The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-07-02
City Health Board Finds Ser
ious Condition On The
West Side
EXAMINATION MADE
OF DRINKING WATER
Health Board Transacted I'm
portant Business On
Wednesday Night

Discussion Of the health problems
arising from the habit of many fam
lilies in Mt. Vernon persisting in the
use Of shallow wells as the source of
their drinking water, formed the top
ic OF chief interest at the board of
health meeting last night.
Health Commissioner Workman
brought up the discussion by stating
that he had received returns from
the examination of the water of one
OF the wells on the west side of the
city. The state examiners found the
water totally unfit for drinking. 1t
was alive with bacteria.
Dr. Workman stated that all the
wells on the west side not over 25
feet deep are dangerous to the health
of the community. These wells re.
ceive the surface water and contain
germs which bring on very serious
intestinal trouble. He said that the
deep wells in this part OF the city go
down about 100 feet, that the water
rises high enough in the pipes to use
ordinary pumps and he advised that
the people generally put in the city
water or dig deeper wells.
Maternity Hospital
A permit was signed by the mem
bers of the board of health providing
for the establishment of a maternity
ward, to be conducted in connection
with Mercy hospital of this city.
This new addition will be open in
short time, and it is understood that
accommodations will be made for
some fifteen patients.
v\ Resume Of Dog Situation
In making his report, Health Off.
Ger p. ]. Parker stated that the rab.
es scare in the city has practically
subsidized. He states that he believes
the epidemic is over.
In the campaign against dogs hav-
ing rabies, more than 80 dogs were
disposed of, and many cats.
Outside Toilets
During recent weeks complaints
have been received about the odors
covering certain areas of the city.
which come from the outside toilets
still maintained by families. Some
Of. these are on lots which are ad.
jacent to sewers, but to save money
the families viii not go into the sew.
er.
In the near future the families
with outside vaults in the city will be
notified about them, and asked to
connect with the sewer.
Sewage Disposal Plant
Garfield Snow made short report
on the city sewage disposal plant He
stated that everything at the plant is
in fine shape this year.
City Dumping Grounds
DR.. Workman stated that many
complaints had come into his Office
about the Odors and stencil coming
from the city dump, located just out
side the city limits. He made an in
vestigation recently, but could not
find much out of the way. The odOrs
he discovered weAa from burning
that is necessary. A carcass was
found among the brush. It was i'm
mediately taken care Of. The great.
est care possible is being taken at
the city dump and the board asks the
cooperation of the citizens.
Dlphtheria Anti-ToxIn
DR.. Workman stated that he would
see that druggists in the city secured
a supply of the diphtheria anti-toxin
which is being purchased by the
state and placed in every county. 1t
Is being done to facilitate the care Of
this malady that makes its yearly
rounds in this part of the country