Woodville Republican., 1902-10-25
HEALTH OF WoODvILLE.

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During the past few months
Woodville has had more sickness
than usual. The prevailing types
are either malarial or typhoid, and
neither of these types of fever are
indigenous to this town. Wood
vile is most favorably located for
the enjoyment of health. 1t is
situated upon high ground, in the
midst of pine and beech growth,
with no swamp in ten miles of it,
and with perfect surface drainage.
The waters from one side of the
old Court house found its way to
the north into Buffalo, while that
from the opposite side drained
into the tributaries of Bayou Sara
creek. The causes of this unusual
prevalence of fevers must, there
fore, be looked for in the town
itself, and we do not believe they
are difficult to locate, and that an
easy remedy lies in the hands of
the citizens, and of the Muicipal
authorities.
1t is a we'll established fact that
typhoid fever is the product of
filthy conditions, and largely of
impurities in drinking water
Some of the cases in this place
are directly traceable to impure
cistern water, and every one OF
them owes its origin, directly or
indirectly, to a similar source.
The prevailing opinion is that
cistern water is the purest water
to be obtained, because it is really
distilled water, the product of
evaporation, and coming directly
from the clouds. This idea is on
ly partially correct, sometimes,
and is radically erroneous most OF
the time. On the contrary cistern
water, as usully caught, is not on
" unclean, but is often a prolific
source of disease. When caught
in the winter, after heavy rains
have prevailed, and into cisterns
properly cleansed and free from
leaks, it is, perhaps the best drink
ing water that can be had. But
che impOssibility of securing it alb
sOlutely pure, is demonstrated by
the we'll known fact, no matter
how much care is taken in filling
a cistern, more or less organic
deposit is always found at the
bottom upon cleaning it out.
The reason for this is obvious.
The atmosphere is constantly
charged with particles of dust and
organic matter. It is these par
ticles that give the blue color to
the sky which we so much admire,
These impurities are much more
abundant next to the earth aud
beneath the clouds; and after d
drouth of even two weeks, the at
mosphere becomes as full of dust
and germs as a soldiers blanket
and needs WASHING, not a mere
rinsing. Most persons think when
they allow the roof of their houses
60 be washed off by shower Of
half hours duration they have tax.
en- all necessary precautions. New.
er was there greater mistake
It takes heavy rains to purify the
atmosphere, after the roof has
been washed off by a shower. This
is the only reason why the water
caught in winter is preferable tt
that caught In summer. One Il
as good as the other, but in sum
mer the rains pass through anC
bring down more impurities. -
These remarks are designed tt
throw some light on the cause Of
che prevailing sickness in Wood
vile.
There was an unusually protrac
ted drouth last summer, and mos
eisterns became exhausted, and o.
necessity many were filed witl
the filthy rainwater that first fell
when the drouth was broken. /
S noticeable that the fevers ap
peared soon after the rains began
Another probable cause of sick
ness Is the lack of proper santa
zion in the town. Filth is allow
ed to accumulate about premises
and water-closets are very mucI
neglected as a rule. Every hol'
in the ground will drain an arel
vs;th;n q rad;,,s of four times IFS