The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-09-19
Continued Next Week.)
MAD WATER CAUSES FEWER.
Or. Tetrea1, Health Officer, Gives Out
Some Interesting and valua-
HE Information.

Or. Tetreau, Health Officer, Gives Out
Some Interesting and valua-
HE Information.
During the month OF August 1905,
In Yakima county. there were 40 cases
Of typhoid fever reported as against
Sc cases during the same month one
year ago. The decrease has been
gratifying in the county but when one
looks into the records farther one finds
that OF the 60 cases In 1905. 81 were
cases which originated within the city
limits, while this year Of the 40 cases
odly 40 started within the city. In
the frst case half the cases were in
the city and In the latter only a little
over one-third.
OF the II cases reported within the
city limits seven were caused by
drinking contaminated water. while
all those from the country were caus-
by either ditch or well water. leaving
only seven cases out Of 40 that were
from other causes than infected water.
In the face OF this evidence It 10 easy
to see where the cause OF typhoid fever
lies and to take steps to prevent 1t.
At present the sanitary conditions
Of the alleys are good and the city 10
In far better condition than ever be-
fore, yet there Is room for a great deal
more cleaning up. Property owners
In various parts Of the city still have
dirty yards which are breeding places
for hies and disease germs; and strange
as 1t may seem the city streets are
in filthy condition. far worse than
the alleys. All along the tying racks
In different parts Of the city are piles
Of manure which. a. soon az a arin
comes. will be transformed into a thin
muck through which people will ahve
to wade. Yakima avenue IL especially
bad. having about two inches OF Nth
all over 1t during . rain. DR.. Tetreau
said to a Herald reporter Friday: 1.-THE
condition Of the street 10 very bad
and as soon as a rain comes they will
be a menace to the health OF the COM
munity. It seems a. though there are
so many men at the disposal of the
city in jail that the chain gang might
be employed very advantageously with
hoes sccraping the loose dirt and nth
from the main streets and along the
tying racks in front Of the Washington
hotel. along Chestnut street and at
other places all over the town."
Unless something IL done soon the
conditions outside the city will con-
tinue to become worse. cleaning the
alleys in town will not purify water
contaminated with barnyard drainage
In the upper Matches. In the suburbs
outside OF the city's jurisdiction are
many people living on small tracts
having cesspools and wells from which
they set their drinking water all on
the same lot"
A circular has been sent out from
the office Of the county health officer.
describing the prevention OF typhoid
very carefully. II 10 the desire OF the
doctor that every household In the
country receive one of these bulletins.
and any one falling to receive one
may secure . COPY by applying at DR..
Titreau's office in tho Sloan building.
The people living In the irrigated sec
lions Of the valley should be very
careful Of the location OF all carrais,
barns. manure heaps and other sources
OF contamination. for II these places
are allowed to drain into the irrigat-
Ing bitches the water thus con-
taminated nowes into the river and
Is used for domestic purposes by those
lower leW1
When asked about the condition Of
the river ut low water. DR.. Tetrsau
| said. From the sewerage dumped into
1t the Yakima river becomes a pretty
fairly concentrated solution Of typhoid
fever germs. The time when some
method OF disinfecting sewerage be-
fore committing II to water courses
Is not far on and until this 10 done
river water and well water win be
contaminated to q more or less degree,
and any step toward purifying the
water supply 10 striking at the very
root OF typhoid fever and improving
the health Of the community"