Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-03

gantc matter, chlorlne, ammonia, ETC., become
concentrated in the low water of rivers, and in
wells from which water supplies are obtained.
Pettenkofer states that 1.-THE reatest re cession
of ground water comedies with the most vio-
lent types of typhoid fever" Many wells are
excavated in beds Of saLd and gravel alone.
and do not reach clay or rock. They drain all
the adjoining higher ground, and, of course.
receive the filth Of all soluble matters upon or
in the soil for considerable distances. There
are very few cities in the United states where
zymotic diseases are more prevalent than at
indianapolis city Of rs. 500 Inhabitants.
From January LIST to Nov mber LIST, 1881,
there occurred in this city the following
deaths:
From dy sentery and diarrL oea..,........... 67
From typhoid fever. Observation-Disclosures. 50
From malarial, congestive remittent, inter
mittent and bilious fevers ............... AZ
From cholera infantum inanition and infan-
tile marasmus ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Jag
From oipththeria.... NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. p
From scarlet fever. .-............ IL
FROM measles. ....... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. o
Total. ............. ..................35 5
At Indianapolis the earth is built up of
alternate beds of sand, gravel and clay.
The sand and gravel extend thirty or forty
feet below the surface before clay is found,
and it is from the stratum of sand and gravel
that the water supplies of all dug wells in the
city are derived. This first stratum of water
is contaminated very largely by sewage, and
so long as two-thirds of the inhabitants con-
staDtly drink this sewage polluted water, and
the city government does not condemn and fill
up all the dug wells within radius of one mile
OF the centre Of the city, Indianapolis will soon
be one of the most unhealthy cities on the con-
tinent Numerous wells in this city fluctuate
as the water rises and falls in adjacent cellars,
sewers, cess pools and privy vaults
During the last two years have made q very
thorough sanitary survey of Indianapolis. /
employed an analytical chemist, Mr. John
Hurry, TO make over $50 analyses Of different
samples of well water.
One year ago l gave to the public an ex-
tended report of the well waters of this city,
and cited many cases OF sickness brought on
by impurities OF well water. / now give thirty
one analyses male from these waters in the
last six months
First Sample-Was obtained from a well
where one case OF typhoid fever was developed
and no other canse of the fever than the water
could be given by the physicians. Well pol
luted by soskage from the privy.
Second Sampe-Was taken from a we'll
where two cases of typhoid fever were rapidly
progressing. but were arrested by stopping the
use Of the water and administering remedies.
Pollution of the water by sewage.
Third Sample-Came from well which was
undoubtedly the eau se o. three cases of typhoid
fever, one of which died. One case of per-
sistent disrhOea. Well polluted by excremental
matter.
Fourth SampIe-An infant died of cholera
intantum where this water came from, and FIVE
adults had continued diarrbpa. Am quite
sure the water caused the trouble In the fami Y.
Inefficient nuisance removal, no sewerage, low
ground and soil pollution.
Fifth Sample-One case Of typhoid fever No
other cause of the fever than the water could
be found. Bad drainage and water of well de-
rived largely from polluted ground.
Sixth Sample-One case of typhoid fever and
the water probably the cause of it. No sewer
age, shallow well in low ground and polluted
by soakage from the privy.
Seventh Sample--FIve cases of typhoid fever
among those who had used the water. No
drainage or sewerage, soil saturated with filth,
inefficient dealing with nuisances, illy-con-
sfFnCfad filthy h0nSpS
Eighth Sample One case of typhoid fever.
Badly constructed and improperly placed
privies, some houses unfit for ha6itation. neg
lected yards, inefficient eXcremt Mt and refuse
disposal, overcrowded cottages, low ground,
no sewerage and polluted water
Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Samples
liz. and four miles east Of the city.
The earth is made up for considerable
distance down of clay, and the wells
are not over thirty feet deep on an average,
wells are situated under porches and near the
kitchens During the summer and autumn of
this year the water was low in the wells from
the subsistence of the ground water, and the
wells have not been kept free from contami-
mating influences.
Over IS persons, in a population Of go who
reside in Irvington and that vicinity, have had
since the drought this year typhoid fever,
typho malarial fever, and fever with typhoid
s, mptoms After making thorough investi-
cation of the town l am convinced that the
IeVer was DrOuRnG on Dy impure water. IL
necessary can give similar desc options of the
remainder of the samples. except those marked
good
According to the latest and best authorities
typhoid fever can be produced by filth and
bad water.
Since the year 1919 when Dr. Jenner made
known his conclusive and mastery diserimi-
nation of typhoid fever, successive studies have
tended to connect IL in its origin with excre-
mental matter. DIR. John Simon says, 'of all
the diseases which are attributable to filth, en-
teric fever as an administrative scandal may
be proclaimed as the very type and Quintes-
sence; that in the most glaring way it appar-
emily has an invariable source in that which Of
filth is the ilthiest; and that its infection runs
its course by fundamentally of the molecules
of excre ent which mans filthiness lets min
gle in his air and food and drink.
Summer or autumn diarrhea is doubtless at
times produced by direct Observation-Disclosures,
and at others by the absorption toto the blood
of septic matters from foul ingests, mainly
drinking water Wherever Suspicion rests
upon drinking water, let the water be analysed,
and if it is found to ntain elements which will
produce disease it should not be used without
being purified. Fox states that "a good water
for drinking purposes should not contl in mere
than
Milligrdntnses per litre.
Albumiaoid ammonia ..... .OS
And that a water with or even without An eX-
81 of free ammonia, which displays larger
amount of album'noid ammonia than .l5
miiligrammes per Htre should always be con-
demued, il there Is an excess OF nitrogen, as
nitrates and nitrites Gin non-chslky districts),
and an excess over the average OF the district
of ehlorides."
The Vienna Water Commissioners reported.
in 1854 that heslthy water could be obtained
by observing the following rules:
l. (G) Water must be clear, sparkling and
colofless.
2 (b) 1t must contain but a small quantity of
solid materials, and be entirely free of organ
lied matter tinfusoria)
g. (c) OF the alkaline earths (Ca O, Mg o., 1t
must not contain more than IS parts by weight
in 1C0 900 puts by weight of the water.
4. ID It must contain but small fractional
part by weight of soluble salts, particularly
the sulphstes and nitrates
5. (e) The solids held in solution and the
Temperature of the water must vary within
very narrow limits during the year.
8. III 1t must be protected from contamina-
ton.
Z. fg) The above requirements are fulfilled in
many cases by soft spring water, which alone
is suitable for drinking purposes.
8. ~ The industries require water having
nearly the same properties.
.. IA Filtered river water, If At all times free
OF turbidity, will answer for technic Al purposes
but, on account of not fulfilling requirements
(e) and II }, Is not fit for drinking purposes.
10. CD To sprif kle or clean streets any
water Is suitable, providing it is odorless and
does not contain great amount of offensive
materials.
MEMORANDUM OF PRORABIE CAUSE