The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-21

COLO BUGS ANo SILVER BUGS
But.the Deadly Miorobe is the Y orst
Bug of All.


Bug of All.
10 the Editor: 4 good deal is said
nowadays about gold bugs and SILVER
bugs, and great are the calamltles
which prophets tell us viii befall the
country if gold bugs oyerrun the land
and equally great are the evils which
other very wise prophets inform us will
come upon the country If silver bugs
get TO be too abundant. Almost any
bacllwoodsman or cross road merchant
can now discuss learnedly, philosophl-
cally and fuently all the phases Of 81
metallism at the ratio of one to SIX
teen.
But as a matter of fact there are
other bugs in the land that are more
dangerous to human life and happi-
ness than either gold bugs or silver
bugs They exist at the ratio of six
teen billion to each inhabitant, and
while they make much less noise than
the metallic bugs they do more busl-
ness and have more to show as re-
suit of their labors.
According to the last census these
little bugs Tor microbes as the biolo-
gists call them succeeded in killing
dDOub OOosObO IJCODlC5 DCRoittSS iliJ'iA ms
tens of thousands for life.
In view of these facts | think it is
just as important for us to study the
biologic bug as it is to study the BIZ
metallic bugs.
To make a long matter short our
State is far behind the age in the inn
portant matter of sanitation. More
people die here of typhoid fever, diar-
rhoea, diphtheria and malaria fever,
in proportion to population, than ia
any other State in the Union.
All these diseases are preventable
and the degree to which they exist
anywhere is determined by the amount
Of filth and poisonous air and water
which is to be found in the commu
nifty, An eminent physician once
made this remark: I'VE live or die,
live out our full term of years or die
prematurely accordingly as we shah
wisely or unwisely determine"
The State Board Of Health and the
physicians in the cities and towns of
the State realize the backwardness Of
our people on this question, and they
have for years made efforts to get suit
able laws placed on the statute books
and to stir the people to their duty in
enforcing them. But their efforts
have not availed. The sanitary condi-
tion of North Carolina viii never be
much improved until knowledge Of the
subject becomes more widely diffused
among the masses.
That is the reason that / write this
letter. / hope the newspapers Of
North Carolina will take up this vital
question and give it the attention that
it deserves.
Now as to the best way Of arousing
interest and bringing about reform,
have a few suggestions to make.
Mayors of cities and towns, chairmen
of county commissioners and sanitary
inspectors should supply themselves
with some literature on this subject If
the cunty or tG44T=ff viii IL not appropriate
funds for the purpose then the officers
out Of patriotism, should purchase the
literature on their own account. Pub
lie officials can no more get along with
out literature than a physician with
out drugs or a carpenter without tools.
Every Board of County Commission
ers and every Board Of Aldermen
should subscribe for the "Sanitarian'
of New York, which is only $1.OO
year, buy Geo. i. Warnings book on
Modern Methods Of Sewage Dispo-
SAL" and Shaw's book on Municipal
Government in Europe" also Public
Health" by Dr. Sykes These works
can be obtained of g. p. Putnams'
Sons, New York / think that a. few
lessons in the theory of sanitation
should be required in all the public !
schools
The next important step is for the
State or local governments TO appro-
pirate money for the printing and dis
of tracts on pure food and
water, sewage disposal, &c.
The general theory of sanitation
should be understood in every house
hold. Our people for the most part
have very erroneous ideas on the sub
ject. 1t is our practice to hide filth, !
to bury the contents of privies in the !
ground. to haul dead animals, gar ;
bage, &C, into an old field to rot and !
perfume the air. The habit widely /
prevails of throwing dish water out Of
kitchen windows. Such habits only
facilitate the spread Of disease.
All sewage or decomposing matter
should be brought into contact with !
air, water and sunlight as soon as pos
sibIe, while it is in a flush state and
before dangerous gases and micro
organisms have had opportunity to
develop.
JEROME DOWD.
Trinity College, Durham, n. c., April
II, 1896.