Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-10-30
THE SEWAGE,
What the Physicians Think of Its
Utilization.

THE SEWAGE,
What the Physicians Think of Its
Utilization.
The Sewer Commission met yesterday
at IL O'Clock to listen to the testimony
of physicians in regard to the effects of
sewage. There were no physicians pres
emit at this time, and at half-past II
O'Clock q recess was taken until l
O'Clock, when the commission recon-
vened with Chairman Wells presiding,
and Messrs. B. Cohn, j. r. Toberman,
VIM. Ferguson, DR.. Widney, J. E. Jack.
son, G. w. Knox, E. W. Jones, L. N.
Breed, E. W. Hamilton, Councilman
Hamilton and Dr. Sinsabaugh present.
DIR. Widney was invited to address the
commission. He said that there were
twenty cases of fever at the Orphans
Asylum. If hasty judgment were
given it might be said it was be-.
cause there was no sewage. But
there is connection with the
sewage, and it might he said
that the sickness was caused by this
fact. He had noticed from the testimony
at the last meeting that sickness had
been reported, but there was sickness in
other parts of the city. Ibis testimony
was only valuable when compared with
statistics Of other districts. which should
be obtained. The doctor said that he
was not fully prepared to give decisive
opinion upon the use of sewage, although
he had given the matter great deal of
study. If an opinion of worth we're de-
sired: then it would be necessary to 60
across the ocean, where the question had
been discussed for years. As bearing
upon the question, he read an article
from the Encyclopedia BRITANNICA, latest
edition. He drew particular attention to
the statement that clears that the farms
in the sewer district and the vegetables
raised upon them would prove un-
wholesome have proved groundless. He
said that at the present time a large
part of the sewage of Paris is being used
for the raising of vegetables, and favor
able reports had been published regard
ing the same, but he was unable to re-
fer to the same. He also read from a
special work on sewage. The conclusion
reached by this work was that sewage
farms would not produce typhoid fever
or dysentery or any other sickness of the
kind. The DOCTORS own conclusion de-
rived from much study was that, prop
erly handled, the sewage was not detri-
ment to the community. If the sewage
was carried upon the Centinela ranch, he
did not see how there could be any OBJ
jections. In answer to questions, he
said no man could positively say that
fever could be connected with the use of
sewage. This could be inferred, but it
could not be positively known. In re-
gard to malaria, if it could be shown that
there had been no malaria in the district
prior to the use of the sewage,
and that it had been prevalent
since then, it could be inferred that The
malaria had been caused by the sewage.
In selecting a residence for himself he
would not take site on the low land
near the river, which was lined with
brush that broke the wind. He thought
it very likely that the water of surface
wells would be affected in time in the
sewage district. If he had we'll he
would not allow the sewage to be dis.
tributed within 200 feet. There are pre-
cautions which should be taken in using
sewage as well as in using anything else.
He thought that all wells should be sunk
from eighty to hundred feet, and be
lined with an iron pipe. He did not
think that strawberries or lettuce raised
where sewage had been distributed on
them should be allowed to be sold in the
market, but where properly used there
could be no i'll effects on root vegetables.
He thought that time was coming
when no civilized nation would allow it's
sewage to be thrown away. The doctor
| replied to number of questions asked
by the members of the commission in
about the same tenor as the above.
DR.. Dougherty, who resided in Vernon
from 1885 TO 1888, said that when he first
went there he had been affected by the
sewage and in his opinion the many
cases of typhoid fever, malaria and diph-
liberia which he attended there were
caused by the distribution of the sewage.
One family Of five were taken down
there with typhoid fever from the effects
of the sewage. They were new corners,
and he advised them to move away.
There had been number of other cases
throughout the locality. He did not
agree with DR.. Widney in his statement
that the microbes would be taken out
Of the sewage by the sand and soil.
In the course of his study he bad found
that it required either severe heat or cold
to destroy the microbes, and this climate
furnished neither. In fact this climate
in bis opinion was just right to continue
their life. He had formed bis opinion
through his study of the subject and
medical works which treated of typhoid
fever and other diseases. In all cases
he thought the distribution of sewage
detrimental to the health of the people
residing near the farm.
DR.. H. 8. Orme, who was observed
to be present, was invited to come for
ward and give his views on the subject.
He had with him a number of papers
on the subject giving the results Of the