The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-08-11

DR.. WINGATE SPEAKS ON A SUB
JECT OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
HOW KENosHA SHOULD BE KEPT
The Sanitary Condition of the City
Cannot But Be Productive of Great
Evils in the Near Future-Changes
Suggested inexpensive.

The regular session of the KenOsha
County Medical association met Friday
night at the Grant House, for the pur
pose of discussing the all important
question of city sanitation and hygiene.
The address of the evening was de-
livered by DR.. Wingate, Of Milwaukee,
State Secretary of the Board of Health.
The address was more in the line of
conversation, and as the doctor has had
a long experience in the study of SAM
tary systems of cities, his words pro-
duced marked impression on the
doctors present. DR.. Wingate said in
part, that the question Of city SANTA
ton was an old one, but during the past
twenty-five years the matter had been
brought more noticeably before the
public. In all cities there is more or
less need of sanitary efforts, but this is
especially true of cities along the lake
shore. The health of community
depends on three things: the air, the
water and the soil, and if any or all of
these elements are poisoned contagion
of diseases must result. The air pro-
duces oxygen and it must be pure. The
study of the germ and it's function has
progressed so far that it has given
new impetus to the study of sanitary
conditions. The germs of diphtheria,
tuberculosis, typhoid fever are born in
-; hot
typhus germs are carried only on i'm
pure air The germs of this disease are
harmless when found under some con-
ditions, but developing under the
proper unsanitary condition they pro-
duce a disease which it is almost i'm
possible to stamp out. Physicians say
that the terrible disease of diphtheria
is carried entirely in the air. All over
the state this disease is found and has
done deadly work. The doctor de-
clared the disease could be stamped out
if proper conditions of sewerage and
drainage were observed. Diphtheria
thrives in damp places, where cellars
are full of filth and unsanitary drains
throw off daily millions of the deadly
germs of the disease. The germ is
dangerous enough but it's strength can
easily be lost with a strong system.
But when the lungs are inhaling these
foul airs the system forms fertile spot
for germ development. The same is
true of tuberculosis. 1t is terminated
in the system although some eminent
claim that it comes only
from degeneration of the nervous sys-
tenn. Tuberculosis in mich COWS is
productive of unknown evil and the
State Board is taking steps to eradicate
this even at the expense of the death
of the herds. Pure water is another
element of cleanliness and freedom
from disease. The water supply must
be question of great Importance and
all intakes should be placed as far into
the lake as possible. Sewage should
not be deposited into the lake and all
the water used should be purified with
some filters. All wells are dangerous
and should not be used, as the soil
around them is polluted and cOntami~
mated by surface drainage and drainage
through the soil. The great nuisance
which tends to such pollution is the
privy vault and there is no excuse for
it's existence in modern cities. Disposal
of waste products also forms another
important question. The garbage,
ashes and sewerage of the city, which is
filled with germs and microbes, should
either be burned or dessicated. In
regard to local evils the tannery and
gas house we're the most important.
The odors from the tannery are not
necessarily dangerous to health, but
very offensive and the waste material
should be carried off through special
sewer entering into the main sewer.
All sanitary action should be urged
and not allowed to imperil the lives of
the citizens by useless DELAY.
A general discussion followed the
paper, which brought out some very
interesting facts.