The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26
PREPARING FOR THE PLAGUE.
me State Board of Health Suggests Methods
to Prevent Its Appearance.

The following circular Of warning has been is
sued by order of the Indiana State Board Of
Health:
s1rhe fact that Asiatic cholera wintered in
Europe and has already begun its deadly march,
warns us of the danger in which our State is
placed in consequence of SO many great trunk
railroad lines crossing its territory. As cholera,
Like all epidemic diseases depends very largely
upon filth and uncleanliness for its propagation
and sr-ccd in order TO protect the public health
Ii is necessary that general municipal, house.
bold and personal cleanliness be rigidly observed
Therefore the Indiana State Board of Health
has ordered all county, city and town boards OF
health to make Immediately general effort to
place all their respective localities IN good san
itary condition, by the following:
'sFirst-An immediate sanitary survey OF their
respective jurisdictions.
Secondly the removal Of all accumulations
CT filth and decaying animal matter from the
roads. strecSc. alleys. door-yards, vacant and un
'Third-See that the cutters are kept open
and clean. and that they are frequently flushed
and disinfected
''Fourth-That all privy vaults, sinks, cess
pools and foul cisterns, are thoroughly cleaned
and disinfected, in accordance with rules twenty,
tWenty-four and twenty eight of the rules and
regulations adopted by the State Board OF
Health.
"Fifth-That all cess-pools, stagnant ponds,
manure piles, dirty yards or lots, imperfect
drains, bad sewers, and all other places sus-
pected of being or becoming injurious to pubic
health, are promptly and thoroughly cleaned,
disinfected and placed in good sanitary condi-
ton
"Sixth-That all rank vegetation along the
gtreets, sidewalks and cutters of cities and towns
near inhabited dwellings. shall be cut and re-
moved or destroyed, and not be left to rot under
the influence of the rains and heat Of the sum
ner sun.
ssSeventh-The free use of disinfectants men
toned in the preventable disease circulars, to-
gether with liberal application of lime, copper
IS and other disinfectants in and about the
premises.
LET there be such cleaning Of sewers, drains
and bitches, and such ventilating, drying, lime
washing and disinfecting Of cellars aud damp
and unclean places, that il cholera comes, it
shall. find NO soil or foul surface in our entire
State in which to propagate its deadly germs.
''Especixl attention is called to the importance
Of compelling the proprietors of steamboats,, the
owners of hotels and boarding houses, landlords,
railroad officials school officials sheriffs, county
commissioners, city councils, town trustees, and
all others in control or property, to thoroughly
clean and disinfect their premises and prepare
suitable water-closets for their employees, tenants
and scholars and to have them in good condition,
and frequently cleaned and disinfected; also, the
supply of drinking water should be kept free
from pollution and sacredly guarded. Remem-
Der that water is the commonest medium
through which cholera Spreads hence, the abso-
lutte necessity of protecting the supply from
contamination by drainage from foul places,
from surface washing, or by seepage through
the ground from neighboring accumulations of
Slth
Now is the time to secure immunity from
danger.
''Call upon your local health officers for pre-
yentable disease circulars and other informa-
tion, and please report to them all unhygienic
places or failure to comply with this order"