Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-30
HOUSEHOLD sAN1rAr1oN.
How to Have Healthy Homes-An Inter
esting Address from Charles f. Win

How tn Have Healthy Homes-An Inter
esting Address from Charles f. Win
gate, Esq.
Metropolitan Hall was comfortably filled
last evening by the members of the Citi-
zens Sanitary Association, and other citi-
zens. to hear Mr.. Charles f. Wingate,
distinguished sanitary engineer of New
York. who had been invited TO address the
association on sanitation.
The meeting was called to order by DR..
J. G. Thomas, President, who, after few
pertinent remarks, introduced the speaker,
who spoke substantially as follows:
MIR. Wingate began BY saying that sanitary
science was at once almost the youngest, ana
vet also one of the Oldest, of the sciences. 1t
dated from Moses and HypOcrates, whose
hvgienic laws apply equally to-day as then,
vet il was only during the Crimean war that
the modern term sanitation came INTO popular
use. Since that time millions OF money
have been expended IN sewerage ana
other schemes. and a vast amount OF positive
knowledge regarding the, prevention OF as
ease has been accumulated. The existence OF
nineteen State Boards OF Health. and OF the
National Board Of Health. which the speaker
enlOgized. and the organization OF over nun
dred town improvement societies, Ike that IN
savannah are all signs of American progress
i'm tsiis direction. It was notable how much
women had contributed TO TINS WORK, as
evinced by the names OF Florence Nlgntlh-
gale. Miss Dix. Clara Barton, sister Dofa
and the Empress Elizabeth. In fact, house
hold hygiene is distinctiyely her province.
The speaker then spoke of the good impress
sion he had received from somewhat crltlcal
survey OF Savannahs outward features. The
city was fortunate in many natural adVan-
tagesSbrOad shaded streets, and numerous
parks as breathing places. Inc pOllclha
was excellent, and he had scarcely seen
sign of refuse anywhere. still better was the
public interest shown in securing better drain
age, sewers. ventilation of schools, and
regulation OF plumbing in new houses.
In few Northern cities had greater
pOpular interest been manifested IN
sanitary matters, and 1t was most nope
ful example. The recent low deatlfTate was
a proof that the labOrs of the society had not
been vain, ,
The speaker then gave some statistics il
Illustrative Of the bad effects of unsanitary
conditions on life. HypOcrates said that
the essentials of health were pure air, pure
soil and pure water. This is no less true to-day.
The point of vital Importance was to show
how easy il Is to preserve these essentials. ana
how dangerous it is to destroy them. Every
preventable death means loss OF $4,000
to society, and there are twenty cases OF sick
ness for each death. Millions have been lost
to the community through epidemlcs-yet they
usually might have been prevented.
Bv showing what has been accomplished.
we encourage people to believe that more can
be done. The vast benefits from enforcing
vaccination. quarantine, isolation OF cOnta-
giOus diseases, registration Otdeaths, proven
ton Of public nuisances, tenement house In
spection, and plumbing regulations, should
stimulate sanitarians to greater effort.
The house was the unit of sanitary work
as are the houses so are the people. The
speaker then gave some account OF MS own
daily practice as sanitary engineer IN IN
speeding houses both of the rich and poor,
especially in large cities. The most common
defects in dwellings were damp cellars,
broken drains, leaky joints. furnaces with no
cold air supply, lmperfectly arranged
refrigcratOrs. so that their. contents were
poisoned. cheap material, cOrrOded sOil-pipes,
unventilated traps, or fixtures without traps,
cheap pan water closets, f0ul cesspools, chlm-
nev flues used as ventilatOrs, and general I'M
cleanliness. The more servants the more
filth. and the worst conditions prevailed IN
the houses of the very rich who had the
greatest number of hired help.
The causes of these defects in dwellings
were not far TO seek. They were due to
ignorance, native depravity and parslmony.
Mechanics were TO Dlame' no dOuDtl put II
customers would not pay fair price, but
favored the bOtch because he was cheapest,
they must expect to suffer.
There Was too much insisting upon con-
tracts and estimates Of cost IN advance. why
should this be done with plumber any more
than With doctor or lawyer Cheap work
was always dearest in the end, and the high
est priced plumber was the one who ought to
be most patronlzed.
Mr.. Wingate illustrated by diagrams
OF a black board defective ventilation,
plumbing and drainage, and de-
mOnstrated how such work
should be done. He spoke
an hour and ten minutes, and was listen
ed TO throughout with marked attention,
his audience, at the close of his remarks,
showing their appreciation of his valua-
bic suggestions by prolonged applause.
Can't. Geo. \. Mercer moved that the
thanks of the meeting be returned to Mr..
Wmgate fOr his interesting and instruc-
tive address, which was carried unani-
mOusly.
The meeting then adjourned.