Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-06

decaying organic matter held would be in
consequential, and during the hot months
the rivers might be kept at q stage that
would keep them sweet and wash away all
the filth of the cities, and at the same time
give a boating stage, without the annoyance
and detention of dams.
WOULD BE AN AID TO HEALTH.
DR.. jackson stated that the evil effect of
the Davis Island dam on the city's health
would be much more apparent were it not
that the Health Bureaus work is much
more effective now than in years past, and
there is less filth allowed to accumulate
than formerly. While on the subject, DR..
jackson took occasion to remark that the
general health OF the city would be much
improved were pavements made of asphalt
instead of. stone. While Belgian block
is preferable to cobblestone, still
larger amount OF fermenting matter,
animal and Vegetable, is held in the
interstices between the blocks Were the
pavements asphalt, the city might be kept
almost absolutely sweet: Every evening
they could be washed with hose, and but
small amount of water would be necessary
to cleanse them effectually. The gain Of
health would also be great in the dlmInu-
tion of noise and jar which kill many peo-
pie suffering from nervousness, or, If they
do not kill them, make life burdensome.
One of the doctors patients who recently
roomed on Seventh avenue, in order to be
near, was forced to move on account of the
noise, which prevented recovery. and yet
Seventh avenue is quiet. compared with
some streets in the city.
AN ADVOCATE OF ASPHALT.
The doctor says that if q balance were
struck between the cost of stone pavements
and asphalt, and the amount subtracted
from the cost of misery and doctors bills
entailed BY filth and noise, the asphalt
pavement would be found far the cheaper.
The city authorities have done we'll in hav-
ing alleys paved with asphalt, but their
work is only half done-scarcely that.
Block stone is much better than cobble, but
it is far from what is needed. The substitu
ton OF cable and electric railways for horse
power does much for the health of
the public by the displacement of
streets, but until some motor is perfected
that will do away with horse power alto
gether Pittsburg will still have its streets
fouled by several thousand horses. Doubt
less the time is not very far distant when
the horse will be but toy, or be preserved
in museums as is the buffalo; but that
blessed consummation is not likely to be
reached during the time of this generation.
DR.. Albert Petit said: ga dashiDg
rain like this, at this season of the year will
save the lives of any number of children.
A common sense view is that it will in
crease materially the general good health of
the city,"
WHEN DANGER WOULD ENsUE.
DR.. E. A. Mundorf, the well-known physi-
af4 4l,S =
followed by spell of very hot weather it
will be dangerous. The ground had been
so thoroughly parched by the previous
heated term that decomposing organic
matter would naturally be reduced to a
soluble form by the rain, and yet not be
washed away. The last epidemic of cholera
in Pittsburg was preceded by long dry
spell, followed by slight rainfall,
and within "a hours the quIckened cholera
germs began to number their victims. When
rainfalls continue for considerable period
Of time, and without intervening breaks of
hot, dry weather, the rainwater falling on
the earth is not all absorbed, as the power of
ABSORPTION is limited, and the unabsorbed
rain flows of, carrying with it all dangerous
decomposing matter, thereby limiting the
tendency to develop epidemics.
'The indications during the last heated
term, with the possible irregular rainfalls,
point to the prevalence of typhoid and SINH
lar diseases, as they have always done un-
der similar conditions in the past Just in
as the river rises and falls so
there is a rise and fall in the epidemic
character of typhoid in our midst.
SUBJECT TO RESERVATIONS.
"This statement is, of course, subject to
some reservations. The infuent pipe of the
water works being extended to the center of
the channel in the Monongahela river had
an appreciable effect IN lessening the delete
rious impurities of the river, and further
the extent of typhoid fever here. |
1t must be considered that the people wish |
ing to avoid the use of the river water re-
sor. largely to wells, but these cannot be |
considered safe, so far as their freedom from |
he typhoid germ and the impure organic |
matter that feeds at is concerned"
DR.. w. F. Pollock was rather of the |
opinion that there had been sufficient rain |
TO keep the air cool, thereby avoiding the |
of an epidemic of any sort He |
thought the impurities in the earth had |
become SO thoroughly dry as to be beyond |
Ill danger.