The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-02
Conservation
FILTHY WATER
FORMS MENACE
TO SWIMMERS
ViruIent Bacillus AboundS in
Indiana Streams as
Pollution Result.
Conservation
BY WILLIAM F. COLLINS
Times Special Writer

BY WILLIAM F. COLLINS
Times Special Writer
We are facing the greatest drought
in the history of the country.
The streams of the middle west
are at the lowest ebb in years. Tor
rid temperatures extend from coast
to coast. Thousands flock to the old
swimming holes. That part of the
population of the country that is
blessed with swimming holes free
from sewage pollution will be thrice
blessed this fall when they find
themselves free from sinus infec-
ton.
I have developed a theory that
remains to be Endorsed by the medi-
cal fraternity that we are in the
sinus belt because we are in the
pollution belt.
The flat lands of the middle west
with their sluggish streams grossly
polluted by every municipality, form
a breeding ground for that virulent
bacillus S~terptococcus aureus that
starts the formation of boilS, puS
infected wounds and even general
~Septicaemia.
When the Lord created the human
being, He made a land dwelling ami
NAL out of the material on hand.
The nasal, aural, and vocal openings
were left wide open.
Water Enters Passages
On creatures that inhabited the
waters of the earth, he placed quick
closing valves preventing the in
greSs of water when the creature
dived into its native element. Be-
cause of that deficiency in the hui
man being, it is not possible even
with the most experienced swimmer
to keep water out of the nasal pass
ages.
When that water is infested with
any of the forty odd variety of
pathogenic or disease producing
bacteria that thrive in midwestern
streams during the summer, merely
a drop of it retained on the nasal
mucus membrane for thirty minutes
plants a marvellous growth of pus
formers that can develop into al
most anything, depending on the
general physical condition of the
host.
When bacteria are bred for Scien-
tifc investigation in the labora-
tories, a watery solution of blood
or blood serum mixed with agar
jelly to stiffen it is sterilized then
inoculated with the bacillus and
incubated for a short period at a
temperature approaching the hui
man body heat.
The terrific ability of pathogenic
bacteria to multiply by division soon
clouds the entire solution.
Refuse Pours Into River
Today, I visited one of the large
packing plants within the city
limits. Out of the slaughtering pens
a stream of water two feet wide and
three inches deep was running di-
\ rectly into White river. The water
was red with the blood and Serums
OF killed animals, a perfect combi-
nation for the propagation of dis
ease-producing germs.
Enough of this culture medium is
pouring into White river daily to
make that stream a deadly menace
to human life for miles down.
With the advent of breweries and
olstlllerieS in Indiana, we are con-
tronted with another potent source
OF stream pollution.
The state health department. after
a survey of the Wabash river below
Ierre Haute, discovered that the
two new distillerieS established in
that town have increased the pollu-
ton of the Wabash to the same
extent as if the city had added to
its population $500, 900 souls.
The pollution of a stream can be
as readily accomplished by spent
beer or whisky mash as by munich
pal sewage. Both are fertile foods
upon which diseaSe-producing bac-
terra thrive.
Menace in Swimming
We will not have an end to this
most ~disgraceful of all outdoor desc
crations until the people of Indiana
awaken from their coma of indiffer-
ence and demand that the indus
tries, the cities and the state ioin
hands in cleaning our flth-laden
streams.
We must bear in mind constantly
That the art of swimming in Indi-
ana is a very dangerous paStime.
INDUCING in it, as 1 have discovered
TO my W personal sorrow, may
mean FORGETTING ones health for an
extended period.
OF all the forms of sport we are
interested in during the summer
months this particular one of SWIM
ming in disease bearing waters will
prove the most costly to you and to
your family not only in terms of
health, but in terms of dollars.
Dollars spent for doctor and hos
pital bills, for time out from YOUR
daily task and possibly for an ex-
tended vacation from the state in
a section where there are no streams
to be polluted, that country where
our doctor advises us to go to re.
cover from a septic sinus, the
southwest.