Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-02-28


as to all matters Of Importance in cases OF
floods and other great disasters.
Daring the progress OF the meeting Mr..
A. j. Clarke was temporarily called to
the chair, during the absence Of DIR. u
rich, who was called away.
When the reading OF the paper had been
concluded, DR.. Garrison read a telegram
from DR.. Lee, the President, saying he
would arrive in the city at nine o'clock
this morning.
Discussion on DR.. Groff's paper was COM
menced by DR.. S. NJ. Free, of PenDsylvs-
mia, who began by saying that sanitariars
and the public ought not to have too
much criticism for the Board of Health OF
Pennsylvania as to the management Of the
Johnstown disaster. That disaster was a
great and terrible one. falling suddenly,
and while admitting that another such Ca
lamity might be handled better, by reason
of the experience gained, he felt that TIE
Board OF Health of Pennsylvania had dis
charged its work well, sll thirgs being
considered, and great good had been &C.
complished and much suffering and dis
ease averIed and prevented.
The speaker then detailed, in very in
teresting way, the methods used at Johbs-
town, making, from time to time, sug-
gestions as to improvements, the out
growth of the experience which had been
gained. A matter of the frat Importance,
in the estimation Of the speaker, was the
reassuring OF the public. 1t was not in
evitable that great disasters, such as that
of Johnstown, wouli be followed by
epidemica. There WAS popular expec-
tstion that there would be great deal OF
sickness at JOhnstowp, but such was not
the case. The restoration of confidence
once brought about, great deal had been
accomplished, and then the other neces-
sary work could be taken up.
Dr. Free was followed By Mr. j. B KIe
mer, also of Pennsylvania. who Was equal
ly interesting and practical with his pred
ecessor. As preliminary proposition,
Indispensable to the consideration of the
situation at Jamestown, he called atten-
ton TO the utter absence Of anything in
tbs ruined city to do anything with
Every appliance, implement or agency bad
been carried off with the people aud their
habitstions and when the health authori-
ties of the State reached the SPOT, they bad
first TO find the means CT going to work,
before any good could be done.
The Chair Mr. Clarke folio wed Mr.
Bremen with some remark, the speaker
dwelling upon the updeseryed criticism by
the public, directed toward those who were
in authority at Jamestown.
The discussion was continued by Dr.
~ Oth q
interesting throughout.
When the morning session ended it was
with the understanding the discussion
upon the suhject OF "Wster" was o be re-
sumed during the afternoon, and the Chair
called attention TO the fact that DR.. Hill
dretE was to furnish the body with some
information AZ to ice and ice -makiUg In
reply TO this, Dr.. Hildreth said he bad not
bad on opportunity of obtaining the in
formation desired.
The discussion was opened by the Chair,
who described with some minu,ensss
method Of purifying water for domes-
tic use, in vogue at his home,
aud the members we're very much
interested in what he said. From THE,
the Chair proceeded 10 call attention brief
ly TO the source OF Wheeling's water sup
ply, aud asked whether there was any
danger from the use of the untitered river
waer for other than drinking purposes.
No one seemed willing to answer the CUES
ton, and Mr.. Kremer took up HE paper
90 "the Sanitary Surprises of the Flood of
1889" The writer said one of the great
est surprises throughout Pennsylvania was
the immunity from epidemics in the food
I'd districts. Ia fact, in most Of the river
valleys inundated, the death rate, after
he floods, was actually less than before.
There had been no epidemics, aud little
general sickness. Another strange bat sat
sfsctory condition, was that the floods &C
tually left many inundated towns in bet
ter sanitary condition than before, through
the washing away OF an enormous amount
of filth Of every description, the accnmu-
lation of many years. Mr.. Kremer re-
viewed the situation in the Susquehanna
and Juniats valleys with care, and was
closely listened TO.
Rev. DR.. Biaisdell opened the discus
sion on the paper, and the talk was con-
tinusd for quite while. DR.. Free, fol-
lowing suggestion by Mr.. Kremer, urged
the compilation of treatise, giviog in
concise form, information as 10 the use o.
di4infectsnts, publication of water, etc.
This vas endorsed by the Chair as being
practical and valuable, and he thought
the Association ought to put the matter in
shape. Az a result Of this, Dr.. Free
moved the appointment ofs committee of
three, to formulate get of resolutions, to
be sent to the Secretary of every State
Board of Health, and to the American
Pablo Health Association. The motion
prevailed, and the Chair appointed as such
committee Ora. Free and Garrison and
Mr.. Kremer.
DR.. Clinton, colored, next read paper
on Floods in South Carolina" Dr..
Clinton's paper was well-written. and at
its close, those present applsuded the
reader heartily, distinction awarded no
other author during the day.
DR.. Garrison led the discussion, 10 the
course of his remarks congratulating DR..
Clinton on his paper.
A paper on the Immediate Disinfec-
ton of the Debris of Floods" by DR.. NJ.
H. Fussell, OF Philadelphia, was read by
DR.. Garrison, in the absence of the author.
This paper closed the afternoon session,
ond the convention Adjourned until 1870
p. IN.
Continued on Third PAGE.