Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-04-04
A SOUTHERN QUESTION.
HOW TO PREVENT THE RISE AND
SH,READ OF YELLOW FEVER,

DIR. w. Q. Van Bibber, prominent
physician of Baltimore, Md, has published
a paper recently read by him before the
Baltimore Academy of Medicine, upon
the prevention of yellow fever in the
South. DR.. Van Bibber's treatise is
notable contribution to the literature of
the terrible scourge, and abounds in val
liable suggestions as to the best means of
guarding against its rise and spread. Ar.
guments are forcibly presented in favor
of improved sanitary methods, and
more enlightened system of quarantine
in Southern cities. Upon the question of
proper sanitary conditions, DR.. Van Bib
Der says:
I'm 1881, paper was read before the
American Public Health Association, at
their meeting in Savannah, Ga, under
the title of Two Suggestions Concern
ing Healthy Buildings The first sug-
gestion made was to build houses upon
arches or piers in low flat grounds.
Man has the privilege of building under
his own control. He must take the
earth as he finds it, but one style of
building may be more healthy, conven-
lent, and salubrious in one situation than
another. Instead of springing the
houses out of the ground il low, flat sit
uations, it is better to intes pose stratum
OF air between the house and the ground.
II the house be built well up off the
ground, and the earth paw I'd beneath it.
with no enclosed yards, then continued
cleanliness could be easily maintained.
The surface ventilation of the air would
be one prominent advantage of this style
OF building; surface drainage, an easy
abatement of certain nuisances, with
consequent increased healthfulness and
comfort would be the result.
"lf Macclenny and Jacksonville and
Decatur had been built in this way, and
had been kept according to the intention
of such style of building, their inhabi-
tants would have been saved the recent
epidemic. This plan of building the
houses well off the ground, upon arches,
columns or piers, with clean hard pave
ments of brick or concrete underneath
and around them, 1 regard with great
favor; it would not only be an improve.
ment In itself, but would bring after it
many other improvements. The obiec.
lions which have been raised against it
are the expense, the inconvenience and
the danger from violent storms. The ex-
pense might be a little heavier at first.
but if all did it, this increased expense
would soon be equally distributed-if
the house cost more to build, the work
men would get more for building it, and
in this way it would not be considered
burden amongst the poor. As to incon-
veniences, if there be any, they are not
worth balancing against the gain, and
habit would soon make it cease to be
felt. The danger from violent storms
could be overcome by the supports of
OF chimney stacks sprung from the
ground, or by supporting towers or
beams, by means of which the houses
could be firmly secured, and all danger
averted.
ut is difficult for some minds to diyest
themselves of the early bias which they
have had from infancy, from building on
the ground with cellars, and pits and
sinks. These are not suited to low flat
lands In warm climate; sufficient
standard of cleanliness cannot be main
tanned In their presence, or where they
exist. The question as to how high the
building-line should be, off the ground.
is an important one, if it ever comes to
be considered as a matter of statute en-
actment."
Upon the subject of the quarantine
OF the future, DIR. Van Bibber says:
LET us speak of the attractive quar-
antine of the future. In this, YOU will
see four houses situated at proper dis
fanNa from, aanh ~
cessible point of the state, built and ap-
pointed in manner not only to make
them most efficient for the comfort of
the sick and afflicted citizens and stran-
gers, but to serve also as schools and
models to teach private citizens how they
can preserve amongst themselves con-
tinued cleanliness and give no foothold
to preventible disease The humblest
man in the commonwealth cannot then
plead ignorance as to how he should and
must build his house and manage his
domestic affairs, SO as to preserve his
own health, not injure that of his
nor impair the reputa-
ton / Of his state. These four
buildings should have ample communi-
cation with each other and the out
siue Worlu ny Telegraph, telephone, and
what other appliances the future may
have in store. Then no one who is quar-
antined will feel himself isolated or
harshly treated. The visitor from abroad
and the denizen can alike receive and
send messages from and TO all points.
I'm these establishments, all knowl-
edge of yellow fever is to be conferred;
here the disease can not only be treated,
but studied under the most favorable
and from them, all nee
sssary rules for its prevention should
They should be under the control
If the board Of health, who should be well
selected and thoroughly competent, and
hey should see that nothing be wanting
20 make the establishment as homelike
md attractive as the most agreeable re-
;ort."
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