The Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELD REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 414, 5 December 1874, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELD REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The importance of effective sanitary arrangenents cannot be overestimated. Not only does much depend on these to avert epidemic diseases, but for the maintenance of that tone and buoyancy of spirits which spriDg from sound health. Under imperfect sanitary conditions there are often to be mot with great physical depression, and low febrile symptoms, which not only render life burdensome, but create a craving for unnatural stimulants which often end in dissipation. The temporary relief afforded by these stimulants, lays the foundation of habits that effeminate the community, and in the end prove- nearly as bad as the pestilence which, one day or another, they will bring in their train. This subject is, for the present*, brought before the community by the report submitted to the Town Council by one of our medical men. Although we could have wished that the report bad been a little more definite, and had gone further in the way of pointing out remedial measures, yet that was, perhaps, not to bo expected. It lies more with the Town Council to find out the ways and the means. The letter of our correspondent " Sanitas," in our last issue, is very valuable in the way of suggesting measures for the sanitary improvement of the town. Some such measures as he suggests would be in the right direction, and would also' prove economical. "Where every inhabitant is forced, either to wheel away the accumulations of night and day from his premises, there is a waste of time or a waste of money. This would certainly be obviated if the town were to employ a soil cart, and the inhabitants to pay ratably for it. In this way not only would unsightly heaps be^removod ? jnitjjhe- exhalations from them asfTeruienting in the sun would be disposed of. "We venture to say that a cart once a week, or once a fortnight, would do much to preserve the town sweet. This ought certainly to be resorted to more frequently than it is. We were one day passing along the street when the surfaceman was • wheeling away to vacant places on either side of Ross Place the " matter in a wrong place " to a place equally. " wrong." A cart, of course, would have transported this odoriferous rnHt- . ter- r-and .we can assure our readers that , it impinged with considerable force against our olfactory nerves— beyond the bounds of the town. We knew a town where boxes were put down at convenient places to receive the accumulations of ashes and night soil, and! ; regularly carted away, so that effete matter might never be left to ferment within the town. In Dr. Stewart's report reference is justly made to the channels on each side of the road in White-haven-street as never having been cleaned out, and as likely to retain in them the seeds of disease. We may mention that in a certain part of the East Biding of Yorkshire it is customary to impannel a jury every

autumn, whose business it is to ride round the whole of the parish and see that every occupier of land has cleared the main channels opposite his own premises. In anticipation of such a visit, everyone sees to it that the work is done, or if left undone, is reminded of his duty, and if further negligent, is liable to a fine. By clearing the channels in autumn tbe ranknesa of the vegetation is kept under, the channels cleared for the winter. rain, and a considerable check given to ihe miasma likely to arise when the spring sun acts on the decayed matter. We are of opinion that the sooner cesspool closets are abolished the better ; and we do not think it necessary to get patent dried earth to mix with the effete matter in tho closets. An admirable deodorizer ia to be found in the culinary ashes that accumulate in every house. Utilised thus, "the ashes would form a manure rich as guano, and while the public health was promoted the soil would also be enriched. No time ought to be lost in enforcing on tbe.cpmmunity either earth closets or some,-,otFier method equally effective in preventing the zymotic action which causes malaria, and consequent pestilence. The summer is setting in, and the lesson given by Cromwell should not be lost upon- us. It is no time to lock the door after tbe steed is stolen.