The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-05
DR. GARRISON WARNS
Tho Public Against the Evils of Contaml.
mated River watOr.

Tho Public Against the Evils of Contami.
mated River Water.
To The Editor Of he Intelii0ner;
SIR:-0ne OF the most important facts
to DO gathered from history Is the liabil.
ity of human beings to be attacked by
diseases Of an epidemic nature. His.
tory, from the earliest records to the
present day, furnishes more than sulIlc.
lent proof OF this fact-for instance tho
sweating sickness OF 1886, a disease
which appears 10 be allied to the worst
form Of cholera, and TO bear q close re-
laLion 10 malignant congestiye fever;
the Black plague Of London in l4O9 and
1866. The last visitation was the year
before tho great fire, which gave occas.
ion for the rebuilding Of a large portion
OF the city, aud to improved sanitary
arrangements,
The plague OF Athens, as II was called,
n fatal febrile disease, which ragged at
Athens during the Peloponncsion war,
in the fifth century before the Christian
ere, may be cited In illustration. I'm.
proved sanitary measures Of modern
times have largely contributed 10 i'm.
munity from such vlsitations, but with
all the safeguards that II Is possible "
establish, no people are safe from the
ravagcs Of u pestilence, rs evidenced by
the devastating epidemiCs OF cholera and
yellow fever during the present century.
In brief, from the year 1880, B. o.,
when 024,000 1sraelites were destroyed
by plague In tho Wilderness, till the out.
break OF cholera in France and Italy,
history teens with the records Of whole.
sale destruction OF mankind by diseases
OF an epidemic character.
The feCent awful destruction az Johns.
town may have been only the iorerun.
ner OF n greater calamity. The people
Of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys are
threatened with o calamity before which
that OF the people OF Johnstown pales
into insignitlCance. Thousands Of bodies
OF human beings and other animals have
been preCipitatOdinto Uncommon source
OF water supply.
These bodies are now undergoing a
putreiactivg process, resulting Ia hofri.
bic contamination Of the water.
Like the naneless hero who rodO 10
his death, warning the people Of the ap.
proach oil the avalanCh Of waters, tho
people Of PlttAburgh arc calling 10 the
people bcloy, 10 warn them Of Tho now
danger WHICH threatens.
The President Of the United States has
been appealed 10 for relief.
We may indeed consider this q quos.
lion moro for statesmen and governing
bodies than for physiCians. "
Nevertheless, II Ia necessary that the
efforts OF tho former should be guided
by such knowledge a. the science Of tho
day can afford, Nor 10 such knowledge
less 10 10 desired iof Tho people Ii gen.
efAl, In order 10 ceunletact Ihe hanelul
effects oil such horrible Wholesale pol.
luton, l take II 10 DO tho bounden duty
Of every sanitary officer 70 publicly call
attention 10 the dangers Of the situation
and 10 indicate such npasuteB aS may hi
necessary for the protection Of The
masses,
With these facts before Us, lel vs. nov
endeayer 10 asCeflain how IaF science Il
able TO Indicate q remedy,
II 10 absolutely dangerous 70 drink TIL
water In lts present state, It's ltlmlhA
10 allow children 10 drink II, What oat
DO dnnp2
Filtratlon as ordinarily praOllred b In
adequate protection, A majority Of I'M
pleihenls denomlnated illlefs are moth
ling Of the kind, and are often times dan