The record-union., 1898-08-09

oNCi dSc0 W per l(U,OVO per year. III
1886 the city commenced a system of
sand filtration. During the six years
following 1886 the death rate in the
city of Zurich from typhoid fever
averaged 10 per 100000. For several
years prior to 1894 the death rate from
typhoid fever in the city of Hamburg
averaged % per 100000 In 1894 the
city introduced an approved system OF
sand filtration. Since 1894 the death
late from typhoid fever in the city Of
Hamburg has been per 100000.
Not many years since Munich was no
torious. for its frequent epidemics of
typhoid. In 1855 the death rate from
typhoid fever was 800 per 100000. In
1894 it was 211a per 10O0 900, the present
supply from springs in the Mangfall
Valley having been introduced in the
meantime. In 1874 the death rate from
typhoid in the city of Vienna, then sup
piled by the contaminated river Dan
ube, was 115 per 100000
The United States furnishes several
such experiences. Boston suffered from
a typhoid fever death rate of liza per
100000 from 1916 to 1S49. From 1890
to 1892 Bostons typhoid fever death
rate was 80 per 100000. the city hav
ing In the meantime expended So, ,0OO,-
OOO ON its water supply. The death rate
from typhoid in the city Of Lawrence,
Mass. for five years prior to 1898,
averaged 1877 per 100000; after the es-
tablishment of sand filters the rate fell
Immediately to 80 per 100000, and has
continuously decreased until 1896, when
it was only Is per 100000
In Lowell, Mass, after the introduce
ton Of a system of driven wells, the
death rate from typhoid fever decreased
remarkably. Atlanta, Ca, and Port
land, Or, have had similar experiences,
but the figures are not in our hands.
Wherever a high death rate from
typhoid fever is to be found as GER
tainly is to be found there a water sup
ply improperly guarded. America fur
nishes a large number Of examples of
this fact. The annual death rate from
typhoid in the city of Philadelphia from
1870 to 1891 was 61.9 per 100000, the
highest being 922 in 1876, and the low
est 3S.2 in 1879. The water supply of
Philadelphia is from the Delaware and
Schuykill Rivers.
For five years QS9O to 1896 inclusive)
Jersey City, using Passiac River water,
averaged 75 deaths per 100000 from
typhoid.
Washington d. c.. using Potomac
River water, averaged 76.6 per 100000.
Louisville, using Ohio River water,
averaged 1914 per 100000
Chattanooga, using Tennessee River
water. averaged S04 per 100000.
Pittsburg, using Allegheny River
water. averaged 917 per 100000.
Salem, O., 1O5 per 100000.
Alexandria, using water from the
Nile, averaged 162 per 100000, and
Cairo, using water from the Nile, aver
aged 1894 per 100000
| Wherever a water supply properly
| guarded against pollution is to be
found, as certainly is to be found there
a low death rate from typhoid fever.
Illustrating this fact, and for COM
parison with the figures before given,
we give the death rate from typhoid
fever for five years, 1S90-94, inclu-
sive, in several cities having properly
protected water supplies:
The Hague, using water filtered from
sand dunes, 40 per 100000.
Rotterdam, using water filtered from
the River Mas, 5.3 per 100000.
Dresden, filter gallery in River Elbe,
per 10000.
| Vienna, using water from springs in
|
Munich, using water from springs in
the Mangfall Valley, II per 100000.
| Berlin, using water filtered from Lake
Tegel and River Spec, 8 per 100000.
Breslau, using water filtered from the
River Oder, 11.6 per 100000.
Amsterdam, using water filtered from
HARLEM Dunes, 1879 per 100000.
| London, using water filtered from the
Thames and Lea, and Kent wells, 14.6
per 100000.
Edinburgh, using water filtered from
a reservoir in Pentland Hills, 15.9 per
10000.
| Brooklyn impounded and wells, 10
per 100000.
To avoid future epidemics Of typhoid,
Sacramento must profit by the expert
| ence of other cities, and procure a
protected water supply. Deep wells
properly protected will insure the city
against epidenics of borne dis
eases. A proper filtration of the river
water will afford the same protection.
The authorities must choose between
these two supplies on the basis of
| chemical adaptability, sufficiency and
constancy Of supply and economy. 1t
| it not within the province of this COM
mittee to discuss these considerations.
A just decision can be made only by
an engineer thoroughly acquainted with
| both systems, and competent to judge
| of the chemical requirements for
| proper water supply. 1t would be
wise measure to obtain the counsel of
an engineer qualified to give Judgment
in every detail, and to be prepared to
accept his advice when given.
(Signed) DR.. A. NJ Henderson (Chair-
man), DR.. T. w. Huntington, DR..
Thomas Ross, Trustee F. F. Tebbets,
| Trustee j. H. Dolan.
Gold Found In the Philippine Islands.
| On Mindanao one of the Philippine ISL