Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-01
THE SANITARIANS.
TAR PROCEEDINGS OF TIE SECOND DAYS
SESSION.
The Discussion Takes a Local Turn, and the Rs
nova Of the Water Works IS Advocated
By Speeches ard ResolotOns.


gan It's second days session in the Cham
her of Commerce yesterday morning
There was sgain smell attendance, end
the association was late in beginning
work. DIR. BeDjsmin Lee, Secretary oil
the State Board OF Health, Of Penrsylva'
aiA, and the gentleman who rendered
such heroic services at the JobnstoSD
fOo5, arrived Thursday night. He called
the meeting to order. Rev. Birmingham
OF st. Luke's Church lead in prayer. Toe
program was Immediately taken up.
A paper on 1.-THE After Dangers OF
Floods; Their Mature and Remedies" by
E d Payne, NJ. D, Medical Inspector OF
she State Board OF Health of Pennsylvania,
was read by DR.. Garrison, in the absence Of
the aathOr. The paper characterized the
dangers from disease that follow floods as
insiduous foes that required the highest
courage to fight. The waters leave be-
hind broken sewer pipes, emptied vaults,
wells deluVed, and waters holding in sus-
1ension the filth of the flooded district.
Poor and scanty food. and improper cloth
ing, sssist in depressing the system and
rendering is ID easy prey 20 disease.
Believing the germ theory to be true, the
author used il a. a basis for the cOpsidera-
lion Of dangers likely to come after tioods
II WAS manIfsstly the duty of State Boards
Of Health to protect tie country from the
influence Of these specific diseases. Con
esrniog disease germs. he said the period
in which they are able to reproduce has
not vet been determined. The author then
took up the preventative measures which
should be used afleI fiOode, and laid down
number Of specific rules regarding
CLEANLINESS, disinfeciion and isolation OF
the sick.
At the conclusion of Dr.. Payne's paper,
q discussion was opened on the excellent
paper on floods aud their causes, read by
Dr.. Ulrich Thursday night. The coucen
Gus of opinion was that the sudden and
disastrous deluges which have visited the
country in the last few years have been
due to destruction CT forests. DR.. Ulrich
suggested that the State or National gov
ernmect should encourage the preservation
OF forests. and where possible and necss-
sary have new forests planted. DR.. BspJa-
min Lee spoke Of the work done by the
Forestry Association Of Psnnsy lvanis, sEd
expressed tine belief that Associations IKE
il would eventually develop the necessary
public sentiment on the question. Inc
discussion Was continued at some Length;
and then DE-. Lse read the paper which be
mad prepared GA: Some OF JOhDstOwn's
Lessons"
DR.. Lee reviewed the circumstances that
attained the hoIriful delugs in the Gone
msugh Valley He said that if there ever
was S aie 10 which sslt-gOyernment was
pushed 10 the verge OF sbeurdity 1t was
the State OF Pennsylvania. Three great
evils had been allowed to 20 on lDchecE-
ed. They were, first the reckless destruc-
ton of the forests; second the eonStruc'
ton and maintenance OF large dana; aud
lhiId. tine encroachme1t OF nanufac,ur-
ing companies on the beds Of streams. To
these three great evils the JohnstoTn
fiool was due; bat, he said, it will proba-
bly be many year before the lesson will
be sufficiently learned to lead TO such
LEGISLATION as shall render q repetition.
of .JohnstOwa's calamity possible
The most urgent want 10 Johns
town after the flood, next to food
and clothing was bridge. Fer several
days two small leaky skiffs were the only
means of transportation. The hrst relief
was the arrival Of an engineer corps with
ponsOon boats. The lesson naturally aug
vested itself that a pontoOn train should
constitute part of the equipment OF all
State militia. The great nesd Of dwell
ings and the difficulty in securing them
suggested that the State should secure
0 suitable number Of portable dwellings,,
and keep them stored at q convenient point.
The difficulties which he met with in his
relief work, in the absence of local author
ity. we're explained By the speaker, and re
said that to his MUD they emphas ESD the
necessity of Board of Health in every city
Of any size. Such Board would be IA
uiliar with relief work, snd wOuld be able
N render invaluable assistance. DR.. Lse also
paid high tribute to thu efficiency OF the
national gusId Of Pennsylvania, and closed
by declaring that the action OF the state
legislature enabling the Board Of Health to
call the gusEd into tie work, vss the sa'vs-
ton of the stricken community.
An interesting and lengthy discussion
folio sed. d.. UlIich agreed with DR..
Lees conclusions and expressed the opiu-
ion that the State Board of Health should
he given absolute authority ic time Of
great calamity. Dr.. Free, Who assisted DR..
LIE in the relief work in Jobnstnwn aud
rendered gallant service, supplemented the
paper by s relation of hisowa experiences.
DR.. Frees address was attentiveiy listened
10. aud his graphic description Of
the difficulties which were encoun-
tered by Dr.. Lee and hiH CO.
laborers was highly appreciated. DB.
Jepson, Hazlott and Mccoy spoke briefly.
DR.. Mccoy described the flood in Oald'
wells run two years sgO, and attributed q
great part OF the loss to the choking OF
streams by bridges. He also emphasized
the importance of informing the public OF
the nature and use OF disinfectsnts. DR..
Warren spoke 10 the same strain. DE-.
Lee closed the discussion, relating some
important facts 10 show the total democrat
ization which existed in Johnstown In the
first DAYS after the disaster. He said that
one month after the food, he ssksd .
prominent physician where the burgss OF
the town was, and was told that he had
been drowned, when in fact he was alive
The manner in which the flood commits
sion cleared debris from one place and
dumped it over mouths OF sewers IN an
other was also referred 10. A great deal
of work like this hsd afterwards to be ue-
done. At the conclusion OF DR.. Lees adj
dress, the convention adjourned to meet at
. %. NJ