Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-27
INTERSTATE WATER SUPPLY
Widespread Demand for an Investiga-
ton.
Report an lts Necessity by Surgeon
General WyMaa of the Marine
Hospital service.

Some time ago a Senate bill providing
for The Investigation OF the pollution of
water supplies where the sanitary oondi-
ton OF the people of more than one state
or territory is affected was referred to
DR.. Walter Wyman, supervising surgeon
general, marine hospital service, for a re-
pert on the necessity for such an inNesti-
CATION
Dr. wyman's report has been laid before
the Senate. Concluding his report DR. wy
ran SAYS:
In view of the fact that many cases If
typhoid fever annually occur in the city
of Washington. a systematic inquiry into
the character and condition of the Po-
tomac water was instituted several months
ago. This investigation has also been
prompted by reason OF the fact that the
marine hospital service should be in pos
session Of accurate data upon Whit 10
act in case cholera should ever gain en-
trance into this country.
1t Is hoped that sufficient funds can be
made available TO complete this work and
that favorable action on the bill will be
taken
DIR. Wyman gives various statistical data
relating TO various sections OF The country
and says:
Infection of Water supply
Prom the above statistics 1t Is esti-
'heecN Naat every year lftIt are no fewer
than $1,000 deaths caused by typhoid fever
alone throughout the United States, hot 10
speak OF diarrhoeal diseases. which latter
viii augment the above number by half
and, based upon estimated morality of
10 per cent, II is within reason TO assume
yearly prevalence OF 4Jo,ooo asses of
this disease. To What extent the preva-
leic OF typhoid fever is due to The infec-
lion of the rivers and lakes from which
cities take their MI In.
OF the subjects for the investigat non TIE
carrying Of this disease from one CITY or
Town TO another by means of water courses
mas been dehnitely proved both abroad and
in the United States. and the presump,ion
Is strong that in the Ohio river, taken as
an example, which is the sewer and a. the
same time the source of water Supply for
nearly all the cities located upon It's banks
THIS and other diseases are annually DIS
semlnated thereby, and il is one of the
prime objects of this bill to determine this
point accurately.
From the above statistics 1t is clearly
shown that the morbidity and rnortaIitv
rates from typhoid fever and diarrhoeaI
diseases in populations living along the
rivers ana lakes situate on or between the
borders OF one or more states are con-
siderably larger than are found in Others
not SO located. When the source of a W.
yer supply Is wholly within a state or ter
ritofy, It's pollution can be prevented nv
proper legislation. Such has not been the
case with regard to sources of water sun
plies which are held in common by ono nv
more states.
Interstate Water supply.
There are a number of other streams,
such as the Mississippi Merrimac. Connec
tcut, Potomac, Missouri the Red river of
the north. the Columbia and Wabash rty-
ers, the cities on which in different states
show marked prevalence of typhoid
fever
In the event of cholera obtaining a
Iodgment in the United States this accurate
knowledge would be of the utmost import-
ance, Tor while the conveyance of this
disease by water courses has been de-
monstrated IN European countries the con-
dtions relating to the amount of sewage
the length of the water courses etc are
so different in the United States as to alb
soluteiy require specific Investigation In
other words. the conclusions to be drawn
from experiments in foreign countries are
not sufficient for the needs of this country
This subject has long been one of inquiry
in England. and the Investigation made and
conclusions reached have been of inestima-
Die value to great majority OF the cities
ana towDs which were compelled to depend
upon streams for their water supply. The
same action has also been taken by the
sanitary authorities of France ard Ger
of our people. am informed that fourteen
Demand for Investigation.
''In the United States it is Impossible for
one state bordering upon a river even by
most stringent laws, to protect the health
of its citizens. because il has no jurfsdic-
ton over others. As our urban populations
are rapidly increasing and the question of
supplying this great number of people
with sufficient supply of potable water is
becoming more important, IL behooves our
government to give aid to this by at least
pointing out some efficient remedy for this
great disturber of the life and happiness
of our people l am informed that fourteen
state boards of health, the national con-
ference of state boards of health and the
American Public Health Association have
passed resolutions urging an investiga-
ton of this character"