Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-29
c Eaaa ST. PAU. R. r.
FAULTY ERRORS.

Centralia Enterprise announces with
authority that an epidemy'' ofmalarial
fever is upon us 1t is curious how,
even the father Of medicine can leave
himself open to an "epidemy' of
criticism. No doubt the stamp of
authority is impressed in his assertions
for il appears from the text matter that
he consulted the heads Of the boards
Of health of both cities. He has culed
in this remarkable sanitary essay the
hobby that has been footed here for al
ACE. He has announced a final verdict
that has been hoWled along this river
for twenty years. 1t belongs to the
hocus pocus idea that almost every
disease that Wood County has been
subject to was from bad water"
Bad water" has been the cause of
all the epidemy" of mumps that have
come and gone down. "Bad water he's
been the cause of 'epidemy'o measles,
Of itch, red eyes and odoriferous feet
bad water has been held responsible
for prevailing diptheria, compulsory
early marriages, lonesomeness and piles
directly and indirectly to the loss Of the
bridge and active vomiting among
young married people. Woe unto the
= bad water" that enters a town with
medically convicted editor Now after
having driven the nail of bad water"
through the door he tries to clinch it as
an indisputable fact" as the cause of
the present "epidemy' of malarial
fever. Three years ago, itappears after
consulting the health authority of
Grand Rapids, this same medical writer
announced that the terrible "epidemy"
Of dysentery was again caused by
dad water. Oh "bad water" how
many crimes are committed in Thy
name. Though bad water is with us
from January to January no thought of
accusation against it arises until some
unfortunate violater of health laws,
gets sick.
Dear brother Rossier the bliss of
ignorance is ecstatic where the folly Of
wisdom is insipid. But really there
are o&her causes for this ''epidemy"
Of malarial fever which unhappily has
escaped your far seeing eye. If you
will look this thing fair in the face
without consulting or getting into the
shadoWofabay window YOU viii find your
t'epidemy'' is caused not from "bad
water" but from the want of water, yes
from the absence of water to cover up
your 1.-TWO feet of detrItis." This two
feet of detritis or vegetable matter is
always here and in wet times the water
tricbles through it and is drank just the
same as in dry times. The fever RACES,
however, very wickedly in dry times,
and slightly wicked in very wet times.
But the bad water trickles through the
same. ground and into the same wells.
Then bad water cannot be responsible
for both different conditions. Again
where the wells are dug in the sand,
nlalarial fever prevails even on High
Street, your so called place of
immunity. Your system of pipes to
carry drinking water from the sand
hills would only bring clear drinking
water and clearness has little to do with
what it contains. That would not
prevent malarial fever. The ;ndisputa-
bic fact is, Rossier, you have learned
your knowledge from merely a
supposed hvgienic authority You have
become bewildered from the use OF
tsbad water and confused from the
close proximity of two feet of detritis .
The real cause of the present epidemic
Of malarial fever, was due to two
conditions: 1st long continued hot
weather. md, long continued dry
weather. The same conditions prevail
ed three years ago when a severe
epidemic of dysentery swept Over
Wood County.
The swamps of Centralia hav,
been drained and cultivated. Thi
alone induces malarial fever to arise
But we also had seven weeks of ho
dry weather with continuous high
range Of temperature. 1t has beer
demonstrated that temperature rang
inc about 65 degrees Farenheit o
higher for FIVE or more weeks vii
cause vide spread epidemics 0
nalarial and yellow fever IN thei