Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-07
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The large chart adopted from the val
liable report of Erwin F. Smith. now of the
Agricultural Department, on 1.-THE Influence
of Sewerage and Water Supply on the
Death Rate in Cities" shows the compare
tive mortality in different cities Of this
country and Europe We will have occa-
sion TO refer to this chart later.
Causes of the Prevalence of Typhoid
Fever.
What interests US most Is to trace the
cause of the disease as it exists here. and
in so doing it is assumed in this report
that the question of its etioloey is definitely
settled. and that the conditions underlying
its prevalence are % an impure water
supply, (2) the imperfect drainage of a
polluted SOIL 90 infected milk, a. and other
causes.
/. The water supply of our city and the
District comes chiefly from two sources
the Potomac river and the wells which are
scattered about the city and country.
BY reference to the tabulated list Of
cities liable - 1t will be seen that Wash
trSton, out of fifty of the largest cities
stands second in the list, with a per capita
ard per diem supply Of III gallons. Only
Buffalo, with 1876 gallons, is better supplied
while Philadelphia has III gallons, Balti-
more ~. Boston 50. and New York "a
Much of our public water supply is used
In government buildings and in public
1t is not possible to compare the extent OF
typhoid fever In cities with abundant water
supply with those which have an imperfect
supply. or none at all, for cities well sup
pIed with water are at the same time fur
nished with good sewerage system, and 1t
Is not possible in most cities to separate
these conditions as to discover the infiu-
ence of water supply alone.
The example of Dantzic. however shows
that an abundant water supply alone does
not diminish the death rate This city was
supplied with water in 1869, and severed in
1872. No marked dmihution In the death
rate of typhoid fever occurred until after
the Introduction of the sewers Washington
with daily individual supply of III gallons,
mas an average annual mortality of 81
while New York. with "A gallons per capita
has 81 deaths yearly to 10000 popuiat ton
Abundance of water alone. as might well
be supposed, does not limit the spread of
typhoid fever.
There is evidence enough to show that the
public water supply may be contaminated
with typhoid bacilli, and thus propagate the
disease. The epidemic at Providence r. L.
In November. 1888. which was traced to the
pollution of the water of the river with
a quarter miles above the pumping station
is a case in point. The bacllli were found by
Pruden and Ernst, In the filters of the Prov
idenee houses. 1t Is an admitted fact that
the disease has often been originated In this
way, but it is question as to what value
this mode of infection has as COMPARED
with others. Does the typhoid fever which
Is the chief endemic fever of Washington.
owe its continued existence TO recurring or
continued infection from this source? Would
We eliminate the disease by purifying the
Potomac supply and destroying all its or
ganic life?
Won Pettenkofer and other authorities do
not believe In this as a usual mode of in
lection; II Is a popular belief easily laid
hold of, easily understood, but difficult to
prove.
The potomoc ,,,tar -. 49,, ,.
very ca ful analyses, and, ''in general. the
water ma be said to be in excellent condi-
ton and to compare extremely fayorably
with that Of other cities. Its
chief defect is the presence of suspended
clay In the winter" and after heavy rains
In any season.
The value of the so-called bioIogicaI anal
gses of drinking water is, as Theobald
smith says Medical News PHILADELPHIA
Apri, Q, 1850, still very unsettled. As the
result of one years observation made by
MIN, relation was found between turbidity
and the presence of bacteria. Bacteria were
most abundant in winter, January and Feb
ruary having the highest average: August
September and October, the months of the
greatest prevalence of typhoid fever, having
the lowest. bacteria, most of which y ere
harmless. were NEST abundant after heavy
rains, and their presence in association with
turbidity proved the then source from the
washing of the surface of the soil.
In the latest meteorological report on
this statement, and says that focal bacteria
and turbidity were coincident-that is that
rainfall carries into the Potomac whatever
may happen to be on the surface of the
soil. clay. manure from the fields Inorganic
or organic matter of any sort. The nature
of the country through which the Potomac
flows. much of ii being mountainous as we'll
as the absence of large cities on its banks
diminish the risks of infection. As the
country comss more and more under cult
walton. turbidity and impurity from the
washing of plowed and manure-covered
land will be more common The possibility
or the introduction into the watef of the
nicro-organism of typhoid fever is de-
pendent upon It's presence in localities wash
ed by the Potomac and its tributa ries The
question, after all. is not whether typhoid
iever can be propagated in this way.
Dut whether, as a matter of fact II
Is propagated in this way. Before this
question can be determined other prob
able sources of origin must be con-
sidered.
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