National Republican., 1883-06-08

had yentilation-to an excess of carbonic acid
in their atmosphere and declare that their
preachers influence Is in consequences greatly
impaired. Our churches should have
pure air as well as pure gospel"
Hence, clerical sanitarians arc preach
ing earnestly that cleanliness is next
TO Godlincss," and demand better
ventilation and pure air in churches. They
declare that study of the laws of hygiene
aud OF sanitary science Is n Christian duty
tho duty of Christian minister-for they
realize that from their imperfect or improper
heating, their bad ventilation and consequent
foul air many of our churches are at times
little better than pest houses, and declare that
many Of their parishiOners who have pcrfshed
might have been saved had the visiting min
listers possessed and exercised u practical
knowledge of hygiene and sanitary science.
1t is n lamentablo fact as the papers of this
roport show that under the best civilization
thousands die yearly Of "provontable dis
eases that is, of diseases like diphtheria,
scarlet and malarial fevers, cholera, diarrhea,
and tho like, which, by an Observance of the
necessary sanitary rules might have been
prevented. Proofs in illustration of that are
given in these papers. From diphtheria and
scarlet fever alone, in 1881, in $50 cities rep
resenting population of S,500,000 there
were reported to the national board of health
1i,OO0 deaths. As DR.. Avery urges, the ratio
of mortality from these diseases is not greater
in cities and towns than in rural districts,
and that being true we have total of $4,000
persons who in 1881 died I'm tho United States
from these two diseases alone. DIR. Avery
exclaims "What fearful record to con-
template-the slaughter of $4,000 innocents "
To this frightful mortality we must add
those who died from other like preventable
dseases--from whooping cough, smallpox,
measles, typhoid fever, etc.,-96,000 more, or q
total of 172,000l To these again we must
add "a large proportion Of those who died
of malarial and typhoid fcvers, diarrheal
diseases, erysipelas and other diseases pre-
vcntable to n large extent, and we have
grand aggregate of 100000 persons whose
lives in 1881 were sacrificed to tho cruel
demons of "filth bad air, and popular igno-
rance"
Who can contemplate tho suferings which
must have attended this slaughter without
feelings of absolute horror! How to mitigate
or remove it-how to rescue the lives of thou
sands thus imporilod are grand problems of
the time. Sanitarians insist that they can
only be solved by n thorough instruction of
tho people in sanitary science All should
be compelled to study the laws of health-to
study the laws of our organization and nature.
All should be instructed how to 1.-Two long and
to the best purpose how TO build their own
houses and their cities, how to cat and to
sleep, how to work and to rest, how to keep
themselves the earth air, and everything
about them clean and pure. Not only should
the people be thus instructed, but they should
be coercod to observe and practically apply
the knowledge thus acquired in their daily
life.
Among other excellent rules, our sani-
tarians urge the perfect ventilation and
drainage of our buildings, and especially of
our dwellings. The water on the premises
should be carefully tested and only drank or
used when free from impurities. SO with all
articles constituting our food. All should be
fresh and pure, easily digestible and nutri-
tious They would abolish Easements and
cellars, but so long as they are built and used
they should be thoroughly ventilated and
daily cleansed in all their parts. So also
cosspools or privy vaults and sewers They
and all exposed or damp places
should be frequently whitewashed,
or washed with strong solution
of copperas. They should bo fumigatod with
chlorine, sulphurous acid, or any gas known
to be fatal to vegetable life. The whole
promises, all in and around and about them,
in the carth air, and water, should be pre-
served free from all impurities.
Only thus can the ravaging demons, arising
from filth or foul airs, malignant diseases in
hundred forms, be exercised or banished.
Eternal vigilance is the price of health, the
price ola long and enjoyable life.