The Detroit times., 1915-01-14
PLANT TO PURIFY
WATER NEEDED,
ASSERTS EXPERT
(ContInued from Page one.I

the installation OF purificatiop plant
reduced the number of typhoid fever
cases II per cent the first year.
Health officer Price, while agreeing
that purification OF the city's water
supply is something that the l. ard
iof Health strongly recommends, stated
that ii would not be good policy for
the city TO institute a campaign for
filtration plant by telling the people
that IL would stamp ont typhoid fever
II think II would be better to tell
the people that purihcation plant
will help to guard against typhoid
rather than to have them believe II
will eliminate the disease" said Dr.
Price. Two years ago, 146 typhoid
cases were reported to the board. as
against II in 1914. We are constant
ly working TO decrease the number OF
typhoid fever cases, not all OF which
can be traced TO the water supply.
For instance, from July l, 1914, to
Dec. 81, we had "a cases, % OF which
were imported from outside the city
limits. The milk supply and certain
industrial conditions have also been
the means OF spreading typhoid. Let
us tell the people what to expect,
rather than promise them something
we cannot do
DR.. c. q. Jennings, former member
of the health board, declared that
there Is at present too much typhoid
in the city. He stated that evidence
OF water pollution Is TO be had and
that the records show the number OF
typhoid -eases-to be excessive.-H He
said the city's death rate from typhoid
ought TO be between three and four
per 100000 OF population.
II know that the Board of Health
has been. investigating the matter,
but l do not think the boards con-
clusions are correct said Dr. Jen-
nings, who was inclined to differ with
Dr. Price.
Andrew II. Green added his voice
TO the general argument for a purih-
cation plant. Figuring the valuation
OF a human life at $4,000 he said thSt
the installation of publication plant
would pay as business proposition
to say nothing about the humanitarian
side OF II.
DR.. Fred Clippert and James IT.
Wilkie, railway commissioner and
former water commissioner, Water
Commissioners George Lane and Rob
ert Oakman, Charles H. Oakman
member OF the Board OF Health, and
others spoke in favor of a publication
plant.
In answer to questions by ID. p. w
Commissioner George. II. Fenkell. for.
mer engineer for the water board
Prof. Phelps said that proper purihca
tion OF the water supply not only de.
creases typhoid, but also reduces the
number OF deaths from other diseases
such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and
infant complaints.
Impure water deyitalizes people
and breaks down the natural resist
ance TO disease" he said. 'In refer.
ence TO softening the water, I can say
that the money saved on soap waste
is more than the cost OF softening the
water, to say nothing OF the industrial
saving"
Regarding the pollution OF the wa.
ter with sewage. Prof. Phelps said II
was not the intention OF the interna.
tional commission TO exercise any au
tocratic power TO enforce its order
but rather II would seek the co-opera.
tion OF the city in remedying the evil
that now exists.
While the meeting. Thursday morn,
Ing. was not official. II IL important
as marking the launching OF an active
campaign for n publication plant.