The Harrison times., 1911-08-12

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
needessy 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 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 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 havo
purified their water supplies. The typhoid rate
of Rensselaer, for ten years averaged 619 per
100 900 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 tenyear average-to
III. Poughkeepses rate used to average 112
In 1907 the filtration plant was improved and
the rate fell to 345. In Albany the tenyear
average before filtration was SS,S Since fltra-
tion the ten-year average has been 222.
In Pennsylvania, Pittsburg had a typhoid
rate according to Health Director E. r, Wal
ters, that from 1901 to 1907 averaged 1877 In
1907 the city spent $65OOOOO for 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 Chicagos typhoid rate was 1888 per
900, the highest average typhoid rate in the
civilized world, Chicago purified its water by
building its wonderful drainage canal to keep
its sewage out Of Lake Michigan. In 1908 Chi
cagos typhoid rate was 156-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 frst but hltra
tion is not infallible,
Another method Of purihcauon Is the use OF
huge storage reservoirs Water is poor me-
dum for disease germs, and in 1t they die
quickly. To quote Mr.. Whipple again: "The
typhoid bacillus does not multiply in ordinary
drinking water. On the contrary tbe cels die
. Ultimately all the cells die. The rate
varies greatly In some experiments all died In
3 to 8 days, In others germs lived a month
In very cold water mortality is more rapid"
Hence II water can be impounded in largo
reservoirs and held for time, II tends to purify
iteslf
Sewage disposal Is fully as important as wa
ter purihcation-that Is, for any purpose except
the saving Of human lfe II property is at
stake II Is Indispensable
The problem Of clean water Is evidently not
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
stralners. Don't put Ice in your water. It may
contaminate &C. Your great safeguard is is boil
ing your water. Particularly Is this necessary
In the late winter when typhoid epdemics so
often break out