The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

TIIE PREVENTION OF FEVER.

It will be a matter of extreme regret to the sanitarian if
the opportunity afforded by the present serious outbreak of
typhoid fever at Terling, which continues daily to add its
victims to the sick and death lists, be not made the occa-
sion of placing prominently before the public one or two
exceedingly important lessons in regard to the prevalence
and prevention of fever in different parts of the country.
We cannot affirm that we do not possess sufficient know-
ledge of the cause of typhoid—the child of defective drain-
age and the direct result of the pollution of drinking
water by excreta. There is scarcely a single town in
which this connection has not been demonstrated. Two
examples may suffice. At Worcester typhoid fever is ende-
mic, and the report of a sub-committee appointed at the
end of 1866 to examine into the condition of the town states
that "it (fever) is clearly traceable to foul drains and
privies and the use of polluted well water ;" speaks, more-
over, of " overflowing privies and cesspools," imperfect
drains, or an entire absence of them ;" and points out that
amongst the evils of the city, although amply supplied
with water from the Severn, is the use of wells for the
supply of water. There are certain people in Worcester
who believe that water from wells surrounded by
drains and cesspools, and supplied by water from the
leakage of these places, is better than any other
water. The same story is told of Tamworth. Mr.
Morgan, C.E., was directed by the Home Secretary to visit
the place and report upon its sanitary condition in August
last, in consequence of a severe outbreak of typhoid
fever, which was apparently inexplicable save upon
the assumption of the use of impure water and defective
drainage. Mr. Morgan says : " I found that Tamworth
is wholly dependent for its supply of water for domestic
purposes upon shallow wells which are in close proximity
to yard sinks, privies, and cesspools." The water, on
being analysed by Mr. Way, was found to be of a " very
dangerous character ;" the lowest proportion of solid residue
was about five times as much as in the average of London
waters. Mr. Morgan remarks that "typhoid fever and
diarrhoea are amongst the prevalent diseases, and that these
are distinctly connected with the pollution of the wells.
These two diseases have been most prevalent in the localities
whence have been obtained the various samples of water sub-
mitted for analysis." The fever at Terling has been proved
mainw
tivka
ey ways
place),
e) whicha nd
to depend upon exactly similar causes. It is calculated that
ill
the town of Worcester might, by remedying sanitary
defects, save 400 lives and 8,000 illnesses each year— repre-
senting the money value of £lO,OOO per annum. Terling
has paid a heavy penalty already for allowing its water to
be polluted— 300 out of 900 of its inhabitants have been
fro
marew, ofe
whence
ce course,lleakage
ktas:oe
stricken with fever, and thirty-four deaths have already
the contamination of water may be prevented—either by
the introduction of a complete system of drainage or the
doing away of drains altogether (which are liable to
the deodorisation and collection of excreta by such a' plan
as that devised by Mr. Moule in his earth-closet system.
It is reported at Terling that the irrigation system will
breakage,occur occurred.
and There
probably be recommended as far as the liquid sewage is
concerned, the rest being so treated that it may be used
by the cottagers, as heretofore, in their gardens, the
cesspools being probably done away with. At least this
is the impression produced by the visit made by Mr.
Arnold Taylor under the direction of the Home Office.
There is an important lesson to be learnt by the Terling
authorities from the experience gained on Baron Roths-
child's estate in Buckinghamshire, which would seem to
be peculiarly applicable to their case. In the villages of
Halton, Buckland, West Turville, and Aston Clinton,
" overflowing and fever-breeding cesspools, ditches, &c.,
have been cleared, and not a foul smell can anywhere now
be found." The result has been brought about by the
introduction of the earth-closet system. A man and a boy,
with a horse and cart, are found to be sufficient to do what
is now required to work the plan in the villages named,
with a population of 800.

ELECTION EXPENSES. —The expenses incurred by
Mr. Albert Pell, the Conservative candidate at the late
election for South Leicest,e envy is,rshireusu, hal, theave belaren
gest officially
returned at £2,324. Ag as item,
amounting in this case to £1,020. Canvassers absorbed
£ll2 ; clerks, £4O ; carriages and horses, £lO5 ; • railway
passes, £9l ; stationery, printing, and advertising, £lO5 ;
and "miscellaneous" items, £473. Mr. Pell, 84 will 1,4
remembered, was an unsuccessful candidate.

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