The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-09-07
CHOLERA.
Recommendation of the State Board
of Health for the Prevention of its
Introduction and Spreading.
Prompt Action Taken by the Local Board
of Health in the Matter.


throughout the country generally, and not
knowing how successful they will be In
holding the disease at quarantine lines,
the state board of health has issued cir
cular setting forth the necessity Of putting
every city and village In a good sanitary
condition. The circular goes on to say
THAT while great precautions are being
taken 10 hold the disease within quaran.
tine lines the only safe plan for interior
states is to make such preparations in
advance as will make it impossible for the
disease to spread should 1t pass quarantine
defense. The most certain and efficient
means to prevent the spread of cholera is
to insure condition of sanitary cleanliness
municipal and domestic. Cholera is es-
sentialiy filth disease, depending upon
unsanitary conditions and the use Of pol
luted water supply for its propagation. A
clean city or village, with an efficient
board of health prepared to deal promptly
with cases of cholera brought into 1t, has
little to fear from its rayages There are
but few cities and towns in our state, how
ever, that could be considered clean, and
1t should be the immediate duty Of the
health authorities and householders TO re-
move all cholera breeding spots prior to
the possible introduction Of the disease
II is too late TO remove cholera-breediDg
filth after the seeds are sown, and stirring
up filthy places in the presence Of cholera
will only increase the danger Of Its spread.
ing, The germs Of cholera will not flour.
ish In pure air, pure water and clean
soil, and If the disease gains access TO our
state those cities and towns which have
sinned most against sanitation will be in
the greatest danger.
Cholera Is but one Of the diseases de-
pending upon filth and bad sanitary con-
ditions for their spread, and the measures
that should be enforced as preparatory for
the coming OF cholera will, even though
cholera should not come to us, be repaid a
hundred fold by the saving Of lives from
other filth diseases, such as typhoid fever
and diphtheria-diseases which are always
with us.n
Then follows the instructions 10, and
duties Of, the health boards, which reads ::
"The responsibility for prompt action In
the present emergency must rest upon
local boards Of health and health authori-
ties, and the public should lend them every
possible aid and necessary support in the
discharge Of their duties A thorough
sanitary inspection, including house-lo-
house visitation, should bs made in every
city and village at once. All stagpant ponds
and low, wet grounds, should be drained
and, where possible, filled, Streets and
alleys should be made clean, public sew
ers. and drains flushed and dlslnfected, and
all collections OF garbage, manure and
other ofiensiYe matters promptly removed.
Slaughter houses and buildings used for
offensive trades should be made as clean
as possible. A general notice should be
given 10 bouseholders 10 clean their dwell.
ings and premises, and the board Of health,
by It's house.to.house inspection, should
see that this order is promptly carried out.
Householders should be directed TO have
priyies, water closets, sinks and drains
cleaned and disinfected. Special atten-
tion should be paid TO cellars,which should
be free from all decaying vegetables and
rubbish and well aired. Damp cellars
should be made dry by proper drainage,
and whitewash should be literally used.
All accumulationo Of household garbage
about the premises should be removed be
you'd the boundaries Of the town. Boards
Of health should pay special attention TO
the purity Of drinking water, for germs Of
cholera are most frequently taken into the
system by drinking water polluted by the
discharges Of cholera patient. Great
danger Is 10 be apprehended from the use
Of a public water supply taken from a
stream or lake which also receives sewage,
for germs Of cholera are found principally
in the stools Of the patient, and as these
may be cast into sewers without destroy.
ing the cholera germs by dislnfectlon, a
sewage polluted water supply may carry
the disease to thousands. Most people 10
Ohio depend upon wells and cisterns for
drinking water, and where these are locat-
ed near to privy vaults which are not water
tight the use OF such Is attended with
great danger, and especially during the
presence Of cholera. All wells should be
inspected by the boards Of health, and
where well Is found which there is good
reason for suspecting Is being polluted by
seepage from a priyy vault, cesspool or
broken drain, or Is receiving surface water
which has washed over filthy places, such
well or cistern should be condensed and
closed. The danger Of polluted water can
be entirely avoided by boiling 1t before
using for drinking or culinary purposes,