of every
death, together with the apparent cause.
There is an official examination whenever
death occurs from violence or is attended
with suspicious circumstances. All cases
OF c%ontagioHs diseases are reported to the
proper authorities. Persons afflicted with
The small pOx are taken 10 q pest house.
Houses In which cases Of scarlet fever 90.
cur are designated by o conspicuous sign.
The report nf the health department ia
published at least once every month, and
Of times when unusual types Of sickness
prevail reports are made every day. Thedai.
ly papers In a great city report everything
new aud rarely fail 10 give reports con.
corning disease aud mortality. Attention
IL also called editofiAlly 10 sanitary mat.
ters, the existence oil nnisanceg, the water
supply, and the condition Of streets, alleys,
sewers, public buildings and tenement.
houses, A person In the coun.
try who reads a city daily is very
likely TO believe that sickness Ii
some form is the rule and health
The exception. Ii the country no one
collects and tAbulates the statistics in relA.
ton 10 mortality. II is not necessary 10
procure A burial permit before consighing
Abudy to lie last resting place. A person
dies 10 infancy, childhood or the mAtuti.
ty Of years, and yet no record Ia made Of
the fact except In the family Bible, or on
q grave stone. As q rule every death Is
referred to In the funeral discourse az 4
"dtspensatiOn Of Divine Providence"
There L. seldom an official or professional
itquify into the csuss OF a death attended
with peculiar circumstances. In fact, q
very strong popular prejudice exists
akalnst post mortem examinations. The
remote CauFes CT sickness and death oc.
curing 10 the county are rarely ihveati.
gated and made 10 benefit the community
by throwing light on sanitary science. 4
county doctor would be likely To loae
patrons and 10 make enemies II he should
suggest that the premises were filthy, the
csll't offensive and the drinking water
Impure.
REMEDIAL AaRNctRs.
In every large city there ls a board Of
health With p1wer more or less extended,
in oalcet having charge Of vital statistics,
sanitary and building inspectors, public
and private hospitals, free ~dispehsatieS
where medicine IL prescribed, and from
which visiting physiciahs are sent out,and
ply slClans who are paid by the public 10
vi6it the INDECENT sick. There are drug