Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-01
pnByrsr1os OF oossumprrox.
The Importance OF Dry Cellars and
Subs0ils

The Importance OF Dry Cellars and
subs0il.
Medical Classies.
The disease of consumption, however
viewed, is always of pnblio interest.
Twenty years ago no one knew Of the
association between pulmonary oonsump-
ton and a damp subsoil; but statlstios
have fully proved the connection. In 10
English towns recently recorded by DR..
Simon the deaths from consumption fell
Immediately when the subsoil was dried
by q system of drainage. In Saiisbury
the deaths from consumption fell 40 per
cent; in Ely, AZ per cent, and Merthyr
Tydvil, which gained least, had its DEATH
rnte from consumption lowered IL per
cent. From statistics we know the high
mortality from consumption in the Brit
ish army, and especially in the Guards,
due to confined ARA mortality which
has been SO affected by better ventilation
Of, barracks that the oonsumptive death
rate fell in the Guards from I25 in 0.000
in the year 1868 to 16 8 in the year 1876;
that Ia to say, the deaths from consump-
ton alone In the Guards in 1875 was less
than seventh of the number in 1855.
The researches of DIR. Bowditch Of
Massachusetts, and DR.. Buchanan OF
England. also strongly confirm that the
comparative degree OF wetneBs in the soil
is o fair measure of the proportion Of
consumption amopg the residents thereon.
DR.. Pepper Of Philadelphia attempted an
Investigation Of the distribution Of the
same disease for the state of Pennsyl-
vania, and presented his data and certain
conclusions TO the Climatological Associa-
ton as contribution to the climatologi-
cal study of the disease. His inquiries
were sent to $50 of the 5000 physiciana
distributed through sixty-geven counties,
and replies were received from l20 corre-
! spondents in forty-seven counties. Ths
general deductions from the answers arc
that the localities having high mortality
! from consumption are those of little ele-
| walton and large annual rainfall, and thlt
| the hemlock regions, which correspond
quite closely with the favorable climatic
regions, have the greatest immunity. A
very small proportion OF the respondents
recognize the influence of special local
causes for this disease such as the greater
I dfampdeSs 81 Jns ifd6ss fndiii Another.
The hereditary nature OF tho disease rs
almost unanimousl, admitted, while its
infectious quality is receiving more gen.
eral recognition IL race the negroes
Beem the most liable, and the Jews the
most exempt, but there are many other
factors than those Of nationality to be
taken into account. Dr.. Pepper regards
his paper ''as the first crude and imper-
feet result of an investigation which no
hopes to be able to continue TO much
greater degree of completeness" The
address (tor which the author deserves
the highest commendAtion) ia accom-
panied with elaborate maps, charts and
tables.
In recent paper by DR.. Arthur Ran
some (English), entitled "Some Evil
dences Respecting Tubercular Infective
Areas" attention called to the fire..
quency with which groups of several
cases Of deaths from consumption in one
family occur in small, badly ventilated
cottages situated on damp clay soils. II
10 6afnpness and want Of ventilation that
make house or group of houses dan
eerous, and they probably do this, in
large part al least, by causing or promot-
ing slight inhammations OF the air. pas
sages, sore throats, bronchitis, DO,
which lower the vitality Of the tissuee
and so make them fit to support the
iubercular baoilli.
These facts add additional emphasis to
the value and Importance Of sanitary
science. They emphasizs what we have
tried TO impress upon the readers OF
Medtca5 CLASSICS, in all that has appeared
in our columns under the heads Of Dan
gers OF Summer Resorts" ''Soils That
Need Drainage" Damp Cellars" This
Importance of an Examination OF the
Soil and Subsoil When Selecting the Site
of the Future Home" and so on. Take
our city cellars for instance. No point
OF domestic economy is more often
neglected. No part Of the household
should be kept more scrupulously clean
and neat. The cellar OF the average
house is frequent source of disease. II
to the element OF dirt and neglect that OF
dampness is added, the household above
will sooner or later pay the pensity,A
The period of outing is over with for
this season, but we hope that the lessons
which we have sought to impart to our
readers will remain indelibly impressed.
We hope not only this, but that our
readers will become missionaries in the
good work, by drawing the attention Of
Others to the truths which Medical Classics
has been preaching.
The average 'health seeker" goes to tho
country, wholly needless OF the sanitary
points involved. How many OF those
who arrange for accommodation at some
farm house ever think OF looking at the
cellar. And yet as breeder Of disease,
or as an index of the intelligence Of ths
, farmer, and the attention which he gives
, to health factors, it would be no mean
, guide or index.