Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-08-02

That three-quarters of the typhoid deaths are
due to water Mr.. Hazen himself declares. That
three-quarters is referred to in the first para
graph of this article as the fifteen thousand
needlessly slaughtered each year by polluted
water" Because to quote Mr.. Hazen, three
quarters of the typhoid deaths could be pre-.
vented, and thereby could be stopped this need
less loss of vital capital that is going on year
after year" M
The way to save that three-quarters, then, Is
by being careful which in this case means by
providing pure water AS Mr.. Hazen puts 1t,
"By filtering all the water supplies OF the I'M
portant cities of the country, and by institut-
ing other necessary sanitary reforms"
AS proof of this let US see wnat has happened
to the death rate in those localities that have
purified their water supplies. The typhoid rate
of Rensselaer, for ten years averaged 61.9 per
100000 population. In 190S after the water was
filtered, it fell to 30. Hudson changed from
Hudson river water to a purer supply, and the
rate fell from 59.2-the ten-year average-to
III. Poughkeepse's rate used to average 112
In 1907 the filtration plant was improved. and
the rate fell to 34.5. In Albany the tenyear
average before filtration was SS.S. Since fltra-
tion the ten-year average has been 22.2.
In Pennsylvania Pittsburg had a typhoid
rate, according to Health Director E. r. Wal.
ters that from 1901 to 1907 averaged 127 In
1907 the city spent s6500000 for a filter sys-
TEN. During the three years since, the typhoid
rate has been 31.9-a decrease OF more than
rs per cent.
Chicago affords an even more striking exam
pie of the benefit of purifying the water supply.
In 1891 Chcagos typhoid rate was 173.S per
100000, the highest average typhoid rate IN the
civilized world. Chicago purified its water by
building its wonderful drainage canal to keep
-Lf t.
cagos typhoid rate was 15.6-a reduction Of 81
per cent.
Excellent as these achievements are, there Is
a possibility of an even greater reduction in the
typhoid rate.
The methods Of water publication are various.
Undoubtedly filtration comes first; but fltra-
tion Is not infallible
Another method Of purificatfon is the use Of
huge storage reservoirs. Water Is poor me-
dium for disease germs, and In 1t they die
quickly. To quote Mr.. Whipple again: Tho
typhoid bacillus does not multiply in ordinary
drinking water. On the contrary the cells die.
. Ultimately all the cells die. The rate
varies greatly In some experiments all died in
to 5 days. In others germs lived month.
In very cold water mortality is more rapid"
Hence If water can be impounded in large
reservoirs and held for time It tends to purify
iteslf.
Sewage disposal is fully as important as wa
ter purification-that is for any purpose except
the saving of human life. If property is at
stake it is indispensable.
The problem of clean water is evidently not
a difficult one to solve. No nation has finer
supply of water than we have.
At the least you can guard the water that
comes into your house. See that you get fresh
water from the MAINS and not water that has
stood for hours, in the lead or brass pipes with
In the house. House filters are plentiful. but
few of them are efficient. They are merely
strainers Don't put ice in your water. 1t may
contaminate 1t. Your great safeguard is Is boil
ing your water. Particularly Is this necessary
in the late winter. when typhoid epidemics so
often break out.