The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-07-08

Oy which EOme sate-
guard may be thrown about the people for
the preservation of health.
The summer season is but little over a
week old and yet have FIVE cases of scarlet
fever on hand and record of one case
cancelled by the death of the victim.
Several weeks ago the HERALD and a
p ointment citizen of the town advocated
steps by which local Board of Health
could be established 80 that the borough
would be in position to combat with any
outbreak, but the Borough Council treated
the suggestion as joke. The Chief Bur-
CESS, however, volunteered to do all in
his power to guard against outbreaks, but
singe-handed and without any backing
from Council he has been and is useless in
that particular.
The scarlet fever cases on White street
are proof that the health regulations in
the borough ordinances are inadequate and
imperative.
1t is true that there is a difference of
opinion rs to the cause of this outbreak; that
the drain of the houses was blocked, and
that that contributed to the cause. But the
fact remains that time and time again COM
plants have been made to the borough
authorities that polluted water has been
allowed to flow from the rear of houses on
East Lloyd street to the gutter of White
street and become blocked in front of the
houses where the cases of scarlet fever are
now located. And In addition to these
complaints are the facts that it was in these
same houses that Welsh and German
family fell victims to typhoid fever, the
claim being made at the time that the dis
ease took its birth from the filthy flow into
the same gutter.
1t is not our intention to misrepresent
any one, or to unjustly reflect upon any
property owner or citizen. What we
state we mean for the public interests
ald health. One thing is certain, the
landlords who allow a drainage from
their houses to the cutters on the public
streets must stand ready for criticism.
When these drains are condemned they
step forward ready to swear that nothing
flows through the drains but wash waters
and kitchen DRAWINGS"
Let us concede that these are the only
drainage to which the cheap, homemade
sewerage system gives service and then let
US see what the State Board OF Health |
says; 1T is true we cannot always prevent !
certain quantity of household refuse from
falling upon and penetrating the soil, but
it is nevertheless duty we owe to the pub
lie health to reduce this source of pollu- |
tion to minimum. 1t is great error to
suppose that infected matter is rendered in. |
noculous by dilution with water. The |
microbes of typhoid fever have been OBJ |
served to live in practically pure water for
thirty days, and three months in water con-
tanning one grain of organic matter per
quart of water. AS to cholera bacilli, dirty |
water is marvellous medium for their pro.
p agation and growth. 1t is now agreed |
that the sewerage matters of towns, includ- |
ing excretal and household wastes, how
ever largely diluted, cannot with safety be
allowed to flow except by a system of
closed vessels or impermeable pipes, dis
tinct from the storm water drains"
This should be fiicent to convince any
one that drains leading to the open cutters
OF the public streets are menace to the
public health.
But, as the State Board of Health says,
the prevention or suppression of epidemics
cannot be accomplished by preaching or by
teaching or by the administration of
medicine (though all these may be effective
auxiliaries), but by legal authority, and by
legal authority backed and supported by a
hearty cooperative public sentiment.
There are probably few occasions arising in
connection with the administration of gov
when there is greater necessity
Ior the exercise of large powers and for
prompt and vigorous action than in the
presence of an outbreak of serious and
ViTulent epidemic. In the face of SO grave
public danger, no temporizing and no
halfway or halfhearted measures can be
Ineffective sanitation is no
isnitstion. The gate half closed might as
we'll be wide open.
Raot