The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-17
CONSOLIDATED WINS
OVER PEOPLES LINE
Continued from Page ~

construction of public bath house at
Bell Pond. The report was recon-
mitted to the committee.
The committee on finance reported
leave to withdraw on the petition of
John ]. Drscoll and other precinct
officers for an increase in pay from IS
to $40 per day. The report was ac-
cepted.
The Board of Health sent in an in
teresting report on the nuisance caused
by Middle River by spreading malaria
among the residents of South Worces-
ter and it was placed on file without be-
ing read. The report is as follows:
The board of health, in compliance
with an order of the City Council
passed last summer relating to an al
legged nuisance of Middle River from a
dam at the South Works Of the Am
erican Steel & Wire Co., submitted a
report in which it says:
The delay in making this report is
due TO the fact that it was hoped and
expected that the pollution of the river
by the drainage of the manufacturing
establishment on its banks would be
eliminated this fall In this we have
been partially disappointed. The
change in ownership of the largest
contributor to the pollution and the
which found the winter upon us be-
fore the works could be connected with
the public sewer The plans for CON
Meeting these works with the sewer
were made. in fact bids were asked
for from the several drain layers of
the city when the frost and snow
came. We have the promise of the
owner that the work will be done in
the spring as soon as the frost leaves
the ground This will l.,
establishment which now contributes
to the pollution of the river from Still
| Water to Quinsigamond.
A number of visits were paid by the
| board to the stream during the sum
mer and its condition carefully exam
ined. The health of the people living
in the vicinity was also carefully in
CURED into from physicians who prac-
ticed among them and also from the
residents themselves. It was learned
that malaria was very prevalent
among the people of this locality, one
physician reporting that he had 200
patients suffering with the disease
during August. The manager of the
steel works also informed us that one
of the mills at Quinsigamond was
practically unworkable owing to the
number of operatives who were i'll with
malaria.
The report then goes on to discuss
the old theory that the germs of mall
aria find their Judgment in polluted
waters and swampy places, which
theory must be abandoned in the light
of recent investigation which proves
that malaria in the human subject is
due to mosquitoes.
The question arises, 1.-THE the condi-
lions existing in this river favorable tn
the propagation and growth of these
mosquitoes?"
Unquestionably all the conditions
are perfect. The remedy is the destruc-
! ton of the mosquito which acts as the
intermediate host between the malaria
| patient and the next one to be infect
ed Various methods have been tried
in this country and also in foreign
| countries. Crude petroleum has been
| used perhaps the most frequently. The
| quality known as light fuel oil is best
| This is spread over the surface of the
water, using an ounce to every Is
\ square feet of surface. This DESTROYS
! the eggs and II the larvae stage has
| been reached they are killed by being
| prevented from reaching the air which
| is necessary for their existence as thew
| are unable to penetrate through the
/ film of oil, consequently are drowned.
/ This is. however, only a palliative. The
most effective remedy is to fill up
| wherever possible the ponds and pools
as the water would have to be repeat
| eddy covered with the oil at short in
! tervals of time In large ponds and in
ponds where the use of oil is inadvis-
| able for various reasons. fish have
| been introduced with success, certain
/ kinds being known to feed on the
larvae. This might be tried here after
! the dye stuffs and other matter dele