Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-07

In the recently published report of the ex-
animation of the water OF the city wells
by Grs. Theobald Smith and New sixteen
wells were reported as examined bacterio-
logically by DR.. Smith. and the Conclusions
reached were favorable to the general pur-
Ivy OF the well water. Five wells only were
found 10 contain fecal bacteria; the water
or four was in good condition and thar OF
seven In need of Improvement
Inc suggestion is made by DR. Smith that
the wells upon which a favorable report
Is mace should be retained. that others
should be improved and that bacterioloeicaI
examinations should be made at least once
year to determine the fitness or unfitness
OIL the water for drinking purposes. He, also
suggests that wells considered safe should
De so labeled. But is not the fact that
some wells at a particular date contain
fecal bacteria a sufficient reason for con-
demning the whole system?
As long as causes of soil pollution exist,
Is rot one well as liable, or nearly as liable
TO contamination as another? And the fact
that one well contains no bacteria another
few and another many is no proof that
all are not liable in different degrees to be-
come at some time infected. To be under
the necessity of labelling each particular
Wei as healthy or unhealthy, after annual
examination, Is an endless task and a most
unscientific procedure, for how many in
dividuals who wish to quench their thirst
will be influenced by the published state
ment impugning the reputation of a par
ticular well? Even If the individual knows
take the risk. AS santarians, we must
condemn the whole system, and advise an
early abandonment of all wells as the only
solution of the question. The advice con-
tanned in the report of the Sanitary League
we believe to be mischievous and to in
volve a continued menace to health.
1t should be remembered that the water
OF the sixteen wells reported upon by Dr.
Smith is of these which have been permitted
to stay, and that over sixty have within
the last five years been condemned and
filled up. DR.. Kinyoun finds sewage and
fecal bacteria In nine out of thirteen ex-
aminef. For how long a time will these
now reported upon as free from fecal bac-
terra remain so. with the continued pres
encc of typhoid fever among us? Shall we
wait for the infection to take place. shall
we re!noyc the possibility of the dissemina-
ton OF the disease in this way? These are
questions &c which We should give no I'M
certain answer.
The lesson of Vienna should teach us
what this answ er should be. From 1851 to
1874 well water of an impure character was
used to a large extent. During this time
the deaths from typhoid fever ranged from
10 to "a annually in every 10000 of the
population. In 1874 spring water of great
purity was introduced, and the well water
of impure wells was given up. The annual
mortality rate Immediately feh to so, and in
three subsequent years to Ii A good
sewerage system was in existence long be-
fore this, but it had no effect in reducing
the mortality.
One fact to which separate attention
should be drawn is that many of our cases
of typhoid fever are imported from without.
At the end of the summer ii is a frequent
occurrence for the disease to develop in in
dividu3ls who have just returned from sea-
shore and other resorts, and much larger
number of our inhabitants go out of town
now than formerly. This is one means by
which our mortality is increased, and fresh
infection is added to that already existing.
Infection Through MIX.
The dissemination of typhoid fever by the
milk supply in the District has not been in
vestigated fully enough to warrant any ex-
tended remarks or conclusions. 1t would be
well to make this a separate matter of
study. 1t is safe to assume from the eX
perience of many observers elsewhere that
typhoid fever is to certain extent propa-
ga ted by milk; there is nothing in the con-
dition OF the diaries from which our supply
IS drawn to make us think that we are bet
ter protected from this danger than other
communities where epidemics have been
traced to milk infection.
There are sixty-five distinct places In the
District where cows are kept and from
which milk is supplied.
Conclusions.
1t has been shown that in Washington
there is a coincidence between soil pol
;uted with the leakage of the excreta from
typhoid fever patients. the drinking Of in
fected we'll water and an extensive distribu-
ton OF typhoid fever; that where these two
first conditions exist to the greatest degree
typhoid fever is most prevalent. II re-
mains to be seen whether the purifica ton of
the soil. and the abolition of the water
supply from pumps, would lessen the dis
ease
The belief that typhoid fever-spreads by
"soil contamination" would be much
strengthened If other cities with the same
conditions have diminished the nerceu n 90
of the disease by draining the soil and
abandoning the use of well water.
/. Typhoid fever increases in proportion
to the saturation of the soil with decom-
posing organic matter, especially human
eXcreta.
2. Typhoid fever decreases in proportion
as a city is well severed.