The Democratic advocate., 1891-03-21
VOL. XXVI.-NO. 20.

other methods of introducing the poison
into the system are possible, it most gen
orally gains entrance through the medium
Of an infected water supply-usually the
use of well water polluted by fecal matter.
This may be direct from such water, or in
direct, by using milk or other articles of
food or drink from cans or vessels washed
in it, Ice, from an infected source, is also
dangerous, since it has been proved that
freezing does not destroy the infective
principle
While water from all sources of supply
is liable TO contamination, well water is es-
pecially so, whether located in city, town,
or summer watering place, or country
Thus out of 3l4 eases occurring in Louis
vile in 1884, 29S of the persons used well
water habitually, and some of the other 16
did so occasionally In the now famous
epidemic at Plymouth, Pa, involving the
sickness of ,l0i persons, the death of II,
and an actual outlay in money, of S67,-
100.l7, the outbreak was traced to the
use of water polluted by the fecal discharge
of one imported case of the disease Facts
no less convincing might be multiplied in
definitely if space permitted. In a smaller
way they are common in the experience of
physicians in active practice.
Usually the wells are sunk near the
kitchen, and in dangerous proximity to the
privy and other sources of contamination.
The well draws its supply from an inverted
cone, having its apex at the bottom of the
well and its base at the surface of the
ground. In dry seasons this base is often
extended until the well becomes a recepta-
Gle for the more or less perfectly filtered
filth from all the sources found in the aver
age back yard, and the water, often spark
ling in its apparent purity, becomes a eul-
ture fluid for any disease germs finding
their way into it.
Two methods of prevention, having the
same general object in view, are to be re-
commended. The first involves the thor
ough disinfectiOn of all discharges from the
bowels of typhoid fever patients. This is
best done by the use of a solution of chlor-
ide of lime, Sounces to the gallon of water,
using a quart of this solution for each dis
charge, and allowing it to stand in the YES
sci at least an hour before emptying A
solution of corrosive sublimate, = drachms
/ to the gallon of water, will answer the same
purpose, hut requires to remain longer in
contact with the material to be disinfected.
Bed and body linen soiled by such patients
should be disinlected by the use of the
same solution or by boiling,
The second method relates 10 avoiding
the use Of suspicious water, and especially
well water, and where this cannot be done,
/ to boil such water before it is used for
drinking purposes. In the absence of a
pure and well guarded public water supply,
properly stored cistern wafer is probably
open to least objection.
The eifeetual practice of these methods
will require intelligent care and some ex-
pense, bat it is confidently believed that
their general adoption would result in the
practical disappearance of disease which
is not only disgrace to our civilization,
but au annual scourge and Tax upon the
people of Kentucky, in comparison with
which yellow fever and cholera sink into
insignificance