Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-04

and by tributaries swollen by rainfall,
which bring down pollution and infection
from their thickly populated and highly
cultivated water sheds, our rivers and
larger streams generally, are rendered un-
III as sources Of water supplies without
treatment The opinion Is fast gaining
ground throughout the civilized world that
this excessive pollution Of rivers by sewer
age should be prevented by law and in
England and Germany there has been
much legislation on this subject. In many
cities in England and on the continent the
sewerage is subjected TO treatment before
being discharged into running streams.
AS q rule the object OF tails treatment is
the removal of the organic matter, both
solid and dissolved, from the sewage
thereby destroying its putrescibility with
the prevention Of nuisance. incidentally
there is a diminutlon in the number Of the
pathogenic bacteria present These micro
organisms, while greatly lessened in num-
bers are not thoroughly removed by any
method OF land filtration or treatment Of
sewage by the so-called biological methods.
TO secure such destruction Of the patho-
genie bacteria methods OF dis.nfec-
ton. in addition are necessary. In
the proportion of one to 1000
/ chloride Of lime is able to remove
the great bulk Of the pathogenic germs
/ from the effluent Of the septic tanks of
modern biological sewage plants. Schwarz
! has shown that chloride OF lime added to
! crude sewage in the proportion Of 1 to 5000,
and allowed to remain for tive hours. is
capable Of destroying the germs of cholera
/ typhoid, dysentery and similarly sensitive
micro-organisms. At the present moment
7 the most promising method OF sewage
| treatment with disinfectation, which re-
moves both solid and dissolved organic
matter and destroys the pathogenic bac-
terra as we'll, is the septic tank method
! with treatment OF the effluent with chlor-
| de Of lime and subsequent sand filtration.
At the rate Of 10000 gallons per acre per
| day. this discharge being within twelve
| hours Works have been constructed on
this principle at Hamburg and are stated
| by such eminent authority as Dunbar
to be producing a disinfectant effuent
and similar results have been obtained by
the Indian government in experimental
works on the Roughly river.
] If the cities Of this country should be
compelled by law to adopt some efficient
method Of sewage treatment before its
discharge into streams, and then 10 purify
the river water by sand filtration before
supplying II to their inhabitants, we would
see a cessation of the disgraceful epidemlcs
Of typhoid fever so prevalent in our munich
ral communities, and epidemics Of cholera
would thereby be rendered almost impos-
sible.
Manure, garbage and solid refuse should
be removed from the limits OF a city with
promptness and destroyed preferably by
burning, which may be conducted either in
pits or in incinerating plants Dropping
| -
breeding material for flies, which pests are
also attracted in swarms to collections Of
decaying garbage during the warm months
of the year. The guilt of the domestic fly
as being a most ubiquitous and dangerous
carrier of infection is too we'll known to
require more than passing mention in this
sssemblage OF scientific medical men.
Every effort should be made, therefore by
the health authorities Of a city to destroy
its breeding facilities, and to exterminate
this pest as nearly as possible. Livery and
private stables, diaries and the garbage
receptacles OF hotels, restaurants, public
institutions and private residences should
receive daily attention with this end in
! view. as in the sanitary scheme roughly
) sketched in this paper.
AS a protection against the spreading OF
! infection by means OF flies a strict Eani-
tary supervision. on the part OF the health
D department, should be maintained over al
I markets. or stores. where meats. vegeta
n bes. or fruits are sold, and such wares
r should be required to be kept screened
y during the months when these pests ar,
e prevalent.
+ Fourth-To prevent the spread of diph
> iberia. the acute exanthemata. and othei
q contagious diseases careful and freQuen
made under the authority OF the health de
e partment and in all cases of such diseases
r a strict quarantine should be established
2 enforced and maintained in the affecte,
e families or institutions. until officially dis
3 continued upon the authority OF the healtl
= commissioner.
y In the case Of diptheria. antitoxin shool
n be furnished by the health department
> without cost where poverty would inter
Z fere with its purchase by the families al
s fected. and the use of this remedy in al
J. infected families both as a preventive Il
q the case Of the well. and as a treatment Il
: in the case of the sick, should be requires
under penalty OF the law. Similar rules o.
r this score should be applied to boarding
i schools, orphan asylums or other INST
h buttons for children.
i 90 All diaries be kept under close sur
r veillanee both as regards the health Of tn
milch COWS. and in the matter OF cleanli
!. ness OF surroundings.
s The method OF milking should be con
. stantly inquired into by the sanitary IN
e spectors, and special attention paid to tn
d cleanliness OF the vessels used, and TO tn
IS condition OF the hands of the mixers. an
C the tests OF the cows.
q The after treatment OF the milk shout
d also be carefully watched. as well as tn
e cleanliness OF the milk cans. which shout
o be treated with steam or boiling water.
e 90 Expectorating upon the streets, 4
i street cars, and upon the floors Of publ
d buildings should be put down by fir
Is measures Of repression. as being one Of tn
% most active means by which tuberculosis
y is reaping its harvest. and the deadly pub
n lie drinking cup should be banished b.
]. law from every public building and cit
r fountain
?, Cd Realizing the important role pIaye