Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-30
WHEELING W. VA, WEDNESDAY, MORNING. JULY 80, 1890
THE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH.
A Very Important Meeting Held Last
Night.

A Very Important Meeting Held Last
Night.
Pursuant to the call of DR.. f. c.
Myers, President of the County Board
of Health, a meeting was held last
evening in the office-of Prosecuting
Attorney Howard. President Myers
stated the object Of the meeting was 10
hear DR.. Garrison. City Health Officer,
in regard to the increasing mortality
from typhoid fever in this city, and for
the transaction of other business.
Complaints Of the pollution of Wheel
ing Creek by butchers and others were
presented, and the secretary was in
Structed to notify offenders to
stop under pain OF prosecution
The Secretary was also instructed to
request the Chief of Police of Wheeling
to notify the Board of any infractionS
Of the law in that particular, occurring
within the city limits. He was also in
structed to notify town authorities
throughout the county, to report their
sanitary condition to the Board. c.
a Committee was appointed consist
ing of MesSrs. Myers, Howard and
Stein, to formulate rules, to be present
ed to the Board at its next meeting for
their government.
Various other matters were discussed,
and then DIR. Garrison addressed the
Board. In the course of his remarks,
he said:
"Never before in the history of this city
has there been greater need for activity
upon the part of all those who are charged
a.. g ba nd
health of her people than now. Accumula-
tOns Of decaying garbage upon back lots,
allevs, the banks of the river and creek, the
drainage from Fulton, including the offal
from slaughtered cattle, carried through
the city in Wheeling Creek which at times
has not sufficient water TO drain TO the
river: stagnant pools Of filth on vacant
lots in portions of the city, especially on
the outskirts, and in some instances even
extending TO the streets and alleys; prlvy
vaults and cess pools Overtowing for lack
of facilities for disposng of their contents;
and Il water supply foul beyond description
and saturated with the Shines OF half
dozen or more sewers, extending from
within two squares north of the intake of
the water works to the upper limits OF the
city: together with the drainage from the
hospital, the largest laundry in the city,
large numbers of water closets, drainage
from Mount Wood Cemetery, which il is
claimed has been increased by the tunnel
recently driven through the hill under il,
and the sewage from the city of Martins
Ferry, to say nothing of the filth which
finds its way into the river from the
cluster of huts and shanty boats at the foot
of Seventh street, all of which have com
bined to invite the pestilence This condi-
tiOn of things is not new, and as
result typhoid fever has been present
for many years. The first death
from the disease in this city Of
which have any account, oc-
CURED in 1910. Since that time il has eX
hbited variable fatality, and was for
time confined principally TO the fall and
winter months, occasionally running into
the spring but latterly doing its work Of
death in every month in the year. The
period over which we have any accurate
account of its ravages extends from 1872 10
the present time From January lst, 1873
TO December 3lst 1889, period of seven
teen years there were recorded 624 deaths
from typhoid fever which is an average of
a little less than 81 deaths per annum, the
lowest number in any one year Of that
period being 13, in 1871, and the maximum
was reached in 1852, the number in that
year being 20.
The year 1880 is destined to be a
memorable one in the history OF the
mortality of Wheeling. Already the
number of deaths from all causes
EQUALS the total number for 1883,
and the number of deaths from typhoid
fever from January lst up 10 to-day is IL.
Is against only 80 for the first siN months
of 1859.
"The number of deaths from typhoid
fever for the quarter ending June Both,
1889 was 9, while the number Of deaths
from the same cause for the corresponding
qnarter of this year was -. The average
death rate per annum in this city, extend
ing over a period Of about fifteen years,
was about l.32 in 1000 Of population, while
for the half year just ended the rate was
GIL in 1000 Of population.
"The situation is a sufficiently alarming
one for the people Of this city, TO call for ac-
tive and continued effort upon the part of
those who are in any way responsible for the
public health, and | would respectfully
suggest that your honorable body take such
steps as in your judgment will best favor
immediate improvement in our water sup
ply" q
DIR. Myers stated that undoubtedly
the large increase in the mortality In
this city from typhoid fever was largely
due to the contaminated drinking water,
and that the people hardly realized the
extent Of the evil. He would be glad
to improve the quality OF the water. but
doubted that the power OF the Board
extended farther than to lend their in
nucnce by resolution or otherwise. He
would be willing To cooperate with the
city health authorities to any extent
calculated to improve sanitary cOndi
tionS. He stated that much improve
mcnt could be- had by boiling and
filtration, but that permanent improve
ment could only be- had through eX-
tensivc improvement in the water
works.
Mr.. Howard spoke at length, and
agreed that the water works should be
moved up the river. 1t was generally
believed that public interest on the sub
ject is increasing.
The following was adopted:
"RcSolrcd, That the County Board of
Health of Ohio county has heard with
alarm the statement Of the City Health
Officer in regard to the increased
mortality from typhoid fever in the city
Of Wheeling.
"Rcsolrcd, That the Secretary Of this
Board invite the Council Committee on
Health and the City Health Officer to
meet with this Board on the 20th day OF
August to consider ways and means of
preventing the spread OF typhoid fever
in this city
An Oil Mans Terrible Fan.
Special telegram 10 ne Register.