The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-20
THE CAUSE OF THE ROCK ISL.
AND EPIDEMIC.
Letter from DR.. C. Truesdale.

the public in the following communication
in reference to the cause of the epidemic OF
which has prevailed in our city |
for some time past. But being convinced |
that there is com bined effort be-
ing made to prevent and suppress facts in
relation to this matter, manifestation OF
which was very apparent in the one sided
and garbled report of the meeting of the
Medical Association held in this city few
DAYS since for the purpose of discussing
this subject, and which was published in
the Union on the 10th inst, from sense of
duty to myself, from full appreciation of
the obligations resting upon me by reason
of the relations l sustain to the public, and
a desire to discharge those obligations,
have constrained me to overcome my natu-
raj repugnance to appearing in print and
publish my views and conclusions upon this
subject.
When | commenced my investigations of
the subject was not influenced by any
preconceived opinions. | had no preiu-
dices to overcome. no personal hatreds,
jealousies or animosities to subssrve. |
had no pride of opinion to induce me to
pervert or suppress facts to maintain
false position, but pursued my investiga-
tioRs with full determination of arriving.
if possible, at correct conclusion. regard
less of fear or favor, believing, as | do, that
it is for the best interest OF all the people
of this city that the real cause of the cpl
demic be discovered. IF it be the water
let us know it, if it be anything else it is
equally important that it tie known. You
hear it whispered Oh every occasion you
must not say it is the water, if you do it
will injure the city!' This is the most
puerile and nonsensical twadde that can
be uttered. If be understood that the
cause of the epidemic is atmospheric
strangers will shun our city as they would
pestilence, fit be shown that it is the
water no one will be kept away through
fear Air they must breathe but they are
not compelled to drink the poisoned water.
In an investigation as to the causes of
the epidemic the first question that natu-
rally presents itself is,-Haye the atmos-
pheric conditions which have existed during
the prevalence of the epidemic, and for
some time prior to its occurrence, been of
such character as would likely produce
this form of disease?
| On looking over the record of the meteor.
illogical conditions which existed during
the latter part of Nov, the whole of Dec.
and the early part of Jan. we find them
| the very opposite of those conditions which
predispose to this class of diseases. The
weather during the periods above specified
was uniformly cold, dry and bracing, to a
degree unparalleled within the period of
my experience and observation in this
country. And to assume that the epidem
ic is of atmospheric origin, under the con.
ditions,is contrary to all experience and the
observatios of the profession.
Observation-Disclosures adverse conditions
and circumstances feeble effort has beer
made to show that the cause is not only at
mospheric but that there is general pre-
vaiIing epidemic influence existing, and tina
it was operating in other towns and cities
In order to establish the truth or falsity o.
this theory we had. of course, to go be-
yond the limits of the city and obtain facts
The first inquiry that was made wa'
of the leading medical men OF Davenport
for the reason that if the cause were at
mospheric and there existed general ep
= idemic influence it must of necessity aztec
the people of Davenport as we'll as Rocl
Island. The leading physicians of tina
city were all Intercepted and the universe
} response was-"We have no unusua
amount of diarrhea." The questions wer
put to the leading physicians of Moline, an
the I'm animous response was the same a
e from the physicians of Davenport. A re
port was put in circulation, and seemingl
e on good authority, that diarrhea existe
S in Peoria to a very unusual extent. III
profession of Peoria was written to in rel;
ton to it. The answer came back-"W
have nothing Of the kind. our city is e,
ceptionably healthy" The physicians i
all the neighboriug towns were written
upon the subject; the inyariable reply Wi
e the same, no Giarrh8a, with one exec
4 ton, and that was DIR. Huyett, of Mia
who claimed to have met few cases. L
t quiries were made of people living ju
outside the city. back Cd the blu
in reference to the existence
the disease and | could n
lie learn that it existed outside the cit
The fact was clear and unquestionab
g. to my mind that there did not exist al
general epidemic atmospheric influence
caused the disease The fact was equal
of clear to my mind that the disea
had local origin. The inquiry may
ID made how do you account for DR., Huyet
cases. infer that the few cases that /
err Hayett may have had were parties w
#. had been to Rock Island and drank t
mrcn hydraDt water. draw this iDft
" ence from the following facts: l
" Long, of Orion, informed me, a fl
t; days ago, that he had had ten cases
diarrbea, nine of them being of the saI
- character of those that have occurred
this city, aud every one of them had be
traced to the use of hydrant water
ID al IcIonJ H., DaI-or >F navapno
and Dawson, of Moline, make the saI
statement in reference to all their cas-
.;r of diarrhma, 80 that the inference
no make in reference to Huyett's cases
or proper and legitimate.
&c Being satisfied beyond a reasonal
or doubt that the cause was local, my ne
ar effort was to ascertain what it W;
10 Those who pay special attention to sa
n tary matters tell US when we are l0oki
after local causes of epidemics of diarrhG
dysentery, typhoid fever, &c, the fl
search to be made is into the source a
character of the water supply. ln watC
ing the process of the epidemic in c
city. soon learned it was confined, as
a. general rule, to the hydrant districts;
3D. found it confined to families and indv
nc nc uals who used hydrant water. The
ny families who live within the hydrant d
at trict, but who have drawn their water 81
al ply from wells and cisterns, were.as &c
~ eral rule, exempt from the disea,
There were, seemingly, exceptions to the
. rules but the exceptions were more {
parent than real People who live wi
nc in the hydrant district, ana who, when
is home, used we'll or cistern water, WI
in daily intercourse with their neighb,
who used hydrant water may have,
one or more occasions, partaken of t
by latter, and, when subsequently interrogat