The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-02-01
Health and Cleanliness,


No disease ever yet made its appear
ance that was not the result of viola
ton of one or more of natures laws and
one of these laws very frequently disre-
garded is that demanding cleanliness.
We may obey sanitary laws to the let
tor as regards outward cleanliness by alb
lutions, and yet be unGlean in what we
eat or drink. In these latter cases, we
are to great extent the victims of cir
oumstances over which we have no con-
troll, and often over which no person has,
although mans rapacity and greed for
money is frequently manifest here. As
the result of uncleanliness in what we
drink, we may almost positively. attri-
butte the annual scourge oftyphoid fever,
which comes to greater or less degree,
every autumn, and leaves behind it
mourning everywhere. The health COM
missioner of New York city has been at
considerable pains to collect evidence
about this disease, and the facts he pre-
sents are appalling We may gain some
idea of the vast harvest of sickness and
death which this reaper annually gath
ors from the fact that between 100000
and 100000 people annually suffer from
this disease in England alone. 1t will
be remembered that Prince Albert fell a
victim to it, and recently the heir-appar-
ent was Frustrated under its remorscless
grasp. So much for its extent and viru-
1ence Now few words as to its cause.
The health commission has investigated
the disease thoroughly, and says, though
it has long been enveloped in obscurity,
it is now well known among the most
Ill 41,aA ,nF
the so-called filth diseases" of modern
sanitary writers. Its most ordinary ex-
citing cause is air, or drinking water be-
fouled with excremental matters. 1t is
also quite certain that a person suffering
from this fever may himself infect the
air of his room or the water which re-
ceives his excreta with germs of the dis
ease, SO as to transmit it to others. A
single case may thus be the fruitful
source of widespread epidemic. To il
lustrate this the commissioner gives sew
eral illustrations. In q small German
settlement in the upper part of New
York city, there was severe outbreak of
dysentery and typhoid fever. A physi-
clan, called to attend some of the cases,
set to work to find out the cause. On
inquiry as to the water supply, he was
directed to spring on low ground in
the midst of the settlement, so situated
as to receive surface drainage. Tho wa
ter was pure and sparkling to the sight
and taste, and was loudly praised by the
owner of the spring. A quantity put in
n bottle and allowed to stand a few hours
threw down thick sediment of most Of
fensive matter, which, on being tested
was found to be as purely excrement as
if it had been taken from a privy. The
people ceased to use this water, and the
epidemic ceased at once. While visiting
ut a house in an interior village, noted
for its healthfulness, he was interested in
the history of what seemed to be sim
gular breaking out of the disease. On
visiting the locality, the house was found
situated OH an elevation, and all its sur.
roundings were admirably arranged fol
health. One could readily believe the
statement that there had not been case
of sickness in the house for twelve years
But he soon unravelled the riddle. H.
found that few weeks before the fever
appeared the pump in the well broke
and the farmer, being driven with work
neglected to have it repaired. Mean
time the servant brought the water from
spring at the foot of the hill, which
soon became low, owing to the drought
He then resorted to small brook, ant
from this source the family were supplied
for two or three weeks. This stream
higher up, ran through several farm
yards and received the surface drainage
The first symptoms of poison by this wa
ter was slight nausea and a mild diar
rh9a; after several days typhoid fevcl
in its worst form was ushered in. O.
the entire family but two escaped an at
tack, and they did not use the water
An examination of this water revealed t
sediment of excremental matters. Every
case of this fever can be traced to somt
such causes. Consequently, one of thu
most important lessons for households t.
learn is that excremental matters pollut
ing the air they breathe or the watel
they drink will cause typhoid fever. L
should be called excremental fever" 81
that when the name is spoken every ont
is reminded of its cause. Far too httl
attention is given to this most fruitful
source of 81 ckness and death in cities
towns, villages, and by country resi-
dents. Drinking water should alway
be taken from wells or springs situated
above the level of human habitations
or so deeply, as artesian wells, that the.
cannot receive surface drainage.