The Washington times., 1894-06-15
PHYSICIANS WARN CONGRESS
Proper Sewerage Mill Annually Save
the City Scores of Lives.
POLLUTION OF DRINKING WATER
Excessive Mortality from Typhoid Fever.
Health officers Declared Negligent-Wells
Affected by Percolations of fFilth-Dreaded
Bacilli in Milk-0ne Case in Ten Fatal.

The Medical Society of the District of Co
lumbia had hearing yesterday before the
District Committee on the question of proper
sewage for the city OF Washington. The rep
resentatives of the society who spoke yester-
day declared that they had no plan to propose
and we're not interested in any projects. They
simply wanted the matter OF sanitation thor
oughly considered.
The members of the society who addressed
the committee were DR.. Samuel G. Bussey,
DR.. Magruder, and DR.. W. W. johnson. In
his remarks Dr. Bussey called special atten-
ton at the outset to the excessive illness and
mortality in the District from typhoid fever
and other maarial diseases, which he classed
together. While other classes OF disease
have been on the decrease, this most danger
Gus malady was steadily increasing. There
must be some reason for it, and he thought
improper sewage was the chief cause.
There were. he continued, no instances OF
the finding Of typhoid bacilli in Potomac
water. but that was no proof that they might
not appear there at any time. Typhoid dis
eases resulted usually from the pollution OF
drinking water, and this occurred most ire
quenty in cities, because it was most difficult
to prevent the soil from becoming impregated
with all sorts of filth by percoiation, so that
water from wells was sure to be Affected.
He added that water with typhoid bacilli in
milk was another frequent cause OF the
dreaded disease.
At present. DR.. Bussey declared, about one
case in every ten in the District was fatal.
This large proportion was due TO bad sewage
or the lack of it. There were in this city an
excessive number of improperly cared Tor
priyies. and 10 that cause might be traced
large amount of the typhoid that prevails
here.
DR., Bussey then declared that the health
department was not doing its duty in this
respect, in answer to which remark Mr.. Rich
ardson, of the committee. said that it WAS be-
cause they had not had sufficient approprla-
ton. Dr. Bussey attributed the frequency oil
diarrhPal diseases and tuberculosis to the
bad condition OF drainage and the use OF
pumps in the city. He declared that every
case of typhoid in the Children's hospital last
year could be distinctly traced to the use OF
pump water OF the kind he alluded to. 10
purify water two things were necessary: FIRST,
sedimentation, and finally filtration. But 1t
was very rare that these means OF purifying
drinking water were employed.
Dr. Bussry closed his remarks by comment
ing on the statistics of death from typhoid II
the city as illustrated by series OF charts he
presented.
Mr. Bell. OF this city, interrupted DR.. Bussey
IN MS Statements long tuOuen " uloo thO
great danger to the city from the public one
of the bathing beach. claiming that is even
great source of illness, on account OF the now
of sewage therein, ard the necessary conta-
gion from absorption snd swallowing OF even
small quantities of tb foul water.
DR.. Magruder ey ,ained in detail some
charts suspended On the walls OF the COM
mttee room. with special reference to the
location OF the plague spots of the city and
the statistics OF disease in these neighbor-
hoods. He stated that there were 200 pumps
in the city, and commented with vigor on the
ebb and TOW OF sewage in the James creek
canal sewer.
DR.. Johnston then took up the question of
the proportion OF deaths from typhoid fever
in European cities that were unsewered In
proportion to those that were.
He maintained the death rate from this dis
ease could he reduced from three to four
times By the Introduction Of proper sewage.
He thought much OF the local typhoid fever
in Wasl ington could be prevented by the con-
struction OF proper sewer system.
In closing DIR. Johnston declared that there
were l.S00 cases Of typhoid in the District
every year. and that by proper system of
sewage $50 lives could be saved annually.
He stated that there was mass of fetid mat
ter from two to three feet deep in the sewers
at present extending back several thousand
ieet.
lhls closeu tue HearlnS' tue heAI ohe' on
Saturday at 10 O'Clock, will be reserved for
the opponents Of the issue of bonds for the
proposed sewers. number Of whom were
present at yesterdays hearing.
Among the other gentlemen present were
District Commissioners Ross Truesdell, and
Powell; T. L. Holbrook, W. H. West. John
ONeil. W. A. Richards, W. T. Walker. and
" C. Morrison. a committee from the Wash
ington Brick Exchange; W. c. Dodge. c. c.
Glover. John Joy Edison, B. II. Warner, and
P. F. 3. Sands.