The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-10-07
suhlie Hygiene.

EDITORS GAzETTE.-lt Is particularly;
incumbent upon the physician to observe
and study the hygienic condition of the
community wherein he resides; to point out
matters of common interest regarding the
health producing and contaminating infiu-
ences of the same.
The situation Of Corvallis is one Of the
mott hcalthful in the Willamette Valley;
being high, in range of the delightful and
refreshing sea breeze, naturally drained and
surrounded by no marsh. or malarial pro-
ducing regions. With these favored points
we are required to look within the corporate
limits of the city for the subject of our
remarks.
OF course this town is not of sufficient
size to warrant the expense of a complete
system of sewerage; bat that does not afford
a shadow of an excuse for the amount of
negligence that we are often reminded of
in RAISING along the street, when gust of
foul air meets onr olfactories; doubtless
emanating from cesspool formed by a
sink outlet. or other decomposing matter
allowed to accumulate.
Yet this does not meet our approbrium
SO much as the disgusting appearance of q
water closet, seemingly lifted from its base
by the excremeuts projecting from beneath
it. Some of these buildings we learn have
not been cleaned inside of five years.
What is the effect Of foul air or noxious
gas upon the health. Air is part of our
daily food, and by far the most important
part; man can live on seven meals week.
and survive the warmest summer day with
seven draughts OF water, but his supply. of
air has to be renewed at least fourteen
Thousand times in the twenty-four hours.
Every breath we draw is draught of fresh
oxygen, every emission of breath is an
evacuation of gaseous recrements.
The purity of our blood depends chiefly
on The air we breath, for in the labratory
of the lungs the atmospheric air is brought
in contact at each respiration with the
fluids of the venous and arterial systems,
which circulate it through the entire body;
hence can be easily seen the reason for the
longevity of hunters and herders, who breath
the pure air, which is prophytaris of
disease as well as promoter of health.
The next and we think the most import.
ant factor of our theme is the consideration
of water. Water is, the great vehicle of
nature, it constitutes 'four-fifths of the
animal economy. Man has been facetioasly
described as twelve pounds of flesh wet up
in six pals of water; all plumpness of flesh
and fairness of cheek are given by the
juices of the system; a few ounces of water
causes the physical difference between the
round rosy face of sixteen and the wrinkled,
withered features of seventy, Man requires
about three-fourths of ton annually.
Since water is the great carrier of nature
and enters so largely into. the composition
of our bodies, what are the probabilities of
It's effects on the health if impure and
holding in solution the. germs of disease.
The rainy season is coming on, the surface
will be- saturated with water, the water
will rise and fall in the pits of water closets;
a water closet has been. known to contain
mate a. well with the typhoid fever germ at
a distance of six hundred feet, What are
the chances of well escaping. with a house
barn, water closet and well all crowded on
one lot 50xl0o.
This is a matter that interests all alike,
and demands the attention of municipal
Law. What remedy can be suggested: that
all water closets be constructed with a
ventilator and movable box, or water tigh.
pit, that no decomuosing matter be allowed
to lay about on vacant lots or alleys. Think
of it, shall Corvallis be known as filthy
town or not.