The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-01-18
HEAL TIL
MEASURES
SUGGESTED
BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMIT
TBDoF THE HARRIs3N COUNTY
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
REGULAR BOARD OF FIVE MEM
BERS OF WHOM THREE ARE PLY
SIcIANS ARE RECOMMENDED.
Laws and Ordinances Governing Such a
Board and Comforting Authority Upon
1t Are Fully Sst Forth in Several
Recommendation Published Here.

Al this time when a change in th'
city charter is contemplated and board
of nealtn has been suggested, We desire
to impress upon the citizens OF clarks'
burg the Importance of properly con
stituted health department.
The prevention of disease and tns
preservation of n ,altii within its limits
are certainly most important duties of
every municipal government. This is
especially true SINCE sanitary science mas
become so practical. The application OF
science TO the prevention OF disease ha,
been far more successful than its apph-
cation to tine cure OF disease. rha medi'
cal profession therefore points with
greater pride to its achievements in this
held, than in the fell OF Therapeutics
Where ever sanitary law mas been
enforced disease las been lasstnd and
the mortality rate reduced. Within tne
last three years tne mortality rate from
diphtheria and typhoid fever mas been
reduced 10 ptr cent. in Chicago. Many
obner Instances in our own and foreign
cities could he mentienad. This reduc-
tion is especially markell in contagious
and infectious diseases and tneir abso'
lutte prevention is within tle field OF
possibilities. Better sanitation not only
reduces the mortality rate but saves
time, labor and money. All over our
land cities are spending more and more
money in improving their sanitary con-
dition, because it pays, and they reeog
nize in this expenditure a splendid in
vestment.
1t pays city to have a low mortality
rate for men in all branches Of business
seeking locations consider it.
1t pays every citizen because it saves
MIN time, money and possibly life itself;
the poor because disease is more prs
valent among them and they can ill af-
ford to lost time or money; the rich be-
cause by preventing disease among the
poor they are themselves saved from
this source of danger.
If one half of the eases of typhoid
fever could be prevented it would save
thousands of dollars for our citizens.
supPore fyr example tnat there are 50
cases OF typhoid fever annually among
adults in our city and eacn patient is
incapicitated for work for six week.
and that th9 value Of this time would
De $1,000, We would have loss in
wages Of S5.OOooo eaca year.
In addition if We place the total num-
Der Of cases at 100 and the actual cx.
pense per patient at $4,000 for physi.
cian, nurse, drugs. etc. we would nave
q total loss of slOOOO0o each wear from
one ravages of this one disease. No
Doubt these estimates would be found
too small if the exact figures could be
obtained. Besides the money loss we
have the loss of life, the value Of which
can not be estimated in dollars and
cents.
10 prevent disease it is necessary that
our people be taught the laws of per
sonai hygiene, the causes, methods Of
transmissions and the best way to pre-
vent disease; that those who are affect
ed with contagious or infectious dis
eases be isolated and all avenues or
transmission BE- efrectually closed bv !
proper quarantine; that the water. milk
and food supplies be examined. their
purity determined and dangers from
these sources removed; that school
houses and public buildings be propsrlv
constructed and kept in good sanitary
condition; that placing of drains and
sewers and the disposal of all sewerage
and garbage be under the direction Of
sanitary authorities; that al nuisance,
wnidh endanger health should be proper
y abated and that record of births
deaths and marriages hs kept to fur
1ish the necessary vital statistics
.ssoat going into detail further it i
= --4h~i here Is work for board com
;s-osed OF men who have special fines
for II and win conscientiously labor TO
the well being Of the community. Tn
appointment of this board should b
removed as far as possible from poll
tics and fitness should be the qualifica
b demanded. WITH such board sup
ported by the citizens much could b
done toward making Clarksburg bette
and safer place to live in and aid 8
giving It the substantial growth W
desire.
We gladly spend money 70 rpaintaii