1883 - August 8

As part of its continuing campaign to make Hamilton a cleaner place, the Hamilton Spectator found out about a number of initiatives being urged upon municipal officials in many locations. Reprinting the reporting from various newspaper, the Spectator added its own comment to each paragraph quoted:

“St. John Telegraph ; - Leading authorities on sanitary science in London are urging upon the people the very great importance of seeing that their house drainage is so arranged as to prevent the escape into dwellings of poisonous gasses from sewers. This question has a practical interest in every city. Its importance is too apt to be overlooked; yet there is no room for doubt that a great deal of sickness, and chronic ill-health if traced to their proper source, would be found to originate in imperfect house drainage.

This is a paragraph for householders. Read it, then go and see your plumber.

Kingston News : - Daily is our reporter accosted on the street and is requested to ‘pitch in’ to the board of health and the committee appointed by it to take the first steps toward cleaning the city. The people want to know if the committee intends to meet, if not one that would have some energy about it should be appointed. Our readers wish the board to wake up out of its state of lethargy and do its duty; see that the city is put in a healthy condition.

For Kingston in the above, read Hamilton.

Tilsonburg Observer: - The Observer man in his rambles about town has noticed that there are several localities in which the stench arising from decaying substances is positively unbearable, and he would respectfully call the attention of the council to the matter as one requiring the immediate attention of that body. The mayor is a physician, and he, at any rate, should know the extreme danger which arises from the presence in any community of unclean back premises during the hot months. We would also appeal to the people of the town to do all they can to help the health committee out in this matter by attending to their own premises, and by promptly reporting all nuisances to any officer the council may appoint to look after this matter.

The citizens of Hamilton should take the good advice tendered above.

Rochester Post-Express: - Figures which are given elsewhere show that nearly 50 deaths from cholera infantum were reported at the health office of this city during the month of July, and that of the whole number fifteen were reported from the Thirteenth ward, a ward which the investigations of the Post-Express reporters have shown to be in a deplorably filthy condition, where the garbage wagon is rarely seen, and where the refuse of the houses is allowed to lie day after day in the sun to pollute the air with its foul exhalations. It is time for the people, the press, and the medical profession to awake to the terrible state of affairs here.

Where about the Market street alley and Cathcart street sewer? Are the odors ascending from these places healthy for infants?

Cobourg Star: - The mayor called the attention of the council to a circular he had received from the Provincial board of health, and recommended that some action be taken towards carrying out the suggestion. Moved by Councillor Wilson, seconded by Councillor Daintry, that the health committee take such measures as will maintain this town in a healthy condition. Carried.

Will the Hamilton health committee follow suit and look after the Caroline street gully?

Belleville Ontario: The wet season, too, has created pools of stagnant water in many parts of the city which might become dangerous hotbeds of disease under an August sun. The sewers should be examined and cleansed if necessary. Decaying vegetable and animal matter should be deodorized and rendering harmless by disinfectants.  Delay is always fraught with danger.

Flush the sewers, drain your stables, wash out the gutters, clean up the alleys and use good disinfectant and you may feel comparatively safe from cholera.

St. John Sun; - Atmospheric dust is composed of various particles – some harmless; others fraught with injury to public health. As an instance of how disease may be distributed in our midst, we would point to the piles of street sweepings which are allowed to remain day after day decomposing in the sun, until a windy day scatters the dry particles in every direction to be inhaled by our citizens. When we remember that these piles contain the expectorations of consumptives and other diseased persons, in addition to mould spores, etc., it becomes apparent that the street sweepings should be removed at once.

Will the City Council order a general cleaning up of the streets and gutters? It is needed.”¹

¹  “Yours for Health: Points That Ought to Be Considered.”

Hamilton Spectator.   August  08, 1883.

 

(To Be Continued)