The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-17
TO WARD OFF CHOLERA.
DR.. LEHARDY RECOMMENDS PRE-.
CAUTION AIRY MEASURES.

to Prevent It's Spread.
DR.. j. G.. LsHardy, medical director of
the Citizens Sanitary Association, read an
interesting report at the meeting OF the
association last night. He devoted his re-
port to discussion OF cholera and the sug-
gestion OF precautionary measures immedi-
ately necessary to guard against the invas-
ion of the disease during the coming sum-
mer. The report is as follows:
A fresh outbreak of Asiatic cholera having
occurred in ports of Western Europe that are
in constant communication with this continent.
IL is evident unat the dread disease can be in
troduced any day within our borders. There
fore il becomes the imperative duty of thoBe in
authority to take every precaution to prevent
its introduction and to use every means calcu-
lated to mitigate its severity or to prevent its
spread in case it does come.
Experiments have been tried for years by the
English government to prevent the spread of
cholera. Strict quarantine and other measures
we're used but proved ineffec ual until sanitary
works were substituted for the Gordon sanitaire,
and the cleansing of lodging houses and of wells.
Lord ShatteSbury's act, careful drainage and
policing, fresh air, wholesome food and pure
water were provided for the pilgrims and for
the mas OF people gathering at fairs. These
measures put an end TO cholera epIdemics wher-
ever used.
PREPARING FOR THE DISEASE.
Great Britain is now putting her seaports and
commercial cities in as good sanitary condition
as possible by the removal of filth by improved
drainage and by supplying them with pure
water This is done to save her people from the
impending scourge without placing any restric-
ton upon her vast commerce Certainly we
ought to follow this good example.
| believe that il will subserve the interests of
this city best, IL sanitary defects deleterous to
health and dangerous as breeders of disease are
pointed out, not only to the members of this as
ISOLATION but to every citizen, because it will
enable every one of them to help in securing the
removal of these evils before it is too late, and
save Savannah from a possible visitation of
cholera or epidemic yellow fever
THE wArER sHPPLY.
Our city is already supplied with an abund-
ance of artesian water (Which is, think, less
liable to contain the germs of cholera than that
supplied from any other sourcel. This, of
itself, is of immense value to US, and besides 1t
removes the last stone in the way of giving US
the long promised system OF house drainage
the sanitary work which alone can alone insure
the healthfulns IS Of our city. II also gives the
means of flushing our filthy sewers every day
and OF watering all the streets on dry days,
comfort which the ladies and taxpayers will
appreciate.
the garbage and refuse of our city is removed
regularly and crenatsd before It has time to
become dangerous After years of patient ex-
pectation these two sanitary blessings have
been obtained; let US hope that the others which
are 80 essential to our safety will BIS given US at
electric speed.
The conditions deieterious to health aud cal
culeted TO create disease are
The large area of sobby soil within the city
limits.
The very large area OF sobby and undrained
land outside OF the city limits east southeast,
south. southwest. west and northwest.
The $ 900 to 5000 privy vaults reeking with
putrefacLion-a stain upon our escutcheon,
which gives Savannah an ugly name
This ceSspools, or dry wells, which are still
used or have not boon filed up
The cellars, alley ways and lanes ia filthy
condition.
infected on account OF defective plumbing
Hundreds Of soil pipes, which are, in part or
totally, filed with focal matter etc, or leaking
near or under houses.
Miles OF brick sewers covered with filth In q
state of fermentation.
The soil of yards, OF lanes and streets and the
corner sewer traps wherein slop water wash
water, urine and kitchen refuse are thrown
The Ogeechee canal nuisance west of the
city.
The nauseous Bilbo canal east OF the city.
The numerous stables in the populous part of
the city where hundreds of horses, mules and
cows are kept.
The defective quarantine system.
TIME TO CORRECT EVILS.
believe that the work necessary to remove
or to correct all OF these sanitary evils could be
completed by May /. Then our city will be the
ceanest and healthiest of its size in the United
States. With energy, Administrative ability and
enough money it can be done. Every foot of
sobby soil, all stagnant water within the city's
jurisdiction should be thoroughly and per
manently drained. Underdrains of the best
quality should be- used aud put in place under
the supervision of an experienced civil engineer
The presence of wet soil any place is canahle ~
producing malarial and other diseases during
tho summer. In and about a southern CITY it
is a source of danger all tue time.
Every foot of sobhy soil and all the stagnant
water within the radius of Two miles from the
city limits should be thoroughly drained ami
some provision made by which these drains
shall be Kept In constant running order.
The county commissioners can help us very
materially in this emergency-by concentrating
all their work here, and II necessary, by dig
ging the trench for a covered sewer Not only
should the entire force Of convict labor be used
for this purpose, but hundreds OF laborers
should be secured as soon as possible in order
to have the entire surface perfectly dry in Tins
to prevent aTsturn of malarial and other feyers.
VAULTS TO BIZ LOOKED AFTER.
Well water being no longer in use for drink
ing purposes. all the privy vaults can now be
dered perfectly harmless. Wherever connec-
ton with sewer cannot be made at once or
where sewers have not been laid, pals should
be furnished and cleaned twice week BY the
scavengers. the contents to be cremated with
the garbage. Feclal matter, especially when
mixed with urine and other filth, as it is in privy
vaults is considered by all sanitarians TO be the
most dangerous of all filth as a cause of disease
and as a factor in the spread of epidemics he
cause it is always fermenting aud constantlv
increasing in quantity.
The last dry well should be condemned and
filled with earth. These cess-pools are even
more dangerous than vaults. In direct connec-
ton with dwellings,, the only escape for its
emonations is the water closet or kitchen sink
Every cellar, alley and lane should be regu
larly inspected by trusty officers aud kept in a
sanitary condition Scavengers should not he
permitted 10 dump garbage before 1t is forked
into their wagons, neither should they be a.
lowed to throw ashes upon lanes, because by
raising the level OF the lane the drainage Of
adjoining yards is impossible: this makes
them damp and unhealthy. All defect
i've plumbing should be ferreted out as coon a
possible and the owners required to have de-
fects corrected under the supervision OF experts
provided for the purpose. No new plumbing
should be accepted by the authorities unless in
spected and approved by their own expert
Bad plumbing, defective house drainage aud
the NTH accommodating about houses are causes
for the propagation OF a very dangerous class
OF diseases. like diphtheria. scarlet fever
typhus, ETC., which swell mortality reports and
I'LL our homes with sorrow.
BEVERAGE NEEDED.
A we'll planned system OF sewerage should he
started immediately under the supervision OF
the pest and most experienced sanitary engineer
70 be found In the country. The work should
be carried on as rapidly as possible aud
continued until May !, when II be
comes dangerous 10 upturn the soil.
House drainage Is the most important
or al sanitary work IN n city When built
sclentidceliy. that II when tie size Of drains
used - Ia exact ratio TO "the etufT'' Il has 81
eonvey-when the material used Is OF che beat
qualify, carefully nut together and Theoretically