The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-20

THE ACADMEY OF MEDICINE.


10 the prevalence in this city OF ty.
phoid and other ievers. and the cause
being ascribed by many TO :he use OF the
| city water, l addressed communications to
all our registered physicians, requesting
| Information as to the number OF cases
under their treatment, with the reasons
they could assign, and the remedies they
would suggest. | have received replies
| from them, with this report On the 13t h
OF this month (tbc date OF the circular)
! there were 101 cases OF typhoid fever, and
the cases OF typho- malarial, remittent, and
| continued feyers were not given. Only five
physicians have attributed these fever cases
TO the use of the city water, and only two
Of them to any other local cause thirteen
believe the epidemic TO be owing TO atmoS-
pheric influences; thIrty-four expressed
no opinion. What the cause may be due
TO no one could with certainty decide.
Leaving out the city water as q factor, it
can be positively affirmed that no other
local cause now exists. A recent eXamina-
tion OF the whole city satisfies us that
Richmond Is in 4 very cleanly condition
rs much so as the constant Use OF our
streets will allow. Every street and alley
west OF Fourth street has been recently
cleaned. The streets in other parts OF the
city have been attended TO within q short
period, and the corresponding alleys are
now being cleaned.
In our investigation we found only three
points requiring immediate attention, and
orders were at once given to remedy these
defects.
No one can with proprlety decide that
disease here is due to local causes, for we
learn from weekly and monthly reports re-
celved at this office that fever prevails to
more or less extent in all cities; and we
have authentic information OF similar
tendency in the adjoining counties and the
mountains Of West Virginia.
Now as to the waite supply: II the city
water was and is the cause OF disease to
any appreciable extent, why is it that
families are affected who Use well and
spring water exclusively, and why should
not every family who uses city-reservOlr
water show in some degree evidence OF
I'll healthg The reports show such incon-
sIStency.
The past winter, with its repeated and
occasionally protracted spells OF extreme
cold weather, neutralized the deleterious
influences Of the decomposition OF yegeta-
BILE matter in the last fall. The frequent
ireshetS in the last winter and early spring
served TO remove such matter from our
streams, especially from James river, its
volume being so great and its current so
strong. Much stress is laid by two physi-
clans upon the fact that the waters from
Tuckahoe creek and another stream this
side OF that are allowed to enter into our
water-supply. Now, rs to Tuckahoe
creek: This stream empties into James
river four to four-and-a-half miles above
BoShel's dam. 1t has, chance OF de-
posting much OF its sediment in the pond
caused by the dam. Its waters, after
minging with the whole volume OF the
James. pass in rapid current six miles
to the water-wOrkS, and thence half mile
to the reservoir, and then at least two miles
before beng used by our inhabitants, thus
making thirteen miles in all when delivered
at our houses. The other stream alluded
to is an insignificant one.
We have procured from Colonel Cutshaw
statement OF the flow OF water from these
streams and that from James river.
Tuckahoe creek flows into the river about
GO cubic feet per minute. approximate eSti-
mate-equal to about 26,92S gallons per
hour.
Different creeks and branches between
the Nine-Mile lock and the pump-WOrks
HOW lIlO the Cdlldi-ttl lljl OAiidIO SStilI't''S'
about 400 gallons per minute, equal to
81, 900 gallons per hour. The flow OF
James river during the drought OF 1876
was 1900 cubic feet per secOnd-lO, ,424
gallons. or 40 gallons per minute, or
81, ,j2G, 400 gallons per hour.
Amount OF water passing through pumps
per second, 200 cubic feet-2,2f4 gallons,
or 1860 gallons per minute, or S,01S,4OO
gallons per hour.
We pump into the new reservoir about
100000 gallons per hour.
IT will be seen that the admiXture OF
these two streams with the James river
is too insignificant to arrest serious con-
sideration-it is not more than drop in
a bucket.
Ii is due TO the physicians who ascribed
the use OF the city water as being the main
factor i'm causing these diseases TO report,
upon their authority, that in TuckahOe
creek there is marsh about mile long
short distance above the point OF entrance
into the Bosher-Dam pond. Its power OF
influence upon the city water should have
been developed last fall and early in the
winter, but none was evlnCed. Our city
presented its usual healthy condition then.
Indeed, our city for fifty years and more
has derived its water supply from the same
source.
At this season OF the year the vegetable
growth in this marsh, even il il exists TO
the ertent represented. cannot exercise an
iniurims influence, as the plants are
healthy and growing, absorbing for their
nutriment much from the water which
might prove detrimental in large quanti-
ties: besides, the fish may consume some
OF these matters.
II has been estimated by some that water
n,Irities itself in a flow Of five miles. This,
in our opinion, is too short a distance; but
i'm our case we have tlow OF thirteen miles.
The city water has been subjected to the
most crucial examination. first by Dr. Will
liam II. Taylor, Il member OF TINS Board
and Professor OF Chemistry, whose thor-
ouch knowledge Of that science no one
will doubt. His examinations extended |
whole year. He made month !
ly analyses of if, taking it from the fore
bay at The old water works, and then from |
the hydrants in our wards. Hepronounced |
IL TO be very pure water, and far superior
10 the supply derived from the numerous
wells and springs Of the city, a large num-
her of which were examined by MN. A
subsequent examination made by the FRO
fessor OF Chemistry in one OF the coilegeS
al Lexington fully sustained him III his con-
clusi0ns. -. a.o,
DIR. TAYLOR is now subjecting this water
to another examination, and as soon Us L
Is completed the result will be suDmitteu
10 the public. We have no fears that this
will materially diller from lhe
Dne first made.
As an additional evidence OF the purity
of the reservoir water ! call attention 70
/. a.ytna M
he experiments OF scientific physician ol
Richmond who devoted mtich tine 10 tne
,,.on,irotian az that and the waters furnish