The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-04
soiI-Dampness as a Cause Of Disease.

SoAA-D an nccs ~ OduSt Vi BlctdSts
There seems no longer to be any doubt
that one of our most dreaded and fatal dis
eases is caused by soil-dampness. If a
damp soil be not the cause, it is certainly
one of the conditions most favorable TO the
development of pulmonary consumption.
Two things have unquestionably been
proved in this connection; first, that con-
sumption is most prevalent on damp soils.
and secondly, that the removal OK tals
iampness by efficient SEb-so5t drainage
causes a rapid diminution in the death-rate
from consumption III localities where this
Improvement has been made. Let us look
at some of the facts which have led TO these
conclusions.
In 1862 DR.. Bowditch, of Boston, the
nioneer in these Investigations, obtained
statements from the resident physicians of
1873 towns in Massachusetts,. which led
him to consider it as highly probable,
though not absolutely proved. that soil
dampness held a causative relation to pull
monary consumption. He foreshadowed
- the existence of law having for its CEN
trail idea that dampness of the soil in any
locality is intimately connected, and prob
ably as cause and effect, with the preva-
lence of consumption In that town or 10
cality.'' i G.cf
What Dr. Bowditch rendered probable
by these Investigations, DIR. Buchanan, of
England, in his capacity OF health inspec-
tor, seems to have rendered certain by his.
He found that in towns where improve
ments had been made in this respect, the
mortality from consumption had greatly
decreased and that the extent of the
dimunition corresponded TO the extent of
the drying of the sub-soil.
In Salisbury, for example, the death
rate from phthisis Consumption had fallen
40 per cent. in Ely AZ in Rugby 43; in
Banbury 45; and in thirteen other towns
the rate of diminutiOn, though not so
marked, was nevertheless noteworthy"
The following general conclusions are
given by DR.. Buchanan, as the result OF
his inquiry:
"First. Within the counties of Surrey,
Kent and Sussex, there is, broadly speak
ing, less phthisis among populations living
on perVious soils than among populations
living on impervious Soils.
"Second. Within the same counties
there is less phthisis among populations
! living on high-lying pervious soils than
among populations living on low-lying
pervious soils.
9 Third. Within the same counties
there is less phthisis among populations
living on sloping impervious soils than
among populations living on flat impervi'
Gus soils.
Fourth. The connection between sol
and phthisis has been established by this
! inquiry, first, by the existence of general
agreement in phthisis mortality in district;
that have common geological and topo
graphical features of a nature to affect the
water-holding quality of the soil. Second
by the existence of general disagreement
between districts that are differently cir
I cumstanced in regard of such features
and third, by the discovery of pretty regu
lar cOncomitancy in the fluctuations of thu
two conditions, from much phthisis witt
much wetness of soil, TO little phthisis
with little wetness Of soil.
"The whole of the foregoing conclusion
combine into one that wetness of soil l
a cause of phthisis, to the people Twins
upon it." = =,
Some Investigators believe that sell
dampness is the cause of many other dis
cases, DIR. Bell, in his report on the drain
age of Kings Co., n. Y, expresses tn
opinion that not only consumption, bu
intermittent and remittent fevers, rheu
matte affections, neuralgia. Group, quinsy
diphtheria, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchlt
is, cerebro-spinal-men erysipelas ant
diarrheal diseases owe their origin in ;
great measure to this cause. ..
| These considerations indicate the impor
lance of living upon dry soil, and max
it obligatory upon any community who's
territory is water-logged either wholly o
in part, to drain such territory of its SUI
! plus water.
By surplus water is meant that which
not held in the soil by capillary attraction
all that water which wouldrun away frOr
a quantity of earth placed in a barrel wit
holes in the bottom. Such drainage ca
be easily accomplished. Unglazed tilin
with Joints carefully protected, laid at
depth of three or four feet, with prOpe
inclination, and at suitable distances, vii
drain any soil, however wet, in less tina
twenty-four hours. To ascertain whethe
, a given locality requires draining, let a
excavation be made to the depth of tire
feet. and if water is found in it twenty-tOu
hours after the heaviest rain, the localit
is unfit for human habitation.
The ill-effects of damp soil are nOtc0r
fined to those Immediately living upon /
but extend to a considerable distance; S
, that every inhabitant, whether his own Il
cation be wet or dry. should concern hin
: Sc f in this matter. 1t is prominently
subject of general interest.
The evils resulting from water-logge
soil rapidly increase with an increasin
population, and at the same time the diti
! culties of drainage become greatly increa
ed when place becomes thickly settlet
, In fact it is almost impossible in man
! cases, after grades are established, and pc
! manent improvements made, TO accom-
plish, even at great expense, what in u
early history of a place could be done wit
very little.
> 1t is also important that the water fallin
upon the roofs of houses should be promp
. " conducted away, and notallOwed 10 sa
! urate the soil around the foundations, al
} find its way into cellars.
: Shade trees should be so disposed abOI
: dwellings as not to interfere with the rapi
: drying of the surface of the ground. Whel
, trees and shrubbery are massed togetht
: Unfortunately, and cover large area
they shut out the sun rays, and offer sue
obstacles to the circulation of the air as
: render them in many cases source Of III
: healthfulness especially is this the ca;
: when they are planted in close proXimit
d to dwellings. Trees should be arrange
4 i'm groups, with ample spaces between
; the trees, should also be arranged in grouI
: bv themselves, and should cover but
! small proportion of the grounds.
? Could these suggestions be acted o.
there is no doubt that i'm many places Il
: lists of mortality would be greatly decrea
7 ed. 1t is evident, however, that the tho
l ough drainage of a place must general
be accomplished as public measure, an
: cannot be left to individual enterpri
alone.
:. Laws should be passed rendering
obligatory on local authorities to carr
: into effect such general measures as wi
render it possible for every one to drai
his land, and making it illegal to ere
dwellings on water-logged territory.
system of thorough inspection should
e Instituted in every place, and houses col
r structed without due regard to sanitary COZ
p ditions should he advertised as unhealthy