Arizona republican., 1895-08-08
Typhoid and Other Fe-
 Vers Epidemic.
Poor Sanitation the Cause of
 So Much Sickness.
There Is No Occasion for Alarm but the Council Should Take
 Active Measures.

It may not be generally known, but nevertheless it is a truth beyond dis pute, that this city is in great danger from an epidemic of sickness. As it now is, there are @ great many caees of typhoid and other levers in the city and nearly every physician in town has from two to four cases on hand.
 In order to learn the cause of so much sickness THE REPUBLICAN scribe yesterday interviewed Dr. Purman on the subject.
 "There can be no denial in the fact" said the doctor. "but that an epidemic of sickness is near at hand unless some- thing is done immediately toward putting the city in 8 better sanitary condition. July is usually the healthiest month of the year, but the month just past is sad exception to the rule, for there has been more sick ness during the month than the sickliest part of the year, and the death rate has been greater"
 "The sanitary condition of the city," continued the doctor, ''is awful, and if something is not done immediately this city. instead of being sanitarium, will become hot bed of disease. Of course there ie no occasion for alarm at the present, but, if allowed to continue, a very great many people in town will be prostrated with illness"
 The physician furthermore said that if the wells in the center and low lying portions of the city were analysed the water would be found to contain impurities because of the poor system of drainage of the cesspools. The I water and garhaea-stands on the ground and under the hot sun shortly becomes tainted, and when it sinks into the earth the wells become polluted. In the northern part of the city it is not so bad, as the ground is higher. The alleys and side streets also are breeders of disease, for the refuse and filth that will naturally con gregate is sure to pollute the atmos- phere especially during the heated season when putrefact!on sets in quick. He is of the opinion that health officer should be appointed who could devote hls entire time in examining the streets and buildings for poor sanitation. He I is opposed to health officer being physician on the grounds that phy- sician cannot properly devote his entire time to the matter on account of his practice.
 f It is not necessary for health officer to be physician but any honest, in- telligent man will make good sanitary official. The amount now paid by the city per month for health officer is wholly insufficient for on that paltry sum the official can not devote his time towards looking after the sanitary con- dition of the city. The money now paid out for that purpose is practically thrown away. This matter is no re. hection on the ability of the present health officer but he is physician and can not properly devote the time
 to matters of sanitation.
 A person should be appointed whose sole duty shall be to look after the health of the city. Of course the salary should be commensuaate with the work entailed but if $15 or $20 8 month was added to the amount now paid it would be sufficient to secure a man whose duties should be to rigidly examine every house, street and alley way within the limits of the city.
 The council should also construct a complete sewer system and until that is done the health of the city is in dane CT. This is not matter for delay or procrastination and the council should at once take matters in hand to make this city what is supposed to be :: health resort.