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

searches of sanitsrians have proved little or
nothing regarding the development OF zymotic
diseases. The Rivers Pollution Commissioners
held that although oxidation did take place in
rivers, there was no river In England
long enough to effect the destruction OF
sewage by this means DR.. FARMLAND was of
the opinion that sewage in running water can
less than 300 miles, = and in any moderate now
of fifteen or twenty miles the oxidation Is very
light indeed. Perhaps better illustration or
the harmful effects OF sewage in river water
used for domestic purposes could not be given
than tAe following: The Don flows from Shelf
field and Rotterdam 20 Doncaster. In 1856,
according to DR.. Sieman's report, there was
cholera from July to October in Sheffield; the
epidemic commenced In July, was very bad IN
August and September, and ceased about the
10th of November, which was about fortnight
after it had cessed at Sheheld. think that IS
a very clear Illustration OF the effect or the
cholera on infected sewage, carried down
distance of between fifteen and twenty miles,
from one town to another, ana carrying the
the case very well myself. The outbreak of
cholera occurred a little earlier in Sheffield
than il did in Doncaster; the people OF Doncas-
ter drank the savage of the people ofShef1teld,
and they got the cholera"
Reichardt conducted great number of anal
Uses of river water, and by the results OF hAs
investigations it is shown to be unsuitable Tor
culinary or drinking purposes, as the rainfall
changes the quality of the water so often.
Freshets carry into river water al manner OF
decayin vegetable and animal matter in solu-
ton. Manures from cultivated lands and ma
terials OF waste from manufacturing establish
ments are washed into rivers, and by disinte-
grafton pollute the water In 1865 the Rivers
Pollution Commits sioners OF England made
their sixth report, in which they gave the re-
suit of their examinations of potable waters in
general, and the water supply OF London in
particular, and formulated series Of conclu-
sions some of which are here given.
(o). We should condemn any liquid which
has not been subjected to perfect rest in subsi-
dence pof Dis of sufficient size, for period of
at least six hours. orwhich, having been so sub
jacted to subsistence, contains in suspension
more than one part by weight Of dry organic
matter ia 100000 parts by weight OF the liquid;
or which, not having been so subjected to sub
sidence, contains in suspension more than three
parts by weight of dry mineral matter, or one
part by weight of dry organic matter in 100000
parts by weight of the liquid.
(b). Any liquid which shall exhibit by day
light distinct color when a stratum of it one
inch is placed in white porcelain or earthen-
ware dish.
(c). Any liquid which contains more than one
part chlorine in 100 900 parts.
Virchow Vogt, Radcliffe and Stewart have adj
vsnced the doctrine that polluted drinking wa
ter is often the mcs5 important, IL not the
principal GAUGE of typhoid fever. Bull believes
that this disease increases with subsdence or
fall in the ground water, as, at that time. or
ganic matter, chlorine, 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 saDd 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 IS 500 inhabitants.
From January list to Move mber LIST, 1881,
there occurred in this city the following
deaths: