The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-09
HEALTH AT THE BIG SHOW.
GETTING THE FACTS Nv RELATION
TO THE MALARIA STORIES.

tncrtese of sickness IN fhtindeipnm Nv
p Exhibition Managers Held TO be Binmele-s.
) PHILADELPHIA, Oct g. Rumors have at
tained a wide circulation that diseases resultant
from malaria were rife in Philadelphia owing to
defective sewerage IN the Centennial Exhibition
grounds, and that there was actual and serious
danger to the lives OF visitors from this cause.
IA reporter Of THE sur has secured from the Of
loers OF the Exhibition and severol Philadelphia
lpbysicians their arguments in answer to the ac-
pounts that have gained credence. Their theo-
Eies are herewith presented: Two causes-bad
water and foul air-produce malarinl disease.
From the nrst OF these Philadelphia 10 notably
free. Her water supply is In part drawn from
the Delaware, but mainly from the schuylkin
river. the point whence this latter portion is
taken being what is termed Faitmount forebay,
in the immediate vicinity Of Fairmount Pork,
where are the Exhibition grounds. II is an un-
fortunate fact that the natural incline Of the
ground In Fairmount Park. north OF the Avenue
OF the Republic. IL northward, and consequently
lts drainage into the great sewer on Elm avenue
and thence to a point below the dam In the
Bohuylkill IL lmpractcable. All Its surface water
beipeee, and, at the start Of the Exhibition, the
drainage and sewage from certain OF the State
buildings and restaurants on the Centennial
grounds, were naturally directed into Belmont
and LansdOwne rsyine, and through them flowed
into the river above the dam. DIR. Chsrles NJ
Cresson, an able analyst, who, under direction
OF the Commissioners of Falrmount Park, Is con-
staptiy engaged in analyrinR the water furnished
TO the city and in gu uarding against its denle-
ment, was quick TO note the effect Of this drain.
age. in water taken from Paramount forebsy
on MAY 81 be found thirty-eight parts OF sewage
matter to the million. His vigorous remon-
Btrances against this exceptional degree Of i'm
purity were responded to by such energetic ac-
tion the part Of the Centennial Com mmission,
under the intelligent direction Of their efncient
speineer aud architect, Mr.. II. J. Scbwsrsmann,
that by June 5the proportion OF sewage matter
was reduced TO less thsn three parts In the
million OF water. since that time the quality OF
the water has been steadily improving, notwith-
standing the fact that the river has this year
been exceptionally low and that II receives
above this dam the drainage from cities and
towns containing not less than 5000 inhabi-
tsnts. Recent analyses by DIR. Cresson show
that the water supplied to Philadelphia-tbe
Isme as is used ON the Exhibition grounds-con-
talns but LA psrts OF sewage in 100000 OF
water, or IL parts Of albuminoid ammonia In
100000 parts of water, representing about LII
pounds Of animal matter In each million pounds
Of water, or about .0l grain to each gallon. The
only drainage now permitted to how through
the rayines mentioned is the surface water. that
from " esh- bowls In some Of the buildings, and
at one point on The La9sdowne stream small
the streams In both rsvines ore very
rapid. and plunge down innumersble little
cascades, breaking into spray over the rocks end
spreading out into broad ana shallow rapids mere
and thee. a condition admirably adapted for
seration and destruction Of or-anic matter In
the water. A good nose near to the stream in
Lansdowne ravine, below the culvert which
cmpties In on the south side, not far from the
medical department, will detect an odor Of
sewer gas. The same thing may be noticed on
isvins. Caused by i'm purities Which i ' brDas
ln from outside the grounds where IL takes
s nss, rise; ,bs; ,bs IL r.s. Is tha.uFspet how
Yeedy spoken of so far purines both streams &
10 (ispel these offensive odors before they leave
The grounds. and at n ost the smell ls so faipt
that not one person In thousand VIII DC hhey
70 TIE se" question Of bad air apart from that al.
ready considered. is not so easily osposeo o..
story hat ali the buildings on the grounds are
Eurrounded by nk-wells, into whlch Az re-
fuse is thrown and allowed TO pu',sy , ~hhI II '"s
mile OF them" There are spots N that Iwenti-
fourth Ward Of Philadsp9ls which are ,.,ue
and IL is really wonderful that they
have not done iuhnitely grehter mischiel i tnah
thar have, but they DO not exist In the Centeh..
Mai grounds, the cleanliness and purity OF
which, considering the multitudes by wnlch
they are freq iented, are truly reharkanle. lhe
eyii snots are { closets, SINKS, kitchens, ana
back yaid DIS Of rest. .urants and holels nnrth anu
wtst Of Elm avenue, wheie thry hnot cvhnect
with the sewer ge system Of TOE eity-Isas ssd, VIZ
reasons already spoken ~ as an onR the u'mcuI-
ties encountered upon the Exnloit9n erounos, 's,
Herr the rigid order maintained inside uoes u1'
prsyail, and prOptietors ana thelr employers ~
pretty much as they please for tne.l o",, VI,
terests they no doubt enoehyor 70 pIeVehl tntiI ,
places becoming such actual nuissnces as VIII
drive the pupic from their doc :, out Tue eh-
pense OF mainl aiming thorough Cleanliness III
the departments mentioned Is SO great that
they Incur is little Of II as possible. IL costs
RHO Tor each rt-losd Of matter jumped from
sbsir sInk-wells aud carried away by the Odor-
less Excavating Company. III they were ibsiue
tie crounus Chief Ensineer SchwaiLmsnn and
~, I'll, would see TO ~
that they cleared their wells every seco1o
day. Being. outside they deier u, ~ us as
feared. sometimes employ means less safe
and ino onensive than those indicated. out less
the mater OF removing kitchen garbage and
table waste, the amount OF which Is astound'
Ing In sone Of the larger hotels, they are also
In eases neglectlul, and of course especial
iy in such warm weather AZ we nave recently
had the result nees,ssy ana and tse spfeadns
OF much foul aud poisonous odDrs ioW1Ia
these matters IL would De won ior tno ~ neaI,n ~,
ofhcers Of tue city ~ exercise more rigid su-
perylsion. Inc clerks and prOpTietors OF these
ploces admit that among their guests there are
many cases OF sickness, nut attribute tneW 10
indiscretions In eating and drinking, exposure
TO fatigue and unnatural nervous excitement
In This view tney are sustained by the Opinions
OF Ieadiug pbysiciau-, the characters- OF tht
nr ID n Wizard sly. that ninety nine per cent
of the strangers VINO become SICK here do SC
from the cau-es indicated, anu give no SYM
toms OF malaril l. huenees Most oi them a,'
from the rural dis.ncts. hu small percent
age of those taken SICK are nom citles' lhei
ling Two or three days, walked untl
[ was tired yesterday, and TINS morn
Ing had a cnill,'' or - was 80 hot ana tirr'
Yesterday thar drank some soda waite, hu
beer, and lemonade, and ate some Ice cream
wv hat else uiu you eatf" "Ohl nothing but
sandwich aud two pieces OF PIE, and a banana
yes and drank some cider Ana vet lhat Du
cole person wonders ov,r tho possession oil
diarrhe b, aud tLinks II mus have been cause
by mnlsIia or cnan.e Ut water DR.. lailo
nnolher " Ncll-knowu PmladtIphiA physician, say
that the health Of the Twenty IUurtn " ara IN
sumner. Notwithstanding It's enormous hpatn
popul ,tIon aud the unusual pteuis, osing caus'
10 siokucts, has Deeu Iemarkably good, anu q
causes anu SYMPTOMS OF the vast majority
cases Of illness which have come WITHIN
il the nal rious influence said to prevail
the vicinity of the EXhiDtion grounds real
exists cert 4nly those most hkely 10 suusr iIu
IL would seem to he they VINO i've III or are ei
Dloyed about the hOtels IN the neighoornoo
or are resident upon the grounds, bul SUI
does not seem TO be the Sc lhree hu'
clerks in close proximity to The Eek nlOtloh a'
That none OF their force OF emi loyees nave ue
seriously ~ OF have had any symptoms OF ua
rial feveis, al houHn some OF elr Ruests hh
been taken silk. Othels. IN reply 10 lhqul
said tuut their proportion OF SICK cases ia
been greater than WAS usual IN hotels hiho
servants. Mr Hsiburl. one OF the propristt