The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-06-21

where this process is greatly facili-
tated. but to depend upon such method
of publication is entirely fallacious.
Third-That the suns rays possess
no value whatever in this connection.
On the contrary. insulation has pow
erful bearing upon the reproduction of
pathogenic germs carried in water.
Fourth-That water polluted by dis
eased germs can be efficiently purified
through the agency of filtration or in
filtration. Professor Percy FARMLAND
in an address before the Institution Of
| Civil Engineers in 1897 stated posi-
lively that sand filtration is now
success from a archaeological stand
point. Professor Edwin B. Weston in
1897, after careful experimentation,
found that sand filtration rids polluted
water of 9S per cent. of ordinary bac-
ttema and 100 per cent. Of typhoid ba-
cilli.
Fifth-That water may be clear as
crystal and in no respect offend the
special senses and still be SO charged
with disease germs as to menace the
health and life of every person who
partakes of it.
Sixth - That water from living
springs, artesian wells, or wells which
have deep subterranean supply, while
less liable to pollution than that from
other sources, is by no means free from
the possibility of it.
In support of this position we have
the following statement of DR.. George
M. Kober. In the public health reports
of the United States Marine Hospital
service DR. Kober writes: Until re-
peated examinations have proved their
l lrynY fA
what has elsewhere proved a failure,
for the city of Charleston is supplied
from artesian wells yielding sixteen
million gallons daily, and yet its ty-
phoid fever rate is approximately ten
per 10000 inhabitants.
Without attempting anything like
systematic discussion Of these various
propositions I wish now to call atten-
tion to a few facts that bear directly
upon one or all Of them.
The natural history of the typhoid
germ has been studied very systemat-
ically and the knowledge obtained rel
alive to it is entirely trustworthy. It's
natural habitat is within the human
intestinal canal, where it multiplies
with infinite rapidity lie millions in
| twenty-four hours. Through the ex-
natural trend of sewage material is to-
ward watercourses, the ultimate pollu-
ton of those of greater magnitude is
inevitable.
AS showing the direct relationship Of
water pollution to the prevalence of
typhoid fever the experience of the city
of Lawrence, Mass. is most convincing.
The population Of Lawrence is $4,000.
Al nf ~ IN
elusive, the number of deaths from
typhoid fever were as follows: II, %,
Al, 4S, 50, 60 50, 80, making total
number of $50 deaths in eight years.
In 1898 the water supply was corrected
by filtration, and the death rate for
succeeding years is as follows: 1894,
"A deaths, rate per 10000 ); 1895. 16
deaths, rate per 10000 3O7; 1896, 10
deaths. rate per 10000 1S6. Omitting
from this calculation the year 1893 and
taking the years 1S94-5-6 as a basis
of calculation the number of deaths for
eight years under the new regime would
be 1872, or but little more than one-third
the number for the preceding period.
The city Of Lawrence is located upon
the Merrimac River, nine miles below
Lowell. In January, 1893, Lowell had
80 cases Of typhoid fever and Lawrence
had y. In January, 1894, one year
later and after the correction Of it's
water supply, Lawrence had but 3
cases, while Lowell had 90.
Numerous and very reliable examin-
atoms Of the Lawrence water during
this period showed conclusively that
about 80 per cent Of bacteria were
eliminated by the system of filtration
recently adopted The natural Infer
ence must be that considering the APP
palling increase of typhoid in Lowell
during the year 1894 the city Of Law
renee made a most fortunate escape
from a severe epidemic through the
means adopted for the protection of its
water supply.
A recent article in the "Sanitarian"
by f L. Hoffman contains a very in
genious and suggestive calculation
showing the actual number Of deaths
from typhoid fever in cities having an
unprotected water supply as compared
with what he regards as the permits
sible or normal death rate. The latter
he assumes to be 2 per 10000 inhabi
tants per annum. AS the basis of this
summary he takes the period from 1870
to 1894.
His table reads as follows:
MORTALITY FROM TYPHOID.