Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-22
CITIZENS SANITARY ASSOCIA-
TION.
Important Meeting of the Executive
CouneiI-InteresiIng and Valuable
Reports.

A very interesting meeting Of the Execu-
tive Council of the Citizens Sanitary Asso-
citation was held at Metropolitan Hall last
evening. A very important and lengthy
report was presented by DR.. J. c. LeHardy,
the Medical Director of the association,
showing that with the recent progress made
In sanitary engineering and the daily i'm
provement In sanitary appliances, there is
no reason why Savannah should not be the
healthiest city in the countTy-situated on
q high and narrow bluff, its thorough sew
craze presents no great difficulties, and there
is not a foot of ground for miles around
which cannot be perfectly drained.
We synopsize from the report the follow
ing on the subject OF "Habits as a Cause Of
[. sease and Mortality" which we are as
sured will have the close attention and earn
est consideration Of the reflective class OF
cur citizens as the statements are convin0-
ing:
But few of US understand what simple
causes produce diseases, sometimes OF the
most dangerous character, and the mass of
the people are wholly unaware that some of
their habits are the constant promoters OF
iil-health. This ignorance is quite natural,
since the principles of hygiene are taught
neither ia our public nor private schools,
and the newspapers rare'y contain articles
upon the subject suited to the understand
iug of the masses.
In order to gain a clear idea Of this sub
iec let US divide our population into white
and cOlOred.
20 e cause of the excessive mortality in
this community is the large proportion OF
the negro clement. The United States Cen
sus for 1880 eives US population OF 10 COZ
whites and Is GA colored. S1oles' city Cen
sus Of 1881, 10, ia whites, Is 765 coloref.
alF Tor Sc OF
! ,l5G, of which whites 453, colored 703
Taking the United States figures, we will
have a mOr ally among the whites OF 30 IL
per thou sand and among tae c0lored OF A s.
per thousand, or an average % 1857 we
TAX; the city figures, We have % 90 for
whites AMI A. SO fJr c1lored, or an average
of 33.l4 Why is this excessive mortality
among the colored people? Before the war
the ratio II mortality among them was less
than amOog the whites. "A slaves they
were well quarteEed. their houses and
peTs Jns were kept comparatively Gle IN,
their food WAS simple and ample, CX-
cess in eating s9i drinking was
extept,olal, their cl]thing was adspted 10
the &c tsOns, when sick they had CT mpetent
medical attention-in short, they wer- kept
under good sauit ~ regulations. Nov,
compile rev, lu ion has taken place ia heir
mode Of living. Left to thems " s. their
Ignorance Of sanitary requirements, aud
their natural nd1lence, cause them 10 fall
in.o habits which cannot fail to lower their
VITALITY, 10 sap their constitution, ruin their
! n rails and SOW The seeds of innumerable
diseases. There seems tn be no better way
| for this association 10 impart instruction to
these peOI lie than be- appointing a anding
committee 10 go among them and show
| them kind wherein their habits and mode
OF living are Injurious to health, to visit The m
| ia their houses, and % impress upon them the
| danger resulting from oveFcrOwding in their
sleeping rooms aud neglect of ventilation.
| Taey should advise them OF the bad effects
resulting from q want Of personal and
/ domestic cleanliness, from Over-eating and
drinking, and from eating unwholesOme
food They should urge upon them the
| Importance of proper and prompt medical
attendance 10 case of sickness. Perhaps 1t
would be well 10 supplement the labors of
| this committee by lectures to the cOlored
/ people, ell her by their own ministers or by
| persons selected for the purpose"
In regard to the streets and lanes the re-
| port SAYS that great benefit could be derived
| ny paving the streets with stone blocks or
| Other pavement which will prevent evapOra
ton from within aud percolatiou from with
/ cut, together with the proper grading OF
every street and lane. This should be com
menced at once by the city authorities upon
! the kss5 AVID most approved plan now IN US :,
/
| Tee iudicious expenditure of money for
/ this purpOse-asde from sanitary coDsldera-
| tions-would be a good investment, as It
would insure g great saving in horses and
| vehicles, snd increased loads could be drawn
/ on smooth Ioadwsys. But as the whole of
/ this paving cannot be done except in the
course OF years, some temporary improve
| ment should be made; streets and lanes
should be properly graded and provided
with cutters TO carry the water rapidly to
| the sewer traps.
Some idea of the value OF this report can
| be Inferred from the brief extracts above
| given, and we would be pleased to publish
| il in full were it not for the pressure on our
| space.
The Council. however, took action look
| ing to the publication of the document in
| pamphlet 70 m for the benefit Of the mem
| bers Of the association and the public gen.
/ orally.
very interesting report o: the Inspect
/ ing Engineer Of the association, Mr. August
Sehwaab, was also presented, giving in de.
/ tail the result of his inspection of
several houses, and suggesting reme-
| dies for the defective plumbing, be-
SIDES giving some very valuable
| information concerning dwelling sanitation.
| Tn report will also probably be published
| in pamphlet form, as it contains matter OF
the highest importance 10 every citiz n.
/ The Sanitary Engineer supplemented his
report with plan for the proper Plumbing
and sanitation Of private dwellings, which
was referred to a committee OF three to re-
| port upon at the next meeting.
After q discussion OF these reports, sn
| the transaction of other business OF interest
to the association, the Council adjourned.