The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-08-05
Local Conditions which Breed
Disease

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That there are upsanitary local
conditions existing in town is gener-
ally admitted
There is no other explanation of
the prevalence of the numerous cases
Of fever that have occurred in the
past few weeks.
As to the real cause there is O.
difference of opinion, but no one is
very confident in his opinion what
ever it may be. 1t is quite certain
that the cause is not to be found in
our water supply; chemical tests and
other facts refute any theory of that
kind.
But the most plausible explana-
tior, and the only one that remains
uncontradicted, is to be found in the
defective drainage.
When our population abandoned
the use of well water and resorted
to the mountain water supplied by
the water works we had no case OF
typhoid fever for two or three y cas-
of a local origin. Before that time
there was an annual recurrence of
the disease, which was unquestion-
ably attributable to the impurity of
the wells.
But while the mountain water
gave US relief from disease, it has
now become, indirectly and inexcus-
ably the cause of unhealthy condi-
tions. Where one gallon Of water
was used when we depended on wells
there are now ten gallons of noun
tain water used. Nevertheless there
has been but little improvement in
the facilities for drainage. Stops
are poured into back yards in I'M
limited quantities. 1t stands in
stagnant pools in the soft drains.
The ground has become thoroughly
saturated with unhealthy fluids
which evaporate under the midsum-
mer sun and vitiate the atmosphere.
The population of Morgantown is
becoming too dense to admit of such
carelessness in regard to drainage
without paying the penalty. When
the ground is thus saturated with
fermenting fluids we might as well
live over Western bog. The air
is bound to become impregnated
with disease breeding germs, and
to breathe the air is to breathe dis
ease.
The New DOMINION forewarned
the authorities of this result when
the water works were established
The necessity of a better surface
drainage has been repeatedly urged
in these columns. Without it the
conditions will be worse next year
than this. Every year it is postpon-
ed will, of course, make the condi
tions more unsanatary and fatal in
their results.
There ought to be an ordinance
forbidding anyone from throwing
kitchen Stops on the ground, and
there ought to be tile drains from
every residence and paved drains on
every street to carry off the fluids
before they are absorbed and be-
come foul.
We would like to see good sys-
TEN of sewerage, but sewers are not
absolutely essential to health; sur
face drainage is. Sewers would not
do away with the necessity of sur
face drains. We can never have a
good sanitary condition until we dc
have paved surface drains in every
part of the town. Sewerage is in
the nature of luxury; surface drain
age is necessity. There are large
cities in this country which have nc
sewerage, but depend ON surface
drainage. Where water is plenty
there is no trouble in keeping sur.
face drains pure and healthy.
But an unpaved drain is a prolific
source of disease, and there is nc
town of this size so poor that it can
justify or ought to tolerate them.