Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-04

Instances are not wanting where
diseases of one kind and another in cities
have been traced to pump water. Yester-
day we published an article from the New
York Medical Register giving several in
stances where it was proved beyond ques-
ton that the violence of cholera epidem-
les was wholly due to impure water. In
1854 the cholera suddenly attacked a num-
Der Of persons in Berwick, sub-district
Of London, who were in the habit Of using
water from pump in their neighborhood.
The epidemic was confined to the imme-
date vicinity of that pump. The history
of cholera shows the Importance of pure
water in such a marked degree that sani-
tarians cannot afford to overlook it. 1t
may be that no cases of disease have been
traced to the pumps in this city,
and that persons have grown rat
drinking pump water, but VINO
has undertaken to trace diseases to them!
1t is fact that diseases that are caused
by poison of some kind. such as malarlal,
typhoid and other kinds of fevers and
diphtheria, prevail here at times. Who will
say that pump water is not to some extent
responsible for these diseases? Who will
deny that if investigation had been made
it would have been discovered that pump
water caused the most cases of them? A
failure to answer the question, Who has
died in this city from disease caused by
drinking we'll waterI ought not to quiet
apprehension in any ones mind. Some OF
the wells may contain water but slightly
contaminated, and those who are
strong and healthy may experience no
i'll effects from drinking it. Their sys-
TENS throw of the poison. But how is it
with the weak and sickly, and particu-
larry if they get their water supply from
wells which contain great deal of pois-
onous matter! VIII thew not yield to the
| effects of the poison after awhile? Those
who have been using pump water for
many years may continue to use it with
out being strongly conscious of any ill
effects. Their systems have become satu-
rated with the poison, but the chances
are that it will shorten their lives even If
| it does not cause them serious sickness.
| A person may take arsenic or morphine
in small doses for a long time, but either
will destroy his health eventually, and
| finally cause his death. Persons who
/ have not been accustomed to drink the
pump water of this city would very soon
realize, probably, that there was some
thing wrong with them if they should be-
gin drinking it, unless they were remark
ably strong and healthy. If they escaped
| serious illness the bad effects of the water
would not be so apparent perphaps after
/ their systems became somewhat accus-
toned to the poison. People may treat
with indifference, and even contempt, this
talk about pump water, but if they will
think a moment they must adj
NIT that it is serious matter.
/ The only authority they have rela-
| tive to the condition of the water
/ is the doctors. What do they
say about it? Do they not say that it is
| cOntaminated-thati it contains poisonous
matter? Were not the tests of the condi-
ton Of the water, made by one of the most
trusted physicians of the city, and re-
/ ported to the City Council in the presence
OF the assembled physicians, absolutely
| convincing? Those tests showed that the
| water in all the wells is bad, and m some
of them very bad. The water from the
pump near the cemetery and from the one
in Forsyth Park showed the presence OF
| more poisonous matter than any
other that was examined. OF course the
| Council intend to do something about
this well water business. They probably
think they cannot do all that should be
done at once. They will show wisdom by
delaying as little as possible. There are
difficulties in their way, of course, but
the greater the difficulties they overcome
the greater the credit to which they will
be entitled. They will confer great
blessing on Savannah by shutting of well
water and introducing a satisfactory
| vault system.