Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-11-23

The CAoIsrs, and ere Ws Prepared for it :
Csa@ssinafnG
The editorial leader in yesterdays Phila-
deIphis Medical News, under this caption.
fornalaies precisely the question: which
should be asked and answered By every
citizen Of Wheeling. We have State
Board of Health whose activity gives SINE
assurance 10 the people at large. but what
local safeguard have we against cho'efs
should it attack wheeling' None Whatever.
is the answer. True We have Health OIL
ficer and Council Coumittee OF Health.
but what have they done-are nov dosng, 70
put the city ina good sanitary Gonois,oas
AGAIN the answer, no,hingl The Ssate
Board of Health can only assume authority
in cities and towns having health boards
and officers Of their own, when Appealed 70
for assistance. and hence the necessity that
the municipal health authorities shall hfst
exhaust their powers TO- protect the
nublic health. Wheeling has been able
to afford open cir concerts every Saturday
night during the past summer and tall sea-
sons. but she has not been able to provide
a hospitai for a cholera stricken stranger,
II such an unfortunate person be brouget to
this city. A long list Of other sanitary
needs might be mentioned to shadow the
citys pride, but we forbear to make the ex-
hibit. 1t is enough to know that all classes
of the people are in danger from vista
ton Of cholera at any moment, and that
business of every character in Wheeling
may be suddenly,,and disastrously Frustrated
If NOT ruined for the next twelve months.
The News says: The appearance Of
cholera in Paris, in epidemic form, and its
reported sporadic" occurrence in London,
brig US almost face to face with this un.
welcome visitor.
The proclamation Of the President in
July last the almost daily bulletins in our
medical journals and newspapers, the action
of local and State boards Of health, have all
been calculated to arouse the most indfer.
ent to q realizing sense Of the impending
danger, yet with all this we have heard Of
no movement in the direction Of being prac
tically prepared for the disease. Quaran.
tire inspections, sanitation, ETC., are all well
enough, but in case the disease reaches our
shores, what actual preparation has been
made in our larger Giles for the care OF the
sick poor, for their removal to hospitals, or.
in fact, for hospitals in which to put them2
What arrangements are on foot for the
speedy depopulation of an infected district,
lis publication, and the care Of the
population removed from it? ] do not
wish to alarm REGISTER readers, but these are
practical questions, and although the dis
ease may not reach us before next spring, 1t
must be remembered that more than one
epidemic OF cholera obtained Judgement
in the United States during the winter
months Notwithstanding yigiant quar-
an,ine and the adoption oil sanitary prccau'
tons.
With cholera so near--at Paris and Lon
ion--i, is possible for it TO reach us at any
moment, and an organized corps Of mcdi'
cal men. with experienced muses. engaged,
hospitals prepared, and all the details pro
,idcd for, would simplify the work and do
much toward staying the disease and avoid.
ing panic Let these means be provided
without delay, to be called into use if found
necessary, and if we happily escape the visi-
is,ion Of cholera the expense incurred will
tea tridc compared with what it might
lave been had the disease appeared and
found us unprepsred TO meet it.
There is no estimating the quoting effect
rJon the public mind, which would follow
he announcement by the health officer that
every arrangement had been made for meet
ing the disease, and, in case it comes, the
facilities for managing it being already at
hand, no unnecessary confusion or panic
would follow.
The above timely Suggestions from the
News should be needed by every city conn
ell and health officer in the land. We COM
mend them especially to our city council
the Committee on Health, and the city
health officer y.