The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-24


that before November he would
address the people of Travis county
on the political issues of the day.
RESPONSIBLE FOR SANITATION.
The wires have told us of the
breaking out of that dread disease,
typhoid fever, at watering place in
New Jersey. The disease made its
appearance in the families of rich
New Workers, and Immediately upon
its development there was SIAM
pede, and the sea waves beat in
mournful silence where not long be-
fore there were crowds of batheIs
and prOmenaders and pleasure
seekers. The landlord attempted
the removal of the sick, but they
would not go, and while he demand
ed ten thousand dollars as damages
the friends of the sick compromised
with him for five thousand dollars.
This is changing the order of re-
sponsibility which should have pre-
vailed in such an instance. We re-
late the circumstance to show what
are the consequences of unsani-
tary usages. This hotel keeper
had his building improperly
drained and ventilated, and the
foul miasmas from cesspoOls were
no doubt finding their way into the
apartments of guests. Instead of
the proprietor of this hotel being
paid for the loss of custom through
sickness among his guests, there
should have been suit against HIM
for damages to health and for de-
stroylng the happiness of his guests
through his own shortcomings. This
case in New Jersey is similar to
numerous ones in many Texas
towns and cities, and especially
is it so in relation to Austin. The
city is filthier now, and it has been
so for six or eight weeks, than ever
before. There has been sort OF
filthy, horse-stable air pervading
the entire business portion of the
city, and that it has not caused
wide spread sickness is wonderful.
Once typhoid fever was unknown in
our midst, but now it is a common
disease, chargeable alone to Its un-
sanitary condition, growing with
every year more and more intoler-
able. We need sanitation, and. as
it is postponed the city becomes
criminally responsible for the sick
ness thereby entailed upon the COM
munlty. If, at II fashionable hotel
by the seaside, imperfect drainage
pOisons the atmosphere and engen-
ders malignant fevers, how much
more pernicious must be the effects
of badly drained houses i'll densely
peopled city where the Inhabitants
are compelled to breathe an atmOs-
phere laden with poisonous exhala-
lions from cesspools and water
closets. Diphtheria, typhoid and
kindred diseases are more liable TO
occur in pent up city from
lack of sewerage, badly drained cell
lars and effiuvia of water closets
than is generally supposed. Pesti-
lential gases are generated, the germs
of disease take root and spread over
entire districts, and the authorities
seem to be unaware of the existence
of such an evil until their notice is
directed TO the fact by the mortuary
reports of the city sexton. Then a
panic ensues, and people who have
the means flee to escape contagion
or use disinfectants in their own
dwellings, while the poorer classes
and the careless, who incur the
risk of sickness in their house
holds, infect neighborhoOds where
they reside. A physician who
has given the subject of
hygiene especial attention has
suggested, as a remedial measure
surface drainage, which would OBJ
viate the annoyance arising from
the present honeycombing system
that poisons our pumps and springs;
but this system is opposed in Aus
tin, and has been opposed by our
very wise city government. Instead
of encouraging sanitation it opposes
it. 1t opposed the sewer TO convey
filth from the federal building ; it
has displayed animosity to the state
system of sewerage; and it espe-
cially provides that there shall be
no surface washing even through the
filthiest gulleys. 1t feeds all the
evils which filth produces, and it
should be held responsible for dam
ages sustained through its base neg
igence.