The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-07-19

1t is a heId, too, in which there is a growing tendency to broad
en- the power of the municipality in the work OF protecting human
life and conserving the public health.
Take the matter OF plumbing and drainage. There is no more in
sidous foe to health than sewer gases, due to detective traps and
broken drains or catch basins. In the alimportant matter of mu-
nicipal supervision of all plumbing work, either new or repair of old,
Chicago was one of the first cities in the union to formulate and en-
force a set of regulations based upon strictly sanitary and scientific
principles. That code has been adopted, or at least made a basis of
those now in force in many towns and cities all over the country.
In rigidy enforcing the regulations of a code of this kind, there
is nothing theoretical about the results that follow, any more than
there is in those that are shown in the absence Of such a code OF in a
failure to enforce its provisions when it does exist.
1t has been shown by actual investigation, made by the sanitary
division Of the Chicago department Of health, that in certain sections
of the city, IN NEARLY EVERY CASE OF SCARLET FEVER
Or D~IPHTHERIA, BAD PLUMBING WAS FOUND IN H
HOUSES FROM WHICH SUCH CASES WERE REPORTED.
The records Of the department also show an alarming increase Of in
FAINT mortality, including children under six years Of age, in what are
known as the river wards, as compared with that in the better resi-
dent districts, where the sanitary surroundings are practically all that
could be desired.
1t will be conceded, l venture to say, that the presence in a COM
munhty, in epidemic form, Of what are known as the p~reventabe dis
eases, indicates pretty clearly that in some quarter there has been
either criminal ignorance or negligence, Or both. And the fact that
this is SO generally recognized may be taken as showing the inn
portance Of enforcing municipal regulations in sanitary matters.
There are, however, some phases of home sanitation which do
not come under municipal control, but which are by no means unim-
portant agencies in promoting health and securing to the public COM
parative freedom from disease.
Under this head may be mentioned light and ventilation. AT the
present time we have both state and municipal laws regulating facto-
stores n workshops as TO providing AIR space and proper VEN
tlation according to the number Of occupants. The city Of Chicago
goes further, and insists upon adequate toilets and lavatories in all
stores, shops and factories, together with a maintenance by employers
of the best possible sanitary conditions.
Unfortunately, however, municipal regulations as to light, air
and ventilation cannot well be enforced upon the careful housewives
who darkeA their windows with heavy opaque shades and curtains
and who conscientousy refuse to admit the hfe-giving sunshine into
their homes. These same housewives know that a plant, if put into
a cellar where the sunshine is excluded, will shortly turn yellow and
die. They should know that H SAME IS TRUE # HUMAN
BEING,
THE SUNSHINE IS GODS S%CAVENGER. Humanity should
bask nit Houses should be thrown open to its free admission; and
all for the simple reason that disease germs cannot exist where sun
light has free and continued access. There is, however, the same need
of popular education along these lines where municipal authorities are
powerless to act, except as teachers, that there is among those who
maintain untidy and unsanitary surroundings in violation Of all sani-
tary laws. n ~