The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-16
NOTICEABLE MoRTUARY REPORTS

In November in twenty-one towns the
lmortuary reports exhibit results that
deserve attention. The bulletin Of the
North Carolina boards OF health fur
Inishes them In a total population Of
IA. 700 the whites numbered 81 1901 and
the blacks So. 1ss. The death rate was
for whites I0.4 per cent. in the loo in
Ihabitants. and 22.2 for the negroes. You
see that the death rate for the negroes
more than doubled that OF the whites
The average OF the whole was 49, But
for the very excessive rate OF mortality
among the negroes the health statistics
would be uncommonly favorable for
the whole. The reports show that the
high death rate among the negroes has
mot diminished during the last quarter
of a century in comparison with that OF
the whites. The habits. the uncleanli-
ness, the want of good water and pure
air and crowded conditions. with a lack
OF prompt medical attention all con-
spire to increase the mortuary reports.
1t is to be hoped that when all the
towns give more attention TO genuine
sanitation, and the negroes are supplied
with pure drinking water, (and the
whites too,) and the whole population
have the use of a good system of sew
age. la the mortality will diminish in
both races. Such a blessed result has
followed close upon the construction OF
sewers and the introduction OF drinking
water fit for that purpose and free
from all poisons and abunding mud.
The result of the examinations OF the
drinking water used at the Greensboro
Normal and Industrial college as made
by DR.. Anderson, of Wilson, the bacte-
biologist OF the state board OF health.
was that 1.-The water of the league
well and of the central well nea the
brick dormitory to be infected with in
ltestinal bacilli, and that OF the other
well and city supply to be free from
harmful germs" 1t is noticeable that
the analysis of the state chemist failed
Ito detect the poisons. Analysis often
breaks down. A psychological eXami-
nation revealed true conditions n
showed which were impure waters n
which free from contaminations- The
report in the bulletin stated this as to
the school and the awful results that
followed in consequence of deadly wa
tier:
The water supply was obtained
from the city wateT-works and three
lNeIlS, one at Tile league mouse, dCIbSS
the street from the college, rented for
a dormltory, located within ten feet OF
the house sewer; one at the wooden
Idormitory, within twenty feet OF n
OF the main sewers: and n in the
Iopen space between the administra-
ton building. the brick dormitory n
the dining-room, about 125 feet from
the leaking pipe and fully as far from
1.-THE of the main building. This
tu-nl1 &c about fort foot in Ianrh ff-
lteen feet being in earth and the rest
lin what appeared TO be solid rock"
From four sources h drinking water
Twas obtained. OF these two were so
infected with death poisons as to cause,
I'VE believe. thirteen or more deaths,
and a terrible number of very seriously
sick pupils and others connected with
the college or with the pupils. Here is
Ian awful warning of the dangers that
Ilurk in water that is drunk. The late
write a column here to illustrate. We
mention merely two things. The late
DR.. Thomas F. Wood caused five bot
ties of water taken from different parts
lof Wilmington to be examined by the
chemist of the University of North
ported all more or less infected with
DDlSoiIS "a III i've III III
Isome twenty miles in length has along
lit six or eight large towns, some larger
than what are called cities in our own
land. A few years & a terrible cpl
demic, most destructive of life, broke
lout in some three or four. The others
ESCAPED, but they were situated be-
tween those infected and but a few
miles separated. Two years ago, a
second epidemic followed with like re-
sults. This moved the health authori-
ties to institute a thorough examination
THE same towns were visited with the
lscourage, and the same ones were i'm
munes. Why this curious condition?
lit was found hat the afflicted towns
lgot their drinking water from the river
THAT was the receptacle of sewer dis
lcharges. Those escaping obtained their
water from a distance and from pure
lsources. A lesson for any man with
intelligence above an oyster.