The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-11-10

uldtttT tnc RrOuuu water WHICH lS lut water
supply of large proportion of the citizens
of Owosso, such washings are liable at an,
time by the rinsing of vessels, the washing>
of soiled clothing, ETC., to contain germs OF
such dangerous disease as typhoid fever,
and thus to endanger some of those who
drink water from wells. The bottom of at
least one land l think two) of these cess
pools which l saw in Owosso was In the
same water-bearing stratum of gravel from
which users of neighboring wells dew their
supply for drinking purposes.
Since the first of August there have been
reported in Owosso fifteen cases of typhoid
fever and one death. This is a disease gen.
orally due to contaminated drinking water
and it should be entirely prevented. Be
sides the unnecessary death, there are here
through this preyentable disease great
money losses to many households by reason
of the loss of time of the sick person and of
at least one attendant for each sick person,
not be able to trace the source of these cases,
but from what is known of the disease it is
safe to assume that the most of them were
caused by contaminated drinking water;
and. unless something is done to prevent
this disease will continue to occur here each
autumn. What that something is which
should be done in OwOssO. l will more
specifically advise upon further on in this
report. 1t is first important to learn the
probable causes.
While 1t is true that cesspools (which
carry into the sources of drinking water,
waste water liable at any time to be in
fected) should not be permitted to be con-
structed it should not be forgotten that
every privy vault which is not water tight
may involve danger even greater than
such cesspool because although the con-
tents of the privy vault may filter through a
Ii tie more sand or gravel before it reaches
the water supply, its bottom is below the
microscopic and other plant life which on or
near the surface of the ground might do
much 10 oXdize the harmful germs of
disease.
1t must he admitted that those cesspools
into which not only the waste water but the
excreta from water closets is poured, espec.
ally endanger the infection of the ground
water supplies for drinking purposes; be-
cause the current of water is then mut h
greater than through the ordinary privy
vault. Still, l think the greatest dangers
to the greatest number of citizens are the
privy vaults, which are nearest to those
people who live in those parts of the city
where the city water does not go, and where
ctsspools are therefore not so common.
Wherever the city water goes it is neces-
Sary to dispose of the water after it has been
USED. 1t will hardly do to put it on the
surface because there is more than can be
thus well disposed of. Therefore as the
cesspOOl method is dangerous, it seems
imperative that the city should furnish
sewers wherever ii supplies water. That is
the rule every where--the two systems must
advance together. | advise that the Board
of Health at once place before the council.
the imperative necessity for beginning the
construction of sewers, and for continuing
the work until the main part of Inc city has
good general water supply, and sewers
cOeXtensve with the water pipes. This
would dispose of the cesspOol question:; and
of the dangers from the prvy-system so far
as the water pipes and sewers extend. But
it must probably be long time before these
systems will be completed throughout,
meantime there should be systematic effort
to protect the users of well water from the
dangers of typhoid fever. Except for some
unusually large establishments such as a
hotel, school, ETC., tie greatest dangers to
water drinkers are from the privies nearest
the well from which the water is drawn.
AS rule the very nearest prlvy is the one
on the we'll owners own lot. Throughout
the city the privy vaults should be abolished.
Wherever the water and sewer pipes reach,
water closets should he used, connected
with the sewer. Where the pipes do not
reach. the dry earth system of disposal
should be adopted. If adopted there should
be sanitary inspector or scavenger con-
stantly on duty, to regularly visit the closets,
and to supply, If need be, the dry earth or
coal ashes, and remove the contents of the
closets to safe distance without the city.
1t should be understood that the dry-earth
system soon degenerates into nuisance
If not attended to, therefore its supervision
is essential. If the city does not decide to
abolish all privy vaults, 1t should certainly
forbid the construction of any new ones.
The same remarks apply to cesspOOls. And
such orders should be enforced, an inspector
being detailed for that purpose.
1t has been objected that such sanitary
work as l have outlined is expensive. l
grant that at first sight 1t seems so; but l
believe 1t Is not so expensive as trying to
live without such sanitary improvements.
= lie IN hox nr
twenty families suffering through run of
typhoid fever, as has been your experience
this year. The loss of few able-bOdicd
citizens, even II they are valued at no high
er rate than an ordinary slave sold for few
years ago. reaches up into the thousands of
dollars. believe that these sanitary i'm
provements simply divert the payments of
money into Other channels, that, without
those Improvements, in very few years
nearly or quite an equal amount In value
would be buried IN the graveyard.