The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-11-25
TO THE PUBLIC.

The Pleasantville Board of Health wishes
to speak to the people of this city through
the medium of The Pleasantville Press, as it
believes that method to be the quickest, the
most economical and the most effective way
of calling their attention to the sanitary or
rather the unsanftary conditions and the laws
and regulations of the State pertaining to
the same. Some are inclined to think that
these health laws and regulations emanate
from the local authorities and are to cover
some personal or political purpose of some
body and so are inclined to disobey and
blame someone for disturbing them. There
is no other purpose but to conserve the health
and the good name of the city and everyone
should become informed as to the necessity
and the manner of obeying such health reg
ulations.
On the 10th of last July the State Board
of Health placed in force, regulations gov
erning stables, cesspools, wells, water closets,
streams of water, etc, in such a way as to
prevent disease breeding and disease trans
mission.
These regulations can be easily and mex
pensively complied with if each one who has
any of the above named will do the part re-
quired toward obtaining a clean city.
TIL outside closets and cesspools must be
constructed as to be water tight. Cesspools
must not be allowed to overflow on the sur
face.
Stables must be provided with water-tight
and fly screened receptacles. The housefy,
a filth carrier, is bred in the stable manure
and other filth, seeks the water closet, then
tries to infest the living apartments of people
and thus disease germs are carried and dis
ease produced.
Pleasantville at one time was obliged to
use water from dug wells, as there was no
other source of supply. We now have a
clean and a sufficient supply of water and the
Board advises that wherever the mains are
available the people use that source of sup
ply. Where a territory is thickly inhabited
it is almost impossible to prevent pollution
at times of a dug well unless it is properly
constructed.
To keep the surface water from entering a
well, three or four courses of brick below and
above the surface line should be laid in &C.
ment mortar. The floor covering the well
should be made water-tight by using pillow
and groove material painted with white lead
in oil where Joined. If a square curb is
present, it should extend three or four brick
in the soil and the space between the round
well and square curb should have concrete
~ to 2 inches thick to prevent entrance of
earth worms. There should be a moulding
fitted around where a pump is used. A brick
or two should be left out Of the curb and the
opening screened to give change of air. Suf-
fcient earth should be banked around the
outside of the curb or we'll so that no sur
face water can collect there. Snow banks
form around some wells and hold water.
All means should be used to prevent mud or
surface water, kitchen drainage or refuse
from entering the well at any season. The
water closet may have a water tight box or
one of concrete construction. 1t is we'll to
have a 2 or 8 inch pipe to extend from the
box to above the roof of the closet to act as
a hue to carry AWAY foul odors, the top of
the fue to be secured and all made fly tight.
1t is best where possible to abolish the closet.
With watchful care the cesspool can be kept
from overlooking. In the absence Of sewers
the people are required to exercise due care
in keeping the premises clean. Diseases like
typhoid fever can be almost entirely elimi-
mated if each householder will exercise the
above sanitary precautions. Pleasantville
certainly cannot afford to acquire the repu-
tation of a typhoid locality. In the past the
city has been more fortunate than wise.
1t is patent and plain to everyone under
Standing unsanitary and unhygienic condi-
tions, what is in store for US unless the city
cleans up. 1t avails but little to rush about
after such diseases appear. All informed per-
sons no longer dispute the origin of the germ
nor the origin of disease. 1t is no longer
popular to ridicule the germ. The thing to
do is to maintain clean premises yourself
and to notify the Board of Health of the
violators you may know of. We are a city
now but move along in health matters like
a village. If any one desires further in
struction or information call any member of
the Board and the Inspector will be notified
and call and help you in every way possible.
With the mosquito eliminated Pleasant
vile will become increasingly popular, and
if with all the facilities we have, we can in
addition show a clean sanitary condition free
from preventible diseases the value of our
powers, lives and property will enhance to
many times the cost.
By order of
THE BOARD OF HEALTH
OF PLEASANTVILLE.