The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-08-08
IMPURE WATER.
a Lending Agency for the
Spread Of Disease.

Chicago Tribune.
Among all the preVentives whiel
have been suggested, the history oI
the disease shows that cleanliness i:
the most effective, as it is the cheap
est, but for dirty people the hardest
to apply. While cleanliness should
be practiced in every way, both per,
sonal and in connection with dwelling
houses and their neighborhoods, clean
illness in water is unquestonably the
most effective form of applying the
remedy, because the cholera microbes
breed most rapidly 10 impure water
during hot weather, and are more
easily conveyed by it from point to
point than by the air or by clothing.
Professor Baird of the Smithsonian
institution has called attention to this
agency for the spread of disease in a
manner which deserves attention. He
says in a letter to the Washington
Star that during the Centennial he
was stationed near the building for
six months, and, although cases of
diarrhea were prevalent all about him,
he found that the use Of boiled water
was an absolute preventive, and that
while they had several cases of illness
of this class before they began to use
it they had none afterwards. He
says:
The fsIy taste of the Potomac
water at the present time, due to the
solution in it of deeomposed Vegeta-
ton, or of fresh-water sponges, can
also be in a great measure removed by
the same process have usually
enough water boiled in the morning
to last through the day. This is
placed in a large water-cooler without
ice, and drawn from when required to
fill iee-pitchers, etc. The water should
boil actively for half an hour in order
to kill the germs of disease. Of course
this is only effective in cases of or
ganic impurities, as mineral poisons
would not be destroyed thereby.
In the history of cholera, as of al
most all other contagious and cpl
demic diseases. 1t is found that they
are constantly present in low, swampy
districts where the water is staguant
and gives out offensive exhalations.
The home of cholera in India and
other Asiatie countries, is located in |
of this kind. Wherever |
swamps and stagnant pools abound |
there is disease in various forms. The |
same rule holds true in every country |
where the water is impure or has been
fouled in any manner.
Plymouth, Pa, which has suffered
70 terribly this year from typhoid
ever, Is in a mountainous and natuF-
ll'y healthy country, and its ordinary
,anitary conditions were no worse than
hose of neighboring towns where
here has been no disease at all. The
,ause of the epidemic there was a spe-
,ifc one and was easily traced to i'm
,ure water A little mountain stream
,ecame poisoned by the dejecta Of
me or two typhoid fever patients,
md, as it flowed into the reservoir
which supplies the town, spread the
,erms of disease broadcast.
In New York city recently the filthy
wamp of the COLLECT Pond" under
ying the Tombs prison, was partially
uncovered during some repairs, result
ng in the death of one of the prison
'fficials and in the annoyance of the
Whole neighborhood. BY purifying
uch spots as these and by boiling the
Ratcr which is used for drinking pur-
'oses one of the principal causes of
iseasc and Of the spread of disease
sill be removed and by the addi-
ional precautions Of personal cleauli-
ess, clean house and premises, the
destruction Of kitchen refuse by burn.
ug, and the use of clean, wholesome,
resh food, there is no reason why any
ne need fear the cholera, even If It
hould reach the city