Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-02

PART.

The Dispatch cheeTiully observes the
rrusential request of the Committee on
Health Of the city Council. and calls upon
our citizens TO put their premises Ia the
best possible sanitary condition. 1t Is
wise 10 do so at al seasons, and in the
SIMMER particularly, and now above all
other times
The small amount Of money, or labor,
required 20 pun ones house ard lot in a
cleaply condition is as nothing compared
with the good likely to DO done. And
in this matter woll-to-do people should
set an example 40 their less fortunate
neighbors.
II each householder or head Of family
I'm the city would do his or her part,
The general result would be wonderfully
beneficial. one Of the excellent effects
IL would have would be TO give absolute
conhdence 20 the community Then. il
one or two cases OF fever were to de-
velop here among those who have refu-
eeed from the Peninsula, there would be
no scare. People would say; well, that
was to be expected. Richmond is in tip
top order. II yeilow-fever is a filth dis
ease. il must go elsewhere 10 md iitn."
Thus Richmond would be repaid for the
trouble its people would have gone 10
10 make Il an exceptionally clean and
healthy city. Thus we should have
cause 10 rsjolce in our iorethought and
Iublic spirit
The Committee on Health may safely
rely upon the newspaper-reading pNblic's
putting their premises in order. We have
heard one of the most distinguished scien-
fists of Virginia say that all the SAM
tary inspectors in the world cannot do
tse work that newspapers can do-aud
d. do--in behalf OF The public health.
No doubt that IS true. let the news
papers cannot reach everybody. There
is class here which does not read, OF If
it reads little. after a fashion. does not
heed. These people. for the sake OF con-
gregatipg together, as is their custom.
populate alleys. and bottoms" and sec
tions OF the city that are by no means
clean. They cannot be reached by che
press. They must be reached. n at all,
by the physicians for the poor, the sani-
tary inspectors and the police. Too often
they viii be found sleeping in dirty aud
nl-ventilated rooms. They pay little at
tention 20 the care Of the water fixtures
Some of them. indeed. have no water on
their lots. THEY are shiftless race,
and many Of them are very poor
In brief. whatever epidemic is abroad
is most likely 10 find its chief victims
among them, And By Them IL may be
carried 10 the best houses. 10: are not
these flagIant violators Of sanitary laws
our cooks. nurses, house-mdids. tLteis,
apd carriage drivers?
So. while the Dispatch Ia confident that
The press can do an immense work IN
hygiencs. II has to confess that 1t IS
least potent where the danger is the
greatest.
We must look TO the personal efforts
OF the city authorities 10 reach ehe Class
to which We refer. We don't care who
knows that Richmond believes in the doe
lrine that an ounce OF prevention is
worth pound Of cure. That the yellow
fever epidemic OF 1856 failed t. gain
ioothold here. though our city was filled
With many OF the sick from Norfolk ana
Portsmouth. Justines the most hopeful
view OF the present situation. but does
not warrant Us in neglecilng the dictates
Of ordinary prudence.
More coloTed people than white people
OF this city have visited the National
Soldiers Home. Hampton. and Phoebus
this year. II II should happen that some
one Of them has brought The fever back
with him, on her. we want 10 be able 10
treat the patient without creating a scare.
We conclude by urging every house.
holder and head OF family in Richmond
20 pursue The course recommended by
our health officers. Let us keep caim
ana cl0an
We have confidence IN the United
States Governments ability To enforce
such discipline as may be needed al the
Soldiers Home. and we expect Il TO
transfer the old soldiers TO a more north
err climate. Thus the spread OF the dis