The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-24
DOCTORS GIVE
OPINIONS ON
THAT SEWER
SOME OF THE LEADING PHYSIc-
IANS OF THE CITY SHOWED
HOW DANGEROUS 1T WOULD BE
TO PAVE OVER A DEFECTIVE
SEWER.

Physicians Of the city furnished
opinions last night anent the menace
OF paving over a defective sewerage
on DeVilliers street, and these opin-
ions were made use of during the
meeting of the city council last night
by Alderman Renshaw, Strengthening
his own expressed views on the in
advisability of the step. At a meet
ing of the city council last week a
resolution was passed authorizing and
1nstructlng the board of bond trus-
tees to go ahead and pave the re-
mainder of the street. covering a por-
ton where the sewer was known to
be defective. A reconsideration of
that resolution was voted last night
upon motion following a resolution of
fered by Alderman Kugleman. Then
Alderman Renshaw condemned the
step of placing the paving over the
sewer In unmeasured terms, and re-
iterated formerly uttered opinions re-
garding the menace of a bad sewer
in any place. Then he placed before
the council some interesting opinions
which had been furnished him, all
from wellknown physicians. These
opinions were furnished him upon his
request. Some of them were as fol-
lows:
From DR.. Bruce.
In answer to your communication
of the 21st inst, relative to a par
TALLY INSTRUCTED sewer: In my opin-
ion same will have the effect of stop
ping up bowls in closets connecting
with the sewer and interfering more
or less with the general sewer sys-
tenn. AS you are physician, 1t is
not necessary for me to go into de-
tails as to the injurious effects of
such conditions.
Respectfully,
E. F. BRUCE,
City Health Officer.
From Dr.. w. E. Anderson
Replying to your inquiry of yester.
day, regarding the effect on the gen.
eral health of a sewer system, the
outlet of which is partially obstruct-
ed, preventing a full and free dis
charge of fecal contents, l desire to
state that in my opinion such a con-
dition might become a most serious
menace to the public health as it is
generally accepted as true that sewer
air contaminated by Iessening the ma
tural powers of resistance, induces in
those exposed to it's influence a decid-
final disorders. In other words. it
may be said that a public sewer, I'M
less fully and freely drained, is a
danger to the public health.
Very truly yours,
WARREN e. ANDERSON,
Agent State Board of Health.
From DR.. Pierpont.
Replying to your letter of the 21st
inst, in which you ask for my pro-
fessional opinion upon several fea-
lures of the sanitary sewer running
| through DeVilliers street q presume
this is the one indicated). In relation
to the public health, beg to state (a)
Any obstruction to the free egress of
the contents of sewer will dam up
the water behind the obstruction and
cause overflow, and consequent soil
and atmospheric pollution. The soil
IN this manner may and doubtless
will be contaminated with the germs
or all the contagious diseases common
to this climate, and families residing
in the immediate neighborhood, who
depend upon a surface water supply,
would be subjected to the possibility
of contracting disease in this manner.
The air will be contaminated with
foul odors which easily arrest diges-
ton and in this manner impair the
general health as well, too. lower the
powers of vital resistance. These
facts have been recently and force
fully exploited during the anti-tuber-
culosis campaign in this city. and to-
day the principal treatment for tuber-
culosis is pure air and plenty of it.
OBJ l have not had any personal OBJ.
servation of imperative sewerage
systems or parts thereof, and it's eff
fects, etc. (c) To your question, do
you regard sewer gas deleterious to
health and what diseases would likely
be caused thereby l have answered
above (a).
Yours truly.