The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-08-17

That three-uuarters of the typhoid deaths are
due to water Mr.. Hazen himself declares. That
three-uuarters Is referred to In the nrst 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"
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 it,
"By fltering all the water supplies of the inn
portant cities of the country, and by institute
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 1908. after the water was
filtered 1t fell to 80. Hudson changed from
Hudson river water to purer supply, and the
rate fell from 59.2-the ten-year average-to
Ill. Poughkeepsie's rate used to average liz.
In 1907 the filtration plant was improved and
the rate fell TO 34.5 In Albany the tenyear
average before filtration was 88.S. Since fltra-
ton 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 $6,50O,00O for a filter sys-
tenn. During the three years since, the typhoid
rate has been S19-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 Chicagos typhoid rate was 1888 per
100000, the highest average typhoid rate in the
civilized world. Chicago purified its water by
building it's wonderful drainage canal to keep
its sewage out Of Lake Michigan. In 1908 Chi
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-
ton is not nfallible
Another method of purificatron is the use Of
huge storage reservoirs. Water is a poor me-
dunn for disease germs, and in it they die
quickly. To quote Mr. Whipple again: "The
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
3 to 5 days. In others germs lived month.
In very cold water mortality is more rapid"
Hence if water be impounded in large
reservoirs and held for time, 1t tends to purify
iteslf
ter puriication-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 it. Your great safeguard is is boil
ing your water Particularly is this necessary
in the late winter. when typhoid epidemics so
often break out.