The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-10
HANCOCK on DIPTHERlA.

Fargo, N. D., Dec. 9-To The For
UNI: Fargo is again visited by some
cases Of diphtheria and spotted fever,
or infantile paralysis, and a number of
deaths from the latter desease have oc-
CURED.
A member OF the FAMILY Of one of
our leading plumbers has been affect
ed, and this has aroused him to make
an appeal to the city council to take
action in running down the cause of
these maladies.
So far as reported in the daily pa
pers, an attempt has been made to-
throw the blame on the bad plumb
ing that has been installed in the
dwellings of the city of Fargo during
the past twenty years. This may or
may not be the place to locate the
responsibility for the frequent out
breaking of diphtheria and other dis
eases which often take the form Of
mild epidemic.
In this connection it may not be
amiss to point out the fact that it
makes but little difference whether
the plumbing in any building is old or
new, i'll or well done, IL all outlets for
sewer gas are closed, as Is frequently
the case during the winter months in
this climate, except through the thin
water seal OF the plumbing fixtures.
| contend that 1t is not fair to blame
all the trouble on the "olR' plumbing,
while new plumbing under present con-
ditions is in no way better calculated
to resist the penetrating force OF sewer
1 gas when only the water seal is de-
| pended upon to prevent this deadly
vapor from finding it's way into our
dwellings.
Sewer gas can only be generated in
sewers, drains, and cesspools not prop
erly ventilated.
The freezing over of the river, the
sealing of the outlets of the sewers,
and the frost and snow accommodations
over and around the maRholes and in
lets which are often left Theoretically
sealed for weeks together, and the
dead ends OF all sewers left unpro-
vided with vent shafts, all contribute
towards forcing the sewer gas into the
houses under such conditions there can
be no possible escape for it except
through the fixtures Of the house
/ plumbing.
1t may be objected that the vent
stacks on the plumbing takes care Of
this, but these are often III constructed
or choked with ice so that they FREE.
quently become ineffective from being
partially or entirely closed; and the
results are such as those recently re-
ported by the city health officer.
1t is well known to chemists that
thin water seals soon become saturated
when in contact with deadly gases,
especially when under pressure, which
is often the case in the generation OF
gas in warm sewers, and as soon as
this point of saturation is reached the
gases passes through without hind
renee.
Now as to the remedy, would sug-
gest that instead of appointing COM
missioners and employing experts" to
discover what has been evident since
the Fargo sewerage system, or rather
lack of system, was first begun, let the
sewers have an opportunity to breathe,
and they win, with ample fresh air
passing through them-no sewer gas
can be generated.
The tearing out of all the "old"
plumbing in the city Of Fargo would
be costly experiment, and an expert
ment, only, as well as being a severe
hardship on property owners. many
of whom have had to mortgage their
homes in order to secure this so-called
defective plumbing.
1t is my opinion after thirty years
OF experience in such matters, that
elaborate and costly plumbing is prac-
tically useless in the prevention of dis
eases directly attributed to sewer gas.
The remedy must be in the sewers
and not entirely In the plumbing. II
the city council will see that every
sewer outlet below the water level in
the river has fresh air intake shaft,
and every dead" end Of main sewer
and lateral is provided with a brick
air shaft or stand pipe, the full size OF
the sewer. and the entire system given
an opportunity to breathe during the
cold winter months, the trouble win be
almost, if not entirely. eradicated. Such
provisions have long been provided in
other cities, and found to be effective.
The cost Of these vents would not be
one-tenth that of installing new
plumbing. which would be better IL any
improvement on the old, minus ample
ventilation OF the sewers
Geo. Hancock.