The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-04
LAKE UNION WATER.
DIR. Sparkling Gives the Result of
an Analysis.
MEETING OF HEALTH BOARD.
Sanitary and Mortality Returns for the
Month of october-Typhoid Fever
Due to Bad Sewerage.

The board of health held its regular monthly
meeting yesterday afternoon, President DR.. J.
Shannon, Or. F. A. Churchill, Dr.. +. A Noble
aud Health officer Sparkling being present.
The most i'm p0rtaut business transacted was In
relation 10 Lake Union water. Health Ohlcer
Sparkling, in bis report, gave chemical analysis
OF the water il is taken from the water mains.
and following this came motion from DR.
Noble 10 the effect that petition be presented
to the council asking them to discontinue use
Of the Lake Union water and. instead, supply
the section by pumping from Lake Washington.
Health officer Sparling's report showed that
the past month had been remarkably free from
epidemic, and that contagious diseases which
affect children have not been unusually preYa-
lent.
The mortality statistics for the month present
very favorable showing. The total number OF
deaths amounted to -, showing decrease
under the same month last year OF l.. he
death rate is 9 per 1000. Typhoid fever
caused 10 of these deaths. The Seventh ward
again comes prominently To the front, furnish
ing Il, or more than third OF the total num-
Der of deaths.
The deaths were caused by the following dis
eases: Accident, A; cancer, j: commissions, /;
enteritis, /; heart disease, d; meningitis, 3;
phthisis, 3; pneumonia, 2; chronic nephritis, 1;
typhoid fever, 10; perlcardliis, !; paralysis q;
apoplexy, l; interstitIai hepatltls /; Inanlton,
>; senile gangrene, !; marasmus, ,; congenitaI
syphilis, /; hepatic cirrhosis /; cerebral throIn-
bosis l,
During the month an outbreak Of typhoid fe-
yer occurred. 1t assumed a type which proved
almost contagious, being capable OF direct com
municatlou from one person TO another,
through a proper medium. such water or
milk. 1t is evidently caused by germ pecu-
liar To this fever. This germ usually finds it
way into wells, springs and lakes, (which
are used as water supply, or, into milk,
through the washing of pans with contaminated
water, and n this way Is swallowed, ana pro
luces typhoid lever by rapidly multiply yin : in the
alifuputarV Il aec Il.
and through its peculiar irritation to the mites
tines produces ptonains, which are absorbed,
and produce the symptoms OF the disease.
AS regards the seventh ward and the vicinity
OF the Madison street power house / think the
drainage and water supply are the cause OF the
outbreak. Nothing is better known than that
typhoid fever breeds through contamination OF
water supplied to cities and towns. If medi-
cal science has established one point
with certainty 1t Is that sewage, no no
taken by human beings with impunity. That
much OF the typhoid fever now existing in this
city can be attributed to impure drinking water
is an accepted fact. The section OF this city
supplied with Lake Union water IL the locality
in which it is most vrulent This fever being
communicated through contaminated water,
the principal precaution Is to protect the water
supply. Where there is 40 general
water supply much may be done by
using dry earth in prlyies and by
frequent removal of their contents. Great care
should be taken to prevent the contemplation
of the water supply by discharges from the
bowels OF patients suffering with this fever.
For the prevention of this disease, first the
priyy vault should be abolished and the earth
closet take its place. Sever gas should not be
allowed to enter the house through defective
pipes.
The important question for on considera-
ton is the present condition of our water sup
ply. have made a chemical analysis OF the
Lake Union water, taken from the main nearest
the water-works, aud here give you the result.
The result is expressed in grains per gal on and
gives abundance of proof that Lake MON is
badly polluted with sewage:
Appearance ..............--....So Somewhat turbid
Color. Yellow
Odor. Sewage
Chloride grains per gal) Observation-Disclosures. 500
Phosphates ...-.........-............ Trace
Nltrates --. ---.-----------.-- None
Free ammonia NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .U52f
Albumiuoid ammonia. Observation-Disclosures. 1892
Total solids GRAINS per gal y. u
The excess Of chloride and free and albumin
old ammonia is evidently caused by sewage.
This board has done ali in its power To pre-
vent people running their sewage into Lake
Union, but until that district is properly
severed, II will be difficult TO prevent people
running their sewage into il. This ali tends to
show that the eventual supply oil water must
come from Cedar river
Inspections have been made up and down
the Seventh ward and ii is found that their only
sewers are three immense bitches, carrying the
sewage of 10000 people into Lake Union. This
board has tried to remedy the evil somewhat by
compelling everybody in the district 10 put in
dry earth closets, but little can be done until
the council passes the ordinance recommended
by the board of health
Some idea OF the quantity of filth discharged
into Lake Union can be estimated ii we take the
adult population of the Seventh ward TO be
1900. The quantity of excrement by weight Tor
each adult person has been estimated TO be be-
tween three quarters and one pound per day.
And by applying this measure to the population
we find that there is average of 800 pounds
not require chemical examination to determi ne
the character OF such water.
The following table shows the nuisances re-
ported and abated during the month: No sewer
connection, ~; bad drainage, Il; garbage on
premises, o. filthy alleys, 3; filthy vaults, so.
Total %.
Number of inspections made. a; number of re-
inspections made, 81; complaints without cause,
6; nuisances abated, 81; nuisances in course Of
abatement L.
The total number of complaints recorded was
sixty-nine, after service OF notice ffty-two were
abated. The number OF official visits made by
the inspector was lis. As is usually the case, the
greatest number OF nuisaaces were connected
with foul. full. leaking or badly drained
priyies. There has been gradual falling off
in the number of these nuisances for the
reason that no vaults now permitted to be
constructed, and old vaults are gradually being
abandoned. Priyy vaults are uuisauces of the
worst sort. not only do they contaminate the
air in their vicinity, but by draining into the
soil p0llute the foundations of houses. Where
sewers are accessible no vault is allowed 10 be
constructed
The following births were reported during
the month: Males, - females, 70.
Iuterments. Lake View, 80; Mount Pleasant,
IL; Calvary. 4; Greenwood, /; shipping permits,
8. Total, 81.
The following permits issued and inspections
made show the amount OF work performed by
this department: Inspections made, ~; GER
tidcates issued, 80. amount OF work accepted
-; amount OF WORK rejected, ,
The following bills were approved, and the
board adjourned:
Koch & Oakley observation-disclosures. Is =
Journey CAP tO...-.-. o.. ----.-...-. nj
hnnh a A.kLnr & NJ