The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-07-30
9HE PUBLIC HEALTH.
An Interesting Meeting Of the
County Health Board.
A STRONG PRESENTATION
orthc Dangers of Whccling's Impure
Drinking Water, Made by City
h Health Officer GnrrIson....ic.
tion by the Board. IN

Attorney Howard's Office last night
The President, Dr.. @. L. Myers, Prose
cutting Attorney Howard, NJ. Stein, o
Fulton, and Mr.. Kraft, who compost
the Board, were all present. DR.. Gar
rlson, City Health Officer, was also
present. - "
Mr.. Stein, on behalf OF the Fulton pco.
plo complained TINT butchers otlal
lodged against tho piers OF the creek
bridge, Mr.. Howard was directed to
call the attention OF the Offending
butchers to the law forbiddiny the
throwing OF such stulf in Il running
stream.
The Chief Of Police was requested 10
notify the Board of infrac.ions OF the
same law in tho city, and the town au.
thorltles were requested to report on
the sanitary condition Of their respec.
tive towns.
Mcssrs. Howard and Stein and DR..
Myers were appointed a committee TO
formulate rulers for the government Of
the Board.
DR.. Garrison was then invited to ad.
dress the Board, and did go, as follows:
GESTLEMEN:-l am hero in reply TO
the courteous note OF your president.
Or. Myers, which l received Yesterday
First, l desire 10 thank you on behalf Of
the people Of this city for the prompt
action following my request for a hear
ing before your board. Never before in
the history OF this city has there been
greater need for activity upon tho part
OF all those who are charged with the
conservation OF the life and health OF
her people than now. Accommodations
Of decaying garbage upon back lots,
alleys, and the banks OF the river and
creek; the drainage from Fulton, includ.
ing the oifal from slaughtered cattle.
carried through the city in Wheeling
creek, which ut times has not sufficient
water to drain to the river; starpaut
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; privy vaults and
cesspools OVERLOOKING for lack Of iacili.
ties for disposing Of their contents, and
a water supply foul beyond description
and saturated with the shines of a half
dozen or more sewers, extending from
within t%o squares north OF the water
works to the upper limits of the CITY.
together with the drainage from the hos.
pital, the largest laundry in the CITY.
large numbers Of water closets, drainage
from Mount Wood cemetery, which it |
ia claimed has been increased by the
tunnel recently driven through the hill
under it, and the sewage from the city
Of Martins Ferry, to say nothing OF the
6!th which finds its way into the river
from the cluster OF huts and shanty boats
On the river bank at Seventh street, all
of which have combined to invite the
pes;i.ence.
This condition OF things is not new,
and as result typhoid fever has been
present in this city for many years. The
Eirst death occurring from that disease in
this city otwhich l have any account was
in 1910. Since that time it has exhibited
variable fatality, and for a time was con.
lined principally to the fall and winter
months, occasionally running into
the spring., but latterly doing its
work Of death in every month
of the year. The period over which
We have any accurate account Of
its ravages extends from 1878 to the
present time. From January, 1873, to
December 81, 1889, period Of seven.
teen years, there were recorded G24
deaths from typhoid fever, an average of
q little less than 81 deaths per aunum,
the lowest number in any one year be.
ing thirteen in 1877, and the maximum
reached in 1882 the number in that year
being seventy.
The year 1890 is destined to be a
memorable one in the history OF the
mortality ofthis city. The number of
deaths from all causes already equals the
total number for 1889, and the number
OF deaths from typhoid fever is ll5 as
against 50 from that cause for the twelve
months OF 80. The number OF deaths
from typhoid fever for the quarter end
ing June 80, 1889, were nine. The num-
Der Of deaths from the ZANE cause for
the corresponding quarter OF this year
was tifty.hve, or IN increase OF more
than 800 per cent. The average death
rate per annum, in thia city, from the
disease, extending over period Of
seventeen years was about l32 per
thousand population. While for the
half year just ended the rate was GIL
per thousand Of population. The disease
is not confined to any particular locality,
as witness the following table for the
three months ending June 80:
First wo vi :, Etft,, ,,o.,