Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-25
A moMENroUs SUBJECT

State, for that matter--ls the necessity
Of securing pure water for domestic
purposea The use OF impure water
has been demonstrated to be the cause
Of many fatal disorders In the human
system Typhoid fever, particularly
and certainly IS traceable to germs ex-
listing in water taken into the body Of
the person suffering therefrom That
disease has carried of many victims IN
Utah as well as in other places, and Il
~ therefore a serious matter that
should engage the attention Of all ra
tlonal persons.
Information on this point however,
IS not general Millions Of intelligent
people are not aware Of the facts that
have come TO light. They ought to be-
come acquainted with them for their
own benefit and for the general well
fare We could cite numerous IN
stances Of positive proof, that typhoid
epidemlos have started from the use Of
infected water They have occurred
in both hemispheres. II Is no longer
a matter Of doubt or experiment The
evidences are conclusive
One very important factor in the in
vestigaHon IA the befoulIne Of water
from the excreta OF persons suffering
from tho disease If these discharges
are thrown out on the ground without
thorough dsntectlon, the germs win
remain ana breed IN Nth and be given
on into the air, and II the seepage is
sufficient, viii find their way into wells,
or streams or bitches, from which wa
ter Is frequently taken for domestic
use and thus become the cause Of dis
ease which spreads ana produces misery
and death.
Decaylng animal matter and the ex-
creta Of animals. along the banks Of
a stream which lower down supplies
people with drinking water pollute
that stream so that It becomes a source
OF great danger, although IN appear
ance and even taste the water may
seem harmless. The germs Of typhoid
Ike other destructive agencies Of the
kind are imperceptible to the naked
eye. Water may apearto be free from
anything noxious and IN reality be
deadly In its effects. Only a complete
scientific and practical analysis VIII
disclose what 1t contains
II IS the positive duty Of eyory city
town and village government to take
measures to supply the community with
pure water. and to protect is source
and course from pollution, Piping Is
the safes; means Of its conveyance, and
IN the end will usually be found the
most economical Waterworks cannot
be established without expense, It Is
true. But by prudent bonding the gen
eratlons which will participate in the
benefits can be made to bear their
portion Of the cost, and the interest
paid win be found comparatively easy
to meet when the price Of disease and
death are taken into account.
There are wells in use IN many parts
Of the State that are the source Of
much disease. There are streams that
are Of a similar character Whenever
typhoid makes It's appearance it may
lee taken as almost certain that there is
something wrong with the water In use
at that locality when Il spreads as an
epidemic, Investigation win make this
positive The infection win often have
come through the improper disposition
Of the excreta Of the sufferers, which
contain the germs Of the disease IN
active form, and II these find their
way by percolation into wells OF
streams, no matter how bright aud
pure the water may appear It will car
~ the seeds Of the disease ready 70
terminate, and increase IN marvellous
multiplication.
Dlsinfecton Of waste matter and also
Of houses and clothing ought to be con-
Quoted according to the directions OF a
competent board OF health and car
rIed out with strict compliance, There
Is so much ignorance on this point that
rigid rules are necessary and ought 20
be enforced. II is shameful that filth
is allowed 10 accumulate around
the habnatIons OF civilized peo-
pie. when little care and la
Dor would remove 1t, Ordinarily
mother earth viii take care Of It, n she
Is allowed 10 receive Il entirely and
win deodorize and dlslnfeci Il. But as
we have shown, discharges Of diseased
persons need a chemical process for the
destruction OF bacilli, that may be cone
veyed by percolation so as to pollute
underground veins Of moisture. and be
carried into a well or a stream from
which water is taken for domestic use.
Some Of our artesian wells contain or
ganic matter OF the most dangerous
kind to health Analyses have shown
this beyond reasonable question. Peo-
pie who use them become slckly and
wonder what is the cause. for the wa
ter looks clear and bright and there Is
nothing unpleasant In It's favor and
yet that which II contains IN solution
may be deadly. when taken into a HUI
man system ready to develop It's de-
strut,ive powers. Such sources Of sup
ply should be thoroughly inspected.
There ought to be q general awaken