The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-01
PREVENTION OF DISEASE
is DISCUSSED BY ALBERT E. HYDE
AT PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
He Recommends a Nonpartisan Board
of Plumbing Inspectors
Gist of Talk.

The lecture by Albert E. Hyde on the
Prevention of Disease" given under the
auspices of the Society of Hygiene and the
Sanitary Association. at Plymouth Church
last night, was deserving of a better audi
enee. Mr.. Hyde was introduced by Mayor
Taggart. The lecturer said, in part: Il
was exceedingly astonished to find that In
dianapolis had no plumbing laws, the
greatest essential TO sanitary reform in any
city. The purpose of my address is to
prove that plumbers have the right to de-
clare for the prevention Of disease and that
from tonight we must consider them from
an entirely new and interesting standpoint.
Let US briefly review the progress of med
ical science in the department of bacteriol-
ogy. Recent discoveries in this great field
have thrown a wonderful light on the SUBJ
ject OF sanitary plumbing.
1.-THE microscope has demonstrated that
air and water are alive with animal and
vegetable organisms, known as bacteria.
1t has enabled scientists to detect an al
most infinite variety of germ life, which to
a large extent has been classified and
named. Many species are necessary to life.
others attack life. 1t is a great thing to
in the economy of nature. There are bac-
terra, however, dangerous to life and
health. These are virulent types and at
tack living tissues. They grow and multiply
in filth, they fasten upon refuse and dead
organic matter. They pollute the soil. poi
son the air and water. They produce the
definite symptoms of disease. These dis
eases can be prevented
"All scientific authorities agree that the
human waste products and filth are the
most prolific sources of disease-breeding
germs. To insure health these must be
quickly and safely removed, and this is the
work of sanitary plumbing and municipal
sanitary reform. The wealth of health
should be the common heritagle OF all those
who labor and are heavy laden. 1t should
be the first care of all the beneficiaries of
labor TO see that labor IS surrounded with
conditions conducive to good health. A
vast number of the producers of all wealth
are housed in huts and novels; in such
places as these labor lives and dies. To be
the necessary safeguards should be thrown
around the health as well as the property
of the individual From the bent shoulder
OF labor an awful burden can be lifted
the burden of filth and disease. During the
next quarter of century IL Is possible TO
save hundreds OF lives. In this country
100000 people die annually OF preventive
diseases, and, while this cannot be pre-
vented entirely, it can be very much miti-
gated. ] know that more than million of
people die in this country every year, and
more tnan nal1 or them or diseases that
can be prevented. Scientific drainage and
plumbing is a very important factor, which
requires the closest attention. Defective
drainage is not to be attributed TO the
plumbers, but to an ignorant public"
In conclusion Mr.. Hyde said that the
remedy TO be applied was the enactment of
"A law that would remove from the COM
petitive field OF labor the incompetent
plumber. He said this was to be done by
the appointment of a nonpartisan board OF
plumbing inspectors. which would not owe
allegiance to political appointment but
would be a creation OF legislative enact
ment, which would permit IL TO do its duty
without fear or favor