The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-08-29
WHAT WEGAY EXPECT


CitIh aAa sanitary epldniCn.
lessons 70 b /. pfsyGlsat opinion amoas
medical men that The slsy Is In q bad sanitary
condition. In some sections the high water
Of last spFing dspoiitstR sediment composed
in some degree Of vegetable matter, and this
has since been tS5tsAhe IA the sun and rot.
ting in the rain pntil,it Is now in Just the
worst condition to disseminate disease, or TO
aggrayate diseases arisingirom other causes,
Another dangerous element Of the situation
Is the present protraeted drought and the
consequent long lapse OF time between the
thorough fushings Of the sewers and cutters,
Nothing Cleanses the city like good, heavy
rain, and without this no measures will en-.
tiruly prevent drains and sewers from be-
coming foul, and retaining greater Or less
amount Of disease breeding tlth and decay
ing organic matter,
Our neighborhood news columns have all
summer been filled with paragraphs concern
ing the prevalence OF diphtheria and the ia-
taiity attending II at various points over the
river, particularly at BellaiFe. The inter.
communication between that city and this Is
50 close and constant as 10 make BellairO
practically part Of Wheeling, and there is
the same danger OF disease spreading from
there here Us from one part OF the city to an
other. Indeed, already the dread scourgc
which has been attended with such fearful
fatality among our neighborS Is reported to
have gained foothOld in our midst We
spoke the other day Of Its appearance In u
certain locality OF Wheeling, where the
cases, although few, were OF mar ked malig'
nance, one death resulting shortly after the
i first development Of the disease. Saturday
an INTELLIGRNcER reporter was told OF anOth.
or fatal ease, this one being on the northern
part OF the Island On Friday evening lit
liz girl was taken III with sore throat and q
physician summoned, There was no dis
inctiye symptom Of diphtheTia disCernabe,
and after prescribing the common treatment
for aggravated sore throat the doctor left,
promising to call again on Saturday. He did
50 shortly after noon on that day and found
his patient expiring with oil the symptoms OIL
malignant diphthorla,
Should the disease prove to have obtained
hold on the Island, that pate OF the city cal
scarcely hope to escape On epidemic, sinct
the evil effects OF the flood were there mostly
apparent, many houses being yet perceptibll
damp and many cellars having water still
standing In them.
In casual conversation with DR.. Edwards
the City Health Officer, Saturday evening
he predicted that the city would be visitet
by an epidemic Of diphtheria this fall ant
also probably another oftyphoid fever III
spoke Of the state Of facts set forth In tn
foregoing as alarming in the extreme to I'll,
obseryant citizen Of Wheeling, Other doctor
with whom reporters have talked incident
ally in the past few days have advanced mucl
the same views,
This paper Is no alRrmist, and does no
| want to create an impression that things ar
/ worse than they arc, but 1t does want tn
people TO face the iacts as they really exist
and to strive to remedy the bad condition o
our city In sanitary point Of view. The III
most precantion should be exercised abOu
deposits Of garbage or slops about dwellln
houses Houses and especially basement
. and cellars, where tho high water was los
: , spring, should DO thoroughly, ventilated an
dried. Drains and WastO pipes should b
flushed when practicable, and well disinfec
9 ed. Cutters In front or rear Of premises shout
4 also be disinfected as often Us the slightc'
0 Offensive odOr Is perceptlble, and vaults Q
closets should DO keptin such condition
i not to breed disease IN the atmosphere. !,
throat should DO . coll foE precautior
akullst tllc uuNcluplueHb VI WV ,BihN
i, disease. This lis one instance p which u
!, full force should be given to the adage thu
!, 'Iap ounce OF prevention is worth pound {
y cure" IN abort extreme care should !
taken to preserve such A condition Of IL
:, premises about all dwelling houses w WI
u conduce to health-that Is cleanliness, wit
): plenty Of fresh air and sunlight. The cit
d authorities can do much to better the stat
u Of affairs, but the best work can only DO ii
Oompllsllpd by concerted action on the par
II OF the ritigGnS themselves " ildlyidut
10 premises arc properly cared fip, lAe athf
e part OF the work necessary to be done
q trivial In comparison, while the gr0atet
work possible for the authorities TO accom-
:. plish will not obviate the necessity for II
y dIyIdpal action,