The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-08-12
REPORT ON BEReA
Mrs. Crane Gives Results of Her Wis
il Here-Some Commentator.

The full report made by Mrs. Car
cline Bartlett Crane on her observa-
tions of sanitary conditions in Ken
lucky has been made public, and con-
tains several interesting statements
regarding Berea. Among other things
she mentions 1t as one of the five
places she knows of in Kentucky
where there is good, pure water sup
ply. In all the other cities she visit
ed, she says the people are drinking
the uncleansed water containing sew
age of cities and towns further up
stream. She says they all defend
their water systems, but that these
are really bad.
j. her specific report on conditions
in Berea she says:-
BEREA
First-Water Supply. Berea College
is furnished with water piped from
several miles in the hills. The town
relies upon wells and cisterns. There
are several public wells used by nu-
merous families, and some abandoned
wells which, however, are still used
occasionally for watering horses and
stock. One such we'll near Chrisman's
store seems a special menace. Ii has
a broken curb and the ground is
strswn with paper and other refuse,
and Is continuously exposed TO infec-
ton. 1t was recommended that this
we'll should be condemned and put
out of use since the country people
are quite likely to use it, thus infect
ing themselves, and possibly returning
the infection to the town through
the milk supply.
Many of the private wells and els
terms are in too close proximity to
vaults There is no public sewerage
system except from the college. This
is taken care Of by a septic tank be-
fore it enters into small stream
on the outskirts of the town.
Second-Sehools. The school houses
both colored and white, are without
in an extremely filthy condition. On
the grounds OF the white school there
is an abandoned well which should
be filled. Water for both Of these
schools is drawn from well-protect-
ed cistern belonging to a family in
the neighborhood. Drinking dippers
are used in common in each Of these
schools.
Third-Hospital. The hospital own
ed and managed by the College is
most commendable feature of Be
rea.
l learned of a curious disease which
seems to be quite prevalent among
the students and the mountaineer FAINT
lies from which they come. 1t was
described to me by DR.. Cowley as
greatly resembling typhoid fever ex-
cept that the onset is sharp and sud
den, and the symptoms quickly sub
side after a vermifuge is administered.
Large worms several inches long are
passed. 1t seems to me that the
cause might be looked for in the meat
supply.
Fourth - Slaughter Houses and
Markets. The slaughter houses and
markets furnishing the students and
many of the town people, are both in
filthy condition. The meat market
Is the filthiest / have ever seen.
suggested to DIR. Cowley to see II any
relation could be established between
the meat supply and this peculiar
parasitic disease mentioned above.
Fifth-Milk. was unable to make
study Of the milk supply of the
town as most of the inhabitants
milk their own cows, or obtain milk
By hand from their neighbors. At
Berea College considerable attention
has been paid to the construction of
the dairy plant, which is kept in q
fairly good condition of cleanliness,
except that there are no screens. II
was recommended that the windows,
which are nailed in place, shall be
made to slide back, and that the
windows and doors be screened. The
milk cans were found standing open
to the flies and birds, upon an out
door shelf. Dry feeding was done
before instead of after milking. The
milk is not properly cooled, but 1t IS
intended to remedy this matter when
an ice plant can be added to the con-
veniences of this institution.
l find DR.. Cowley, Of Berea College.
and Doctors Cornelius and Davis of
the town, who accompanied me. very
cordial and very much interested In
the improvement of local conditions.
Berea is about TO be incorporated as
city. and strongly urged that the
four physicians, together with the
mayor, should constitute a Board Of
Health, to have the guardianship of
all matters pertaining to public health
and sanitation.
May Goth, 1909.
-
Check Put on Amateurs.