Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-05-03
is IT IN THE WATER 2.
'sPro Bonio PubIico" Again Writes
on Subject Of Typhoid.
SEEKS AN INVESTIGATION
By Committee Of Citizens Who Are TO Have
Water Analysed and Inspect the Premises
Of The CITY and Suburbs.

Of the City and Suburbs.
Editor Hera Id I'm last Saturday s
Democrat. appeared strong ana
thoughtful communication as to the
cause of the prevalence of disease, III
Martinsburg. from the pen of DR.. j..
Whann McSherry, for which we thank
the doctor and which in the main,
we heartily end orse as tilot only con-
tains some striking facts but empha-
sizes the Willingness of a good citi-
zen and prominent physician, to do
his part IN graduating the cause OF a
serious and malig lant disease which
is menacing the best in erests OF this
community.
II our other physicians and public
men would thus EXPRESS themselves,
and the welfare of this CITY requires
such expression now, it would not be
long before the cause of our trouble
would be located, removed, and the
pestilence stamped out
DIR. McSherry not only. rightfnllv
admits the existence of the disease,
but that it Is preventable, and that
valued citizens. of this community
are diving unnecessarily. Ii this is
true. aud we have no reason TO be-
lieve il is not, fearful responsible
1ty rests upon the sh ouiders of some
one.
hplipypS that Qnr
trouble is dae TO the insanitary con-
dition Of cur town which is said to
be notorious at present, ami suggests,
that our municinal authorities and
citizens meet and select a com mittee
OF men 70 be known as sanitary.
or health committee. that they in
spect every street. allev and tie SUI
burbs of the city. every pu bile and
prlvare building AMI surroundin gs,
cellars out-houses st bies and pig
pens included. and make report of
their findings Have their report
recorded at the MAYORS Office, then
hive a general systematic cleaning,
followed by white Washing and dis
infectants. Visit the drain running
from the Wooden Mills through un-
der the dry bridge. to the Juscarora
creek Also the NTuscarora creek
from Its entrance TO ito egress from
the CORPORATION limits and remove all
obsiruct,ons, that the water may not
become stagnant Let all the dead
animals be buraed.
This suggestion. we believe. will
meet the approval of everv public
spirited citizen IN Martinsbury 2. as not
only cleanliness but health demands
such an l. spection.
DR.. McSherry futher sacs that he
does nor believe the cause Of the fe-
yer Is due to our water supply,
while another phvsIclsn. under the
non de plum of Medicus, IN a re-
cent article to tho w rid says that he
believes that that is the chief cause.
illustrating the old adage that great
minds differ"
Now may not the cause of the dl s.
ease be due partially to ur water as
is undoubtedly due partiailv.l If not
wholly tc unsanitarv condltions?-
That waters NAV be polluted and be-
come the fruitful source of typhoid
fever cannot be questioned. DR.. Vic
tor @. Vaughan, OF the UniveI sity of
Michigan. an eminent medical au-
tt GRITTY, in the April number. of the
nf ha
soclation saws in an article on ty-
phoid fey There can be but little
doubr that in civil life the great cpl
denies are caused by the specifics in
lection of drinking water. The dam
ger in drinking water was recognized
long before the discovery of the spe-
cific bacillus. and inaeed epidemics
lad been unquestionab Y. traced TO
contaminated water supply" The
Baltimore Sun Yesterday in scien-
titic note, entitled. "1y Dhoid Proven
table saws: MANY OF our cities and
towns continue to suffer severely from
this disease as result of the use of
water contaminated by sewage and
other insanitarv conditions which
have been repeatedly brought to the
attention Of those most interested
Sanitarians have to contend with the
Ignorance ana reckless indifference of
large part of the POPULATION, includ-
ing often those having the authority
tosmake and execute sanitary regula.
tions
In letter to gentleman of this