Smyrna times., 1885-04-29
Pure Air and Water.

Many thousand during the sum-
mer, with spirits broken by physical
disease, will hasten hither and thither
from seaside to mountain top in eager
pursuit of health. Most strenuously
will hygienic measures be observed.
The minutest directions of the physi-
clan will be carefully noted and relig-
iously obeyed. But the jewel Of
health is gone, the casket alone re-
mains. Wreck Of body, ruin of the
once vigorous mind, stand as silent but
suggestive monuments of the fateful
folly of neglect Time and place and
means are alike ineXorabe. Warning
and reprOOf cannot repeat the counsels
of the past. Prudence utters no more
the voice of solemn duty and com
mand. And the present season will re-
peat the folly of the past Again as in
the past will be paid the frightful pen
atty of violated health laws by the sac
rilice of countless lives. Cities and
towns will commit the wrecked bod
les and failing minds of the sufferers to
seaside and mountain Sanitariums, only
to receive them back again as the
shrOuded dead, or if living still, to find
| them helpless and uncured. And what
is it that year by year, and generation
after generation, swells the multitude
Of helpless sufferers, and sends count
less numbers prematurely to the grave?
| Local governments and National Ad-
ministrations are careful to execute the
laws which prohibit crime seek ear
nestly to preserve the peace of settled
! communities and strive with unWear-
led diligence to keep inviolate the
social order of the State. But who
| protects society against the bold ma
rauder that rObs the air of purity and
| pOisOns the waters Of our daily life 3?
/ What is it that permits the thieves
and cutthrOats of disease by implied
! public sanction to rob childhood of its
! prattle and deprive manhood of its
dearest joys? If the sewage of the
household, the refuse vegetable and
animal matter of the public streets.
surface drains and like filthy conditions
are allowed to poison the atmosphere
and pollute the water in daily use, how
shall the public health be maintained.
or individual safety be secured ? For
these are robbers of health more men
daciOus than bandits, more murder
Gus in effect than the divices of crime
can suggest or the hand of violence
can possibly contrive. They bear on
fatal wings untold enemies and count
less savage foes. They ruthlesslv
destroy where the bullet of battle
spares. They number their victims
where the sword of violeace STAYS
its vengeance and returns the gener-
Gus boon Of life. In word, filthy con
dltiOns, whether in dwellings, on tn,
public streets or concealed in obscure
lanes and by-ways, mean destruction
and death to society and will, if mo-
prevented or removed, exact thciI
frightful due. Against their constan
consequences, eternal vigilance is in
deed the price of liberty. A common
filth heap, perchance without sensibl,
evidence Of nOisOmc OdOr, or percepti
bic sign of hurttu conditions, ma,
prove hOtbed of infection, IA reservoir
of fatal germs. An innocent lookin.
5 surface drain not infrequently become
; Il trightful source of dangerous diSPGst
and death. The dust we daily breath,
: is u store house of disease germs
p which annoy our peace by day AM
; murder the innocent while they sleeI
$ And what is the remedy for evils S
numerous and so apparently impassi
:, bic to escape?
Y Timely removal of filth where it cal
= be done, thorough disinfectiOn of ever,
/ unsanitary condition, entire cleanliness
c in private capacity and public relation
e these are eliectual remedies and will
) undoubtedly prevail.