Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-01-18
DR.. fuckers Paper on Sanitation"

Or. fuckers Paper on Sanitation
The 2Sd edition of Dunglison's Medical
Dictionary defines sanitation as "the ap-
plication of the rules of hygiene to living
making healthful." l would suggest an
other and briefcr definition, viz the
harmless disposal of waste. The prime
object of sanitation is the protection of
the individual and the collection of in
dividuals constituting the community from
injurious influences and substances that
interfere with the physical well being,
which we call health. The careful house
keeper wages an unending warfare with
what is Familiarity known as dirt. Some
one has defined dirt as proper material
in an improper place" which is really a
very good definition. The primary prob
lem of the sanitarian then is how to ef-
fectively and safely dispose of the waste.
What is this waste material? Principally
the eXcrement of human being. and ami
NAL that man has domesticated for his
benefit, and unconsumed perishable food
products
The problem of waste disposal has a
number of solutions but situated as we
are, one and that the least difficult,
meets our needs. Wherever there is a
sufficient volume of water flowing ulu-
mately to the ocean, and a local supply
that can be utilized for domestic pur-
poses, the problem of waste disposal is
are in this community, the primary es-
sential of sanitation is a sufficient supply
of water pure enough to drink and for
use in preparing our food. with volume
and force enough to carry away the
waste. Hence we arrive at the conclusion
that water of sufficient spurity and guam.
titY is the basic requirement for the
erection of our sanitary system. That
brings us, by a natural progress, to the
next essential, viz, a system of sewer
age.
This part of the subject separates it.
self in my mind into two divisions, viz,
the sewerage of the individual and the
sewerage of the community. In this con
nection l beg your indulgence, as l wish
TO talk to you as both sanitarian and
physician, because I consider sanitation
and the prevention of disease the highest
and most valuable work of the physician
One properly constructed system OF
pipes will give efficient waste disposal
for the community. but the human unit
has two complete systems of waste dis
posal, and an abundant supply of rea =
sonably pure water is as essential for
their efficient operation as it is for the
larger system of the community. The
kidneys are the organs that perform the
office of waste remover. for the circula-
ton, taking the product of cell meta
morphosis in solution in water Here
necessity of water to carry out the sani-
tation of the individual. The lower por-
ton of the alimentary canal is the sec
'ond sewer system of the animal economy
and provides for the removal of the
waste portion and much the larger por-
ton, of the food that we consume
Now, the normal functioning of these
two systems of waste disposal of the
human unit is dependent on the ngestior
of an adequate amount of water which
is not less than three to five pints each
twenty-four hours. Any failure in the
performance of this eliminative process
interferes with individual sanitation In
much the same fashion that obstruction
of the soil pipe of your houses would
with your house sanitation. So we are
brought back to the conclusion that wa
ter of sufficient purity and abundant
quantity is the primary factor in the
problem presented TO us. The problem OF
sewerage for a community like ours is
purely one of mechanics and engineering
and presents no difficulties beyond the
financial one
The question of water supply is not Sc
simple, not from lack of a suficien
source of supply at attitudes that will
give efficient gravity service, but to FIND
such supply pure enough for all house.
hold purposes. We say pure enough, be
cause absolutely pure water in a natura
state is unknown. The purest surfac,
and artesian waters are only relatively
pure. The sources of contamination o
our springs, ponds and brooks are MAJ
and his domestic animals. To find
source of water supply of the required
amount, with watershed unoccupied b,
man for residence or cultivation, or b,
animals for pasturage, is to find a solu
ton to the requirement of sufflcien
purity.
Unless this can be accomplished. anC
1t can be, we are always in danger o
drinking water contaminated by hous,
sewerage or the washings of the excre
ment of animals. To secure the condi
tons named and ensure their continu
ance is of more Importance to this com
munity than any single material thinl
that / can name, and balanced agains
against fifty or one hundred thousan,
dollars, should infinitely outweigh tn
money. BTattleboro may and ought t,
be able to say that she has the bes
water supply of any town in Vermont
Will she?
In this connection d word i'm eXplana
ton of the relative purity of surface wa