The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-04
HRALTH oEFIoNR MooY


On tho Health Coulmlttse's Dispensing
With Inspectors.
4ohe EdlorOfls h~idiIace,,
SIRi-At a meesiag OF the committee
OF health on the first of this month, the
health officer was directed to discon-
tinue the employment Of sanitary in
spectors for this city, Why this order
was made just at this time ia a little
hard TO determine. This Is the time
that the city Of Wheeling needs aani-
lary inspection, more particularly than
a. any other time in the whole year,
Inc hottest monthpt the year Ia present,
and the month that we usually nave
the greatest fatality among children
from what IL usually denominated
Symotlc diseases, %(preyentable diseases)
or Diseases originating from foul odors,
In order that this city be placed and
Kept in the very best possible sanitary
condition, and be kept in agood healthy
state there should be at least two good,
active inspectors on the streets daily,
visiting every part OF the city at least
once every week, BY this means the
health officer can be informed OF the
sanitary condition Of each portion OF the
city weekly, and can be ableto supply
suitable remedies, have nuisances abat'
cd, etc. But II the health officer ia
compelled TO grope in darkness, every
avenue OF information shut up, then
n%uisances can flourish In every block
and foul stenches arise from every alley,
without his being able to remedy
them. The cry has been raised in the
committee that the health office is
spending the money appropriated to
the department OF health too rapidly.
Now, let us look the matter in the face
and see what the facts are,
During the year ending February,
1892, this city spent 1857 for sanitary
inspection. During the last sixSmonths
1921 have been expended In that difec-
ton, and every part OF the city has been
INSPECTED, every alley, every street,
every gutter, has been carefully ok
amined weekly. The facts are that the
inspection Is being done more economl-
calIy than 1t was done last year. AT
least the figures are in our favor.
Again, the inspectors that are en-
ployed are both we'll qualified to act in
that capacity, and will do as good work
as can DO done. l have employed two
young men, ono at o time. They are
both graduates Of the public school OF
this city, and both have spent several
terms at the University Of West Vir-
ginia. In fine, the work Of the health
department has been run as economi'
cally as ever, aud the inspection has
been done thoroughly, and by young
men that are well prepared to do the
work effectively.
The sanitary condition OF this city
now is fair only. There is much to be
done, and this must BIO done daily, ii
We expect to be ready to meet emer-
gencies that may arise. II we allow
n~uisances to remain without remedy
the death rate will rise Immediately.
During the quarter ending July | We
had 2O2 deaths, against 220 for the cor
responding quarter OF last year. This
is quite q good showing, and II this same
rate can be maintained for the whole
year 1t will be q remarkably good work.
This desirable end can only be reached
by pursuing the same carefully vigilant
method that we have adopted thus fur.
j. W. Mccoy,
Health Officer.
Wheeling, August 8.