Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-26
THE CITY'S.' HEALTH
y5II
Measures Advocatedo by the Board
of Trade.
WHAr TYPHOID FEVER INDICATES
Need for Improving the Sewers
and Water"systems.
EASTERN BRANCH FLA.

The direct connection between typhoid
FEVER and all impure water supply as effect
ana cause was graphically shown at q
meeting OF the board Of trade last evening
IN the hall Of the Builders Exchange.
Inc prevention Of disease, as well as the
improvement Of public health by q suffi-
Gent water and sewer system, was also
discussed by the able speakers who were
invited to be present. The president Of
the board, Mr.. 8. W.. Woodward, called
the meeting to order and then turned 1t
over 10 Dr. 3. c. Busey, the chairman Of
the committee on public health. The other
members OF this important committee are
as follows: Mr.. Thomas P. Woodward,
Dr. w. w. Johnston. DR.. G. Lloyd Ma
gruder, Mr.. w. s. Thompson. Mr.. s. S.
shedd. DR.. H. L. E. johnson and Dr. w.
r. Z. Hazen. DR.. Busey, who, as is well
known. has taken great deal of interest
m this subject, had prepared a number
OF OF oagrams. which graphically portrayed
the conditions existing in this city as re-
vealed by careful Investigation. The fig
ures and other Information were not only
shown on the diagrams, but some were
projected Ia:Ie TED. by lantern on the screen, and
were used by DIR. Busey to illustrate the
elaborate and valuable address which
opened the discussion of the evening.
The Resolutions.
Inc assistant secretary, Mr.. Gurley, read
the following preambles and resolutions,
Which. before the close of the meeting were
adopted:
whereas the city of Washington. being
the capital Of the United States, should
be placed and kept In the best sanitary
condition: and
whereas such condition can only be Sc
cured by having every habitation or hab-
itaDie mouse connected with an ample sup
ply OF pure drinking water, and with q
system or foul water and sewage disposal
winch Will promptly remove such fluids
beyond the city limits in such a manner
Therefore
BE it resolved, first, that the general
system OF water supply from the Potomac
river should be extended so as to be avail
ap!e Tor the supply Of every hab;table
building now in the city, or which NAV be
erected within the city limits, and that this
provision should be extended as far as pos
Districts.
Second. That the general water supply
should be purified by sedimentation and fiji
tration the first being necessary at certain
tunes ana the second at all times) before it
Is admitted to the mains,
Third. That the system of sewerage
winch has been adopted should be extended
pari passu with the system of general
water supply until every habitable house
can be readily connected with 1t.
Fourth. With the completion and puri-
hcation of the conduit system of water SUP
ply all springs, pumps and wells should Q
closed by such means and methods as will
prove so effective that no human being can
obtain drinking water from either Of these
sources.
Fifth. AS rapidly as possible, pari passu
with the extension Of the conduit system
for ov,1
the owners Of every habitable and inhaDit-
ed house should be compelled to make sat
lsfactory connections with such systems of
water supply and sewerage and all privy
boxes, cesspools and other methods of dis
posal of human excreta be effectively
abolished
Sixth. Without adequate supply of pure
water for all domestic purposes and sewer
connections Of habitable and Inhabited
houses, pollution of soil, foods and drinks
and the diseases due to such pollution can
not be prevented.
And whereas the enormous and con-
stantly increasing area Of marsh along the
eastern border Of the city is constant
menace to the health Of the residents Of
the eastern section Of the city, and espe-
cially SO to the inmates of the almshouse
and hospital, st. Elizabeth's Asylum, aid
army and naval forces, officials and en-
ployes at the Marine barracks and navy
yard: Therefore.
BE it resolved. That the reclamation of
these marshes is imperatively demanded
and should be accomplished without UNI
necessary delay"
The Meaning of Typhoid Fever.
DR.. Busey spoke Of the interest manifested
In typhoid fever, because it illustrated best
the evils which should be corrected. This
disease, as is we'll known, u.s. he said, due to
the bacilli in water and milk He spoke of
the fallacious notion that typhoid fever was
the result of some other fever. If there is
a case of typhoid fever, he said, it was that
from the first. He spoke of the investiga-
ton in 1893 made by the Medical Society, on
the subject Of the prevalence Of this fever
with the result that the actual facts were
found to be worse than represented In 1895
DR.. Kober made an investigation, which was
followed by another one by the Medical So
ciety, so that there have been three in
vestigations, all leading to the same con-
clusion-that the fever was on the increase
and was due to polluted water supply. and
lack of sewer facilities, and the inadeauacy
of sewerage disposal, and the absence Of
house connection with sewers and the water
supply. He called attention to diagrams
showing the conditions in cities with and
without sewers, the former presenting favor
able conditions, especially where there was
fair or good water supply, and the latter
exhibiting high death rate in proportion
to the improvement of the sewer conditions
One of the tables was as follows: Mortality
in cities from typhoid fever in months Of
July, August, September and October. 1888
with ratio to 10000 Of population:
Cities. Pop. Deaths Ratio
Do