Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-11
THE EX-HEALTH OFFICER
Replies to Structures Upon His Ser
vices, in an InteIiigencer Edi-

Replies to Structures Upon His Ser
vices, in InteIligencer Edi-
toriaI.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-Will you kindly give me space
to reply to an editorial of the Wheel
ing Intelligencer of February 9Th, 1901,
of which the following is an extract:
For reasons unnecessary to state,
there is a possibility of recurrence
of condition that sorely annoyed this
community some years ago. At that
critical period the present health Off
Ger was called upon through the fail
ure of the then city health officer, to
master the situation, and soon brought
order out of chaos, and since that time
the health of the city has been as safe
as human effort could guarantee from
cOntagion and disease arising from bad
sanitary conditions.
Having been the health officer of
the city at the time mentioned, | am
forced to make reply in order to de-
fend myself from such an uncalled for
slur. The author either had no knowl-
edge Of the facts relating to the health
office in 1895. or has maliciously in
tended to do Hne wrong
What object an editor may have in
maligning one to enhance another's in
terests is not plain to be seen. How
ever, it seems to me that any officer
who has been in the public employ for
several years does not need the pen
OF journalist to champion his cause,
but rather let his future worth be
measured by his past success.
1t is certainly gratifying to me to
know that the present incumbent was
ignorant of the nature of the editorial;
and knowing the gentleman as | do, l
do not believe he would have sane
toned any such means. | may say
that when | took charge of the health
office, the city had no municipal hos
pital for contagious diseases; but in
stead little two-roomed shanty unfit
for human habitation. The individual
who had tue misfortune to contract
smallpox was either forced there, or
quarantined in his own home, often
times under unhygenic surroundings.
There he was guarded at first by such
men as the health officer could induce
to take charge. AT first, some of the
guards were incompetent, but in every
instance they were removed as soon
as discovered. 1t is needless to say
that absolute quarantine was impos-
sible
In every instance where a case of
smallpox was found, the most rigid
measures at hand were taken to pre-
vent it's spread. Vaccination-the
only sure preventative-was carried
out in all exposed. Children were vac
cinated at the health office by the hun
dred. The city, from a sanitary point
was never in a better condition. Sew
ers were flushed, streets cleaned, and
antiseptics thrown in all drains in the
infected parts.
1t was largely due to my efforts that
the present hospital was erected, and
it was entirely due to my efforts that
when the present health officer quail
fed, he found every house that was
infected protected by reliable guards
and good sanitary condition.
/ will state that not in single in
stance in the seventy-five cases that
l treated, was a false diagnosis made.
Nor was there any history of case
where the spread of the disease could
be traced to my carelesSnesS.
If the newspapers then had been as
careful in not reporting smallpox as
at the present time. much less harm
would have occurred
After the present health officer took
charge, he had as many cases as l, and
covering nearly the same period OF
time.
fail at the present time to see where
any Improvement could have been
made in taking care of the condition
at that time. Respectfully,
~. G. Walden