Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-07-11
DR.. GILLESPIE
ON PUBLIC HEALTH.
lndctlon by Council on Recommendations of
Board Of Health StiTs Member Of Latter
Body to Plain Statement of Facts Con-
Gerning Sanitary Conditions Here.

O ~NsJ SShehehS
The following interesting letter from
DR.. r. h. Gillespie or sanitary condi-
tons In our little city, was received too
late to appear in our last weeks issue,
but for the information of our readers
1t is given this week. The letter fol-
lows:
About yesr ago board of health
wes appointed for the town. The board
at that time had the right to expect the
hearty cooperation of the town council
in any wise plans to safeguard the
health of the people. The board looked
over the town and made its report to
the council. Attention was called to
the fact that some of the water collect
ed in our tanks contained surface wa
ter, and was liable to become contami-
mated; that manure piles and hog pens
(the breeding places of the house fly)
SHOULD be cleaned away and kept away /;
that the privies should be hy-screened,
the garbage cared for, and that certain
sections on the car line should be prop
erly drained. A year has practically
gone, the summer we'll advanced, and
the public can see what has been done.
The board is without funds, and the
work is both grstuitous and thankless.
If the voters of the town could see and
feel the Importance and responsibility
as we see and feel it, they would toss
on troubled consciences until measures
were thought out and steps taken to
correct present conditions.
To be able to reach the people for the
benefit of the people is "a hard propo-
sitlon. 1t is easier to prevent fire
than 10 check it when well under way.
1t is useless to insure after the fire.
1t is easier to prevent disease than to
check its spread. 1t is useless to re-
move the source after all the avenues
through which diseases are carried be-
comes contaminated. 1t is far better
to do something now than to wrestle
with regrets hereafter.
A noted health officer in one of our
health journals in an article on filth and
flies, has this to say:
Now, as a matter of unprejudiced
fact, barring the sting of the bite and
the odor of the encounter, the bed bug
is a much more eligible companion than
the house fly, whether of bed or board.
But if bed bugs, comparatively eleanly
of habit, crawled all over our plates,
table and food just as the house flies
crawl, fresh from the foulest filth of
every pestiIential kind, who could eat
or even sit at the table for a moment?
am not making the plea for the eleva-
tion of the social status of my noctur-
nal friend, who loves darkness rather
than light; but am declaring that his
deeds are not nearly so evil and de-
structive as those of the house fly
Pretty plain talk this, but true as
gospel, and of more vital interest to the
homes of this town than Bryan, Roose-
welt, Taft or Wilson. / don't believe |
can be called a coward or gutter, but
speaking personally and not for the
board, and without advising with the
other members. want to say that
have grown tired of the burden of this
responsibility, and that desire to shift
it to the shoulders of the voters, the
council, or to some member of my own
profession, who can do more efficient
work, or on whom it will rest more
lightly.
With, trust, little of the spirit of
the disgruntled defeated, l am,
Sincerely,
r. B. GILLESPIE.