Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-04
A CARD.
DR.. Mccoy Makes some Statements Re-
gardIng the Action OF the Health Com

DR.. Mccoy Makes some statements NO
gardIng the Action OF the Health Com
mittee.
10 TIE Editor OF the REGISTER:
SIR: At a meeting Of the Committee
of Health, on the first Of this month,
the Health O0icer was directed TO dis
continue the employment OF sanitary
inspector for this city. Why this order
was made at this time is little hard TO
determine. This is the time that the
city OF Wheeling needs sanitary inspec-
ton more particularly than at any other
time in the whole year. The hottest
month Of the year is present, and the
month that we usually have the great
est fatality among children from what
is usually denominated zymotic dis
eases (preventable diseases), or diseases
originating from foul odors.
In order that this city be placed and
kept Ia the very best possible sanitary
condition and be kept In good healthy
state, there should be at least two good
active inspectors on the streets daily,
visiting every part OF the city al 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 able TO APP AZ
suitable remedies, have Dulsances aoat-
ed, etc. But II the Health officer Is
compelled 10 Erope In darkness, every
avenue OF information shut up, then
nusances 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 commit
tee that the Health Officer Is spending
the money appropriated TO the depart
ment Of health too rapidly. Now, let
ia look this matter 10 the face and see
what the facts are.
During the year ending February,
1892, this city spent 1857 for sanitary
Inspection. During the last six months
1921 have been expended 10 that direc-
ton, and every part OF the city has been
inspected Every alley, every street,
every gutter has been carefully exam
ined weekly. The facts are that the
INSPECTION is being done more cocoon
ically than IL was done last year AT
least the figures are In our favor.
Again, the inspectors that are en-
ployed are both well qualified 10 act 10
that capacity, and will do as good work
as can be done. have employed two
Young men, one at q 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 az economical
ly as ever and 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 be done daily. II we
expect TO be ready 70 meet emergencies
that may arise. II we allow nuisances
to remain without remedy, the death
rate will rise Immediately.
During the quarter ending July we
had ZOE deaths against 220 for the
corresponding quarter OF last year.
This is quite good showing, and "
this same rate can be maintained for
the whole year II will be remarkably
good work. This desirable end can
only DO reached by pursuing the same
careful. vlgilant method that we have
adoptsd thus far. j. w MCCOY,
Health Officer.
Wheeling, AugLst3 3.