Evening star., 1901-06-15

box privies than in the houses connected
with sewers. In 1895 typhoid prevailed in
the city of Washington and suburbs in L
Of 81 houses with privies, and in only l in
149 of those connected with sewers. and the
health officer of Nottingham has since then
presented similar evidence. The only rea-
sonable explanation for this Is that sewers
carry away the filth that otherwise would
contaminate the soil and ground water.
but even If there were no wells, these
makeshifts are still a source Of danger in
so far as they favor the transmission OF
the infection by means of files, nor can the
possibility be ignored that the germs in
leaky or overlooking boxes may reach the
upper layer of the soil, and. with pulverized
dust gain access to the system
Good Effects of Water Supplies.
Dr. Kober gave interesting statistics on
the increase Of water supplies. and the cor
responding improvement in public health.
Previous to 1900 there were but sixteen
towns in the United States having a pub
lie water supply, supplying about 2.S per
cent of the existing population. In 1897
the total number was 8. 196. supplying about
41.6 per cent Of the population. A sum-
mary of evidence on this subject revealed
the significant fact that cities, both at home
and abroad. in which there had been the
most marked decrease in the typhoid fever
death rate were those in which pure
water supply had been substituted for a
pre-existing contaminated one. In Boston.
for instance, the typhoid death rate in
1S46-47 was ia per cent per 10000. In
1S90-82 the rate had fallen to 3.2 per cent
per 10000. Meantime the city had expend-
ed $25.OOO,OOO on it's water supply. Other
equally striking instances were cited in
support of this coincidence.
River Pollution.
After making a strong plea for the dis
posal Of sewage other than by discharging
it into streams depositing it where it
might spread contagion and disease DR..
Kober took up the subject Of water pollu-
ton.
Zone Of the most pressing needs" he
said, 'is an investigation into the pollution
Of water supplies when such pollution
affects or threatens to affect the sanitary
condition OF the people Of more than one
state, because the individual states are
poweriess to protect themselves against
the misdeeds of their neighbors. Mr.. Bar
tholds bill for the appointment Of a river
pollution commission was defeated; yet
that same Congress appropriated $4,000
for the determination of the gypsy moth.
England enjoyed the benefit OF such q
commission as early as 1855, and, In order
to prevent. remedy and remove the danger
Of polluted water supplies, adopted a COM
prehensive system for the disposal Of sew
age and water filtration, the fruits OF
which have already been referred to.
"No community or individual has a right
to pollute streams used for public water
supplies any more than a man has to con-
taminate his neighbor's well. This prin-
ciple is very well appreciated by some of
the nations in Europe. Thus the inhabi-
tants of town in Belgium suffered from
the effects OF river polluted by the French.
and the French government not only COM
PEELED the offending town to dispose of it's
sewage by Irrigation. but also granted q
subsidy for this purpose.
Tn the interest of public health It Is to
be hoped that every state In the Union
VIII take steps toward the prevention Of
river pollution. except when towns are To-
Gated close to the sea, and no lower towns
are obliged to use the water for drinking
purposes.
ed Q committee to inquire into the several