Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-20
SANITATION.
Meeting of the Executive Council OF the
Citizens Sanitary Asseeiation-lnter-
esting Proceedings.

Meeting of the Executive Council Oh 'he
Citizens Sanitary Asssciation-Inter-
esting Proceedings.
The adjourned quarterly meeting 81 the
Executive Committee of the Citizens
Sanitary Association was held last eve
ming at Metropolitan Hall, DIR. J. q.
Thomas, President, in the chair.
The minutes of the previous meetings
we're read and approved.
The resignation Of Hon. }. L. W arren
as an officer and member Of the assocla-
ton. owing to his living outside OF the
CITY. was read. On motion, MT. arreh
was requested TO Withdraw MS letter'
Tba rsnort Of the Medical Director, DR..
&c. LeHardv. for the meeting IN July
last. was read. The condition OF lands
about the city having changed since the
report was written, owing 10 long con-
tirued drought. we omit this able paper
until the Medical Director reYises 1t.
Dr.. Thomas. the President of the associa-
ton. gave an interesting account OF ms obseT-
vations as TO the origin OF certain cases OF
diphtheria which had recently come 10 DIS
notice in mis- practice. He said he was called,
in the latter part Of November, to attend
family in which the father was sunerlng from
great physical depression and apparent blood
poisoning. which had been IN progress Tor sew
eral months. and which was ACCOMPANIED
with ulcers on his lower limbs OF dlphthe-
retic character.
In the same house was son Of the gentle
man mentioned. who was also suHeTlng
from diphtheretIc ulcers. IN lew laws uipii,,
iberia Of the most malignant type ueN SiOl! ,.S
IN the Young mans throat, accom- ahleu Win
blood poisoning. After the lapse OF a lew
DAYS another son. lad OF IL years was
attacked with the same disease. ana dled
after an illness Of ten days from Dioou poison
Ii was very evident. DR.. Thomas, continued,
that there was some local cause for these
cases. and after investigation he found
nIv If water for the house
was obtained. was partly under the edge OF
the stable from which there was liable 10 DC
drainage into the well. This well was aug
previous TO the construction of the Hall street
sewer. and when the latter was built IL drleQ
the well. The well was afterwards deepened
and "a supply Of water obtained As the sewer,
by being deeper than the well, drew the water
from the latter, so when the well was deep
ened il in turn drew its supply partly from
the sewer. II was further ascertalned thal
4 few weeks before the sickness the SOIL
pine from the Jail. which discharges into
the Hall street sewer Immediately in front OF
the house in which these cases OF sickness
occurred. and within a few feet OF the wei
Just mentioned. broke and three feet OF the
bottom Of il washed out, allowing the
sewerage matter to escape into the soil,
and, as is well known with all liquids, II
sought it, level. and found lts way INTO the Wen
and polluted the water.
DR.. Thomas said ne had no doubt whatever
that these cases of diphtherla were
directly attributable to the poisoned
water supply. The matter had
been reported by him to physician,
a member Of the Sanitary Board and the
Health officer. and il was probable that this
important subject would receive further at
tentiOn and official investigation.
DR.. Thomas gave II as his opinion that IN
tins city. as in all others, wells were IrultIul
sources Of disease. and he advised that hydrant
river water be used, as it was the best Tor
all purposes and when filtered as pure as any
water in the world.
The meeting then adjourned.