The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-02

S394.OO for the II months. At the
same rate for the year the amount
would be S429.72. Fortunately from
the standpoint of expense very few
cases have been of such nature as Ia
require treatment in a hospital and
consequently the expense for hospital
services for the past year has been
very small.
In this connection attention should
be called to the excellent services rem.
dered by the Kings Daughters and
other charitable church organizations
of the city. Through their efforts
much distress and suffering has been
relieved, and they have made 1t DOS.
sible for many persons in unfortunate
circumstances to receive hospital
treatment who could not be cared for
at the expense Of the city. BY dis.
tributing clothes and food, and by car.
ing for the homeless children they
have performed service that could
not well have been performed in any
other way. This work merits the
highest commentator and deserves
the heartiest support from all who are
able in order that It may De contin-
ued In the future.
Sanitary Inspection.
The sanitary condition OF the city
presents the most urgent need Of eff
ficient inspection and the putting into
effect Of the provisions Of the sanitory
code. The provisions Of Chapter l6 OF
the Municipal Code are sufficiently
comprehensive to ensure a much clean.
er city than we have II these provls.
ions were put into force. The posi-.
ton Of sanitary inspector has been
vacant for some time and consequent
ly the duties prescribed for him have
been unperformed. The police de-
partment has done much good work
along this line but the police officers
have not sufficient time for this work.
1t does not belong TO the duties Of the
health officer. Consequently many
complaints which have come to the
health officer during the past year
have from necessity been neglected.
There are many privy vaults which
exist In violation Of the law, and some
OF these are kept in an extremely
filthy condition. So with drain pines
from residences which are not con-
nected up with the sewer system. The
existence Of a number OF very dirty
and poorly kept stables in the yery
heart Of the city is reproach that Is
not necessary. During a part Of the
year at least there should be a sani-
tary officer who should work In con-
nection with the health officer in cor
recting the evils which exist along this
a nm
ed for only a single month during the
summer remarkable amount Of good
could be accomplished II his efforts
were intelligently directed. To con.
clude, the things which present the
most urgent need and which could be
done at very little cost to the city are:
ID. All privy vaults and open clos.
cts belonging to houses which are sit.
uated within reasonable distance of
the city sewer should be abolished,
and the owners OF the houses required
to provide suitable plumbing. This
Is only in accordance with the existing
laws Of the city. The sewer system is
now convenient to many houses,
which at the time they were built,
were remote from the sewer. The
same applies with equal force to drain
pipes which are unconnected with
the sewer system.
(2). Suitable regulations should be
prescribed by the local Board of
Health as to the manner in which
stables may be maintained within the
boundaries Of the city, and these reg
lations strictly enforced by the SAM.
tary officer. At present there seems
to be no official supervision in this
matter as might be inferred from the
unsanitary and offensive manner in
which many Of them are kept.
(3l. Collections Of unsightly and Of
fenslye filth about residences and pub.
lie buildings should be prevented by
making suitable regulations for the
disposal Of garbage. This alone would
add much tot he cleanliness OF the
city. Much Of the Nth and litter on
the streets could be avoided in this
manner.
Laboratory Equipment
AS result of the appropriation
made by the council last summer the
department now has small but eff.
cient equipment for the ARCHAEOLOGICAL
GAdluludllOu VI ulllh anu WATER II IS
not complete by any means but af.
fords good working basis to which
additions can be made from time to
time as the circumstances demand.
The laboratory equipment is practical.
ly sufficient to carry on the examine
tons required by the new milk or.
dinanee. AS soon as the financial con-
dition OF the city will permit suit
able room should be secured where
this apparatus may be kept and a COM
plete laboratory equipped as soon as
possible. Progress along the line Of
sanitary science demands that every
city shall have at Its disposal a mod.
ern laboratory. 1t would be great
boon to the physicians Of the city and
through them to the citizens If council
would provide for the examination OF
cultures from threats for diphtherta
and specimens Of Bputum for tubercu-
llosls, In this way an early diagnosis
GUY