Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-01
DlPHTH IBERIA.
Some Suggestions SDringing Simultaneous
" from Some Of Our Correspondents
in Regard TO the Matter Gifts Treat
ment and Causes,
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS.

The REGISTER yesterday morning
published An article from one OF its cor
RESPONDENTS in regard 70 recent ana old
ideas on the causes gHd cures o! that
dreaded disease, diphtEerla. The i"i.
lowing IRON prominent physician vi
this city, and gentleman vino has haa
a wide and varied experience i'll he
treatment oil all descriptions al diseases
will prove OF interest:
Cores ordenCe oi the Register.
WHEELING, October 81.
"Old Times" in the REGISTER OF Ot;o-
Der 3lst, after speaking OF the HIar. irg
prevalence oil diphtheria and typhoid
ipyer in our city, SAYS: SANITARY laws,
laws accepted by the medica! profession,
have been established and violated by
the local presence Uf these diseases, Tor
they have alike, without any regard to
climatic or other natural or local reasons
or causes, been equally destructive IN
what has heretofore been conceded to
be the healthiest part # the city, as IN
those parts heretofore conceded to be
the most unhealthy
AS one OF the medical profession |
desire to protest against knowing OF
any sanitary laws, laws accepted
bv the medical profession, and
| believe | can speak for the
profession when say that do not con
slider the city to be at all i'll healthy
sanitary condition. On the contrary
the foul odOrs that salute You on every
Corner-the opening OF every sewer ami
drain-should convince the professional
as well as every nOn-prolessio"ai, tIat
the foul odor, laden with sickness and
death, is not hidden, but gives fair
warning.
10 what extent the medical profession
is responsible for the drainage oil the
city in days gone by do not know, bnt
whoever constructed those long, venti-
lating, open mouthcd foul air tlues, run
ming from the creek and river up into
hundrc Is OF openings in every part OF
the city, ventiiatiug not only their own
foul poisOns, Dut from the creek and
river also, where the sewerage triCkles
over rocks and earth, heat
el by the sun, receive new energy
and are carried back through the sewers
to various openings, was certainly a
success in that particular. No wonder
'Oid Times says "all classes and local
tiles have been common sufferers.
The wealthy often have the cause OF
sickness in their water closets, which
often act as ventilaing shafts from some
sewer in hot weather-unless well trap
ped, and to be well trapped requires a
ventilating pipe TO every water closet
running to the top OF the hou3e-a sewer
trap does little good.
No sewer should open above ground,
all should il possible be conducted under
the water, so as 10 prevent any return
of foul air. Foul air shalt openings into
the main sewers should be constructed so
that the sewer Gas should escape through
large jet OF burning gas, and thus
burn up any posonousen alatiOns These
gas Jets would act as street lamps and
lose none OF their hrliliancy by burning
up the fOu! air.
The surface drainage OF the city IS
very bad. Every kitchen has its own
surface drain leading into an open drain
on the street and the accumulation OF
filth and odOrs in the late hot weather
was almost unbearabe. Why not have
them run into common earth SIX inch
pipe underground in the street, and let
each hOuseKeeper tap it with smaller
pipe"
But as We find drainage and sewerage
so detective and disease is the Conse.
quence, what shall be done III the ener.
genCy?
Look well 20 yOnr water closets; ii
any smell, see to it and have it led to
the top Of hc hD,sr. ii you live near an
opening in 4 sewer, keep the children
from it and windows closed on that
side.
Use chlorine disiniectants in cellars
and water closets. Two cents worth OF
clorate oil potash, placed on 4 saucer,
and one cents worth OF sulphuric acid
poured into il will disinfect large sized
room, providing it is closed. The gas is
irritating to the lungs, and the room
should be aired afterward. Copperas
water is good to pour into water closets.
Disinfectants in large quantities ap.
piled to the mouths OF open sewers, and
at creek and river banks would do much
good by being drawn along the sewers
and escaping out OF the openings.
AS to "OId Times" treatment, &C.,
his "putrid sore throat OF forty years
ago" was scarlet iever-nOt the diph
liberia OF to-day. 1t was as fatal then.
The writer lost three sisters and
brother in one week forty wears ago,
and his own burving clothes were made,
and his wa5 the only recovery III his
family. X.