Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-01-14
Cholera How To Fight 1t Success
TuIIv

at late meeting OF the w lScOnSln
State Board of Health, the secretary,
DR.. j. +. Reeve presented paper on
the best and safest methods to b? en-
ployed in fighting cholera, Tge paper
! first urges the utmost cleanliness in
all parts Of the house and surround
ings, and adds:
| nThere yetremains one other matter TO be looked
| after with most anxious care-the channel
/ through which it Is believed that disease germ
most frequently gain entrance TO the system, and
| the unsupported source of many cases OF sick
/ ess,-tbe water supply In by FAR the greater
majority OF cases the well is the reliance OF tue
people of Wisconsin, ana the condition that exists
| in most villages and cities having no water sup
/ ply is trIthfully described as follows; Ia the
small area Of the back yard there are three holes
i in the ground, one for cess-poOl, one for the
privy. vault and one for the WE'LL Each OF these
drains the ground for certain distance around it,
| the area OF drainage differing in different soils
| and with the depth Of the excavation. The well
being the deepest Of these excavations, too fire.
/ uuently receives the drainage of both the others
and it is serious mistake to believe that such
/ arainage is purified by its passage through the
| soil 10 may be freed from suspended matters
and thus rendered clear to the eye. but chemical
| To It's aud disease resulting from Its use, snow
that the water into which it has found its way Is
unsafe and dangerous. In fact the presumption
| in regard to the water from wells in all cities
and villages is that Ii is unfit for use and the cir
| cumstances of its being bright clear and palat-
| able afford no evidence To the contrary. During
! the prevalence of any form of diarrhul disease
and especially il there be anything like cholera in
tbs country, no water from any wen shosq i,I os
used without being previously boiled. Boiled
water is insipid TO the taste 1t is true but 1t may
easily be rendered palatable by the addition OF
some acid or by being made into weak tea
| Finally, the private citizen, having thus cared
| for his own premises, putting and keeping them
| in conditions of most scrupulous cleanliness, has
only 10 insist that his neighbor shall exercise
similar precautions, and to encourage and assist
the health authorities, both local and general, in
! tie performance of the work committed to their
| charge, in order to bring about the results OF
such work which win be immunity from much
/ unnecessary sickness of all kinds, diminished
death rate and a feeling of security that though
cholera or other disease may be brought TO the
| community wherein such work IS done, II can ut
| that work be supplemented by careful attention
| TO personal cleanness) find no fitting soil for de-
velopmeut, and that hence its visitation VIII be
| light and its duration BRIEF.
WHAT LOCAL HEALTH BOARDS sHoULD DO.
The law specifically requires the organization
of such board in every town, village and city Of
! the state. To this rule there are no exceptions,
aud every board organized IS required TO appoint
| a health officer within ten days from the time OF
| organization, and to report his name and address
| TO the State Board of Health Immediately, thus
| forming medium Of communication between
! the state and local boards
The law directs that when practicable, the
health officer shall be physician, but wisely
! leaves it possible 10 appoint some other person
| when physician cannot be appointed recent
| statute emphasizes the relation between the
| STATE board and the local boards OF health and
requires the latter to cooperate with the former
The first duty then, of all town. village and city
boards is that of efficiency organizing local
| board OF health, and reporting the organization
with the name and address OF the health otncer TO
The state board Of health, if this has not already
The work of all local health boards should be
comprehensive and at this time OF apparent dan
ger especially thorough, Slaughter houses and
qIl other business establishments that produce
| offensive refuse, should be looked after with par
| ticuiar care all stagnant ponds of water should
| be drained If possible and filled upi defects IN
public sewerage should be corrected, streets and
| alleys and public thoroughfares should be
| thoroughly cleaned and comprehensive nealth
ordinances, requiring the correction q az VI
sanitary conditions on private premises should
be prepared, published and rigidly enforced. Inc
health officer should be vested with ample powers
| for these purposes, and in the exercise OF these
| powers he should be sustained not only by the
health board but by all good citizens.
DIsINFEcrroN AND DIsINFEcTANTs.
The term disinfection is used here rather in its
strict sense. For cleansing premises In the alb
sence Of any specific germs or disease, tne use
of those germicdes or true disinfectauts which
| would be recommended in the presence OF such
germs is not necessary. To deodorize ana sur
| fceutly to disinfect pryy vaults, cesSpoois'
drains and similar places as a measure OF ceanli-
ness the plentiful use Of copperas or suiphate OF
| iron or of chloride OF lime Gas recomIAended oy
/ the committee on dislufectants or Ine american
public health association VIII be suIlelenU' inc
| copperas may be prepared for use by dissoiylpg
| one and one half pounds IN a gauon OF water.
| The chloride Of lime may be USED eitheT oy
| snrinkling the dry powder freely over any place
or material which il is needful to dsinfect, or by
dissolving one pound in four gallons OF water
OF either solution, a sufficient quantity 70 keep
! down all Offensive odors should be used dally or
AZ often as occasion should require. Fresh lime
should not be used. Should cholera or oth-r VIZ
ulent disease make its appearance, more power,
| nj and specific disinfectants will be required ana
II N directions for preparing such and Tor thelr
safe and efficient viii be published IN due sea
son by this board
local health boards, also deYolves upon the Off
| GERS and managers OF our state RESOLUTIONS OF
| every kind Such officers should see that
| thorough examination Of the buildings under
their care is made and that all unhealthtul con
| ditions are removed The water supply we
! sewerage all matters relating 10 me dlsposl1qh
of filth or refuse material or any hlnu shouu DC
inapected with a view TO the removal OF all de-
fects and the maintenance OF the hgnest ana
best sanitary conditions. Inc same guy IS IN
cumbent on shefiffs and keepers or Jais, upon
lie heads OF reformatOry institutions or every
| kind toanv one Of which persons IN the lncileuI
| stages OF diseases may be brought at any uLle'
The power Of these officers is ample and undoubt-
"a for these PURPOSES and there can be no reason
| able excuse IT, in or about any such INSTITUTION
there are at any time conditions when Iavor tht
Developments Of disease II u shoulu uhioIt u'f'e
" be brought 70 them
The following experience as to tue
cause of stoves casing" is given by a
correspondent of the Journal: People
who use coal stoves should exercise
care in preparing them for the night.
! Occasionally, wnen the atmosphere IS
heavy, the stove does not draw well,
and the sadden shaking down OF a
large quantity of coal from the maya
zine results in the generation OF more
gas than can escape by way OF the
Pipe, especially if the back hampers
are closed. In my stove (Which IS an
excellent heater explosions from this
cause occur: the lid on top is partly
blown off and the gas escapes, and
y ere we sleeping all would be suffo-
Gated. Ihave never known an explo-
sion to occur later than half an hour
after the shaking down, and conse-
ouently ] always fix my ire for the
night at least an hour before retiring.
/ frequently see il stated, IN connec-