Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-10
Fever and the sewers.

We had supposed II anything had been set
tied II matters OF hygiene 1t that sewer
emsnstiOns are pestileItly deietsrious to heath.
II seems, however, that medical mon of author
lily m thei- profession are disposed to question
the truth Of this general belief We lately
heard one Of our prominent city physicians (Dr.
y. T. Morgan) express a rather decided opinion
In the negative, and he cited his own exse-
TIenCes and OSser vstions on street where he re-
sides; ard where, this season, the sewers have
been open Gin consequence or the street work.;
and the ertUvia has not only been very offen-
Eve, but the sewage from the water-closets has
been backed up in soma o. the cellars in a way,
that, according &c The current theory should
have resulted in numerous cases of diarrhps
Gysentery, typhoid, &c, yet the street has been
exception ally healthy. Further, persons who
have been living for many years directly over
the water course that has served Tor a sewer in
the vicinity named, have never had case Of
malarial disease in their families.
In this connection we find in The Nedica, Nsrcs
;of Phiisdelphia) for September an article on
this topic, in which the editor says that while
not prepared to deny that sewer carnations are
injurious, lie has doubts "a 10 their being the
sOie cause OF the diseases ascrlbed to them, and
IL seems 70 rs vet to be proved that such gases
we're tie cause of the typhoid fever which
si1lcted the Prince of Wales some months ago"
In support Of these doubts the Ns,cs quotes an
article iIom the Dublin Medical Circular, which
states, GFrep0S to the discussion about the
Prince of " ales illness, that an enquiry set on
foot has demonstrated that the men endowed
Al tie sewers are not only not carried of by fe-
Yer. hut appear singulArly free from the ravsges
o. that disease. At the instig cation OF Dr. Brew
eT.tLe Metropolitan board OF works ordered a
return OF the subject, which has been made,
and Is Ggiig conclusive.
Out o. inspectors employed from 3 to IS
years, there has never been a case OF fever Out
OF q men employed in cleansing and flushing
TIE northern sewers for periods varying up to
- years only have had fever, and their cases
seTe tyILus. Out OF L. men engaged in the
sewer work in the southern sewers for periods
vaIyin. from TO Il years, there have only been
cases OF lever. and these again typhus, and in
one Of these cases II is shown that the disease
was contracted from the mans family There
are 20 peBStOck and flap keepers who have been
employed from to 20 years. OF all these only
one las lad any fever. He has been ID years
at work, and had typhoid in 1867 There are
some curious notes about these men. One of
them has been at this work 80 years, and has
not hadcn days illness during the time One
lived . years In the sluice house over the
Ming Scholars pond sewer, but never had any
fever. Another lived for "a years in Penstock
House, 0vss Outfall sewer at Old Ford. Another
rived y years in Great ST. Johns sluice house
Another lived for 80 years in house over Duff
heId slUica, and enjoyed good health. Out of
y men e;ny loved at the pumping stations. there
tas only been one case of fever (typhoiI.)
AT Crossnsss, ont OF - men engaged during
the last years. there has not been one case OF
-yIhus or typhoid. There have been cases of
agae, bat these are Of course due to the low
marshy district, and they seemed to have re-
covered rapidly. Out of men EMPLOYED In
cleansing ventl.stors, oiling side entrances.
gauges, &c, no case OF fever has occurred,
though one man has been Al the work 3 years
VI ten surveyors and chainmen id tie engi-
heer's Office, not one has ever had typhoid
lever although they have been almost daily en-
gagged in the sewsrs for periods OF from to 2f
years.
The 4edicGl Circular adds -" These facts ara
very gratifying, and quite dispose of the ALE
cation that the men In the sewers are decinatsd
Hy feTer The statistics show, in fact, that fever
a. less PREVALENT amongst these men than the
'est q iIe t?W' population"
~" a. this is very satisfactory, In view of
the TACT q ~ sewer traps, in nine cases out OF
ten, both in Europe and this country, are 20
effective a. 20 be practically worthless; yet as q
matter Of taste we imagine that most persons
Sili stili prefer 20 have few sewer opening
m their uei ZhhOThood as possible.