Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-11-14
THE OLD TYPHOID BUCKET THAT
HUNG IN THE WELL.

THE OLD TYPHOID BUCKET THAT
HUNG IN THE WELL.
The usual autumnal recurrence Of
typhoid fever in New York has led
many medical authorities to the be-
lief that the origin of this trouble Is
not to be looked for, so much In the
city itself as in the numerous Summer
resorts, where little attention is paid
to sanitary matters, and where are fire.
quently sown the seeds of disease
which may not develop till after the
return home. Especially Is this the
case with the smaller and cheaper re-
sorts; farms that take boarders, nunt-
ing and fishing camps, &C., which
many people consider healthy, simply
because they are so far removed from
the artificial restraints of civilization.
They forget that situation which is
naturally the nealthiest in the wOrl0
may by improper drainage or doubtful
water supply, or by mixing both these
together, be made most unhealthy.
In this connection you may think it
worth while to reprint the following
interesting paraphrase on "The Ola
Oaken Bucket That Hung in the Well,
which was read at a meeting of the
Academy Of Medicine many years ago.
1t was written by j. C. Bayles, then
President of the Board of Health, ap-
propos of discussion Oh this very sub
ject:
With what anguish of mind remem-
Der my childhood,
Recalled in the light of a knowledge
since gained; ao
The malarious farm, the wet fungus
grown wildwood.
The chills then contracted that since
have remalned;
The scum-coveIed duck-pond, the pig
sty close by it,
The ditch where the sour-smelling
house drainage fell,
The damp, shaded dwelling, the foul
barn-yard nigh it
But worse than all else was the ter
rible well.
And the old oaken BUCKET, the mold
crusted bucket
The covered bucket that hung
In the WELL
Just think of it, Moss on the vessel
that lifted
The water drank in the days called
to mind;
l hu fac nd
fists gifted
In the waters of wells by analysis
find;
The rotting wood fibre, the oxide of
iron,
The algae, the frog of unusual size,
The water impure as the verses of
Byron,
Are things remember with tears
in my eyes.
And to tell the sad truth-though
shudder to think it
considered that water uncommonly
dear
And often AT noon, when went there
to drink it,
enjoyed it as much as l now enjoy
beer.
How ardent seized it with hands that
were grimy,
And quick to the Undiscovered bot
tom it fell,
Then reeking with nitrates and nitrites,
and Shiny
With matter organic 1t rose from the
well.
Oh had l but realized In time to avoid
them
The dangers that lurked in that pes
tllent draught-
I'd have tested for organic germs ana
destroyed them
With potassic permanganate ere
had quaffed.
Or perchancc I'd have boiled 1t, and
afterward strained 1t
Through filters of charcoal ana
gravel combined;
Or, after distilling, condensed, and re-
gained it
In potable form, with its filth left
behind.
How little | knew of the enteric fever
Which lurked in the water ven
tured to drink.
But since I've become a devoted be-
lever
In the teachings OF science, shud'
der to think,
And now, far removed from the scenes
I'm describing.
The story for warning to others 1
tell,
AS memory reverts to my youthful I'M
bibing
And | gag at the thought of that hor-
rible well,
And the old oaken bucket, the fungus
grown bucket
In fact, the slop bucket-that hung
In the We'll
A. w. G.
Morrlstown, y. j., Nov. O. 1901.
Read the Democrats Liner page; II
Is interesting ana is u real benefit 10
everybody. .f &