Evening Star Newspaper, June 7, 1894, Page 6

AYER'’S | o™ Hair Vigor wore “BALDNESS, | corn ‘|, Removes Dandruff RESTORES COLOR To Faded & Gray HAIR. c GROWTH + AND. THE A coon _| Best Dressing. ‘They make ee, give tone “fue . feel as though Life was worth cae of Carter's Little Liver Pills af- t 7; It will relieve aid And vigor to the system. MODERN MIRACLES OF HEALING WHICH Are indisputably performed by Dr. Williams’ 1. Pink ‘Pils, sboula “Teceive the closest” investiga- Uon by sick peopie and their friends.ja%3-tukthly eyes. healthy complexion and a vigorous rewult fro: ting Angostura, Bitters Sole B. Siegert & Sons. At LATE SPORTING NEWS C jorris Park Ruces. Yesterlay was the eighteenth consecutive ‘Facing day on which rain has fallen at some time during the twenty-four hours at New mYork. The chief interest at Morris Park was in the Bowlingbrook handicap for © three-year-olds, at a mile and an eighth, in which Dorian galloped home a winner by three lengths, while Rubiccn barely beat » Assignee for the plac:. Chant was last. The other winners were: 1, six furlongs, Utica, 1.14 1-4; 2, mile, Redskin, 1.41; 3, five furlongs, Glad, 1.01; 5, five furlongs, Poor © Jonathan, 1.01; 6," mile, Dutch Skater, 18 1-2 At Latonia. The weather was perfect for the racing at Latonia yesterday. Only one favorite, J. P. B., in the second race, one mile and a sixteenth, came in first, in 1.51 3-4 G. B. Cox, a 20 to 1 shot, won the first race, a mile, under a drive in 1.46 14. The other Faces resulted: 3, five furlongs, Ductor, 1.05 1-2; 4, six furiongs,Miss Porter, 1.18 3-4 5, four and a half furlongs, Voladora, .58 1-2; 6, six furlongs, Lay On, 1.18. Chiswick Wins at St. Louis. The handicap race at St. Louis yesterday ‘Was won by Chiswick as he pleased. To Re Indicted tor Gambling. J. B. Brady, proprietor of the Richmond Turf Exchange, of Richmond, Va., has been arrested and will be prosecuted for violat- ing the Mushback ant{-gambling act. One of Brady’s men was prosecuted under a Similar law a few years ago, but a defect in the act was discovered and he was acquit- ted. The city council in the meantime made the license tax on the exchange $2,500 per year, and when the old license ran out, on May 1 last, Brady closed his establishment | in the city, but opened on Monday just oftt- side the corporate limits. The iegislature has remedied the defect in the law and} Brady will be indicted on the charge of sambiing. Rase Balt Notes. Rain prevented every league game sched- uted to be played yesterday, with the excep- tion of the Pittsburg-Bostcn exhibition in the latter city. Much to his sorrow afters ward, Manager Selee tried two amateur twirlers against the Pirates. were made cff Lampe in the third inning and none of Smith of Holy Cross College in the fourth. Stiv Staley and Lovett warmed the bench while the slaughter con- tinued. Colcslough andl Mack for Pittsburg, and Lampe, Smith. Connoughton and Ganzei for Boston, were the batteries. R.ELE. Pittsburg . 931291020x—27 21 3 Boston Lolso0s—-1 3 7 A new series begins today. here, Louisvilie is in altimor: fa Brooklyn, Cleveland at Philadelphia, cago at New York, and St. Louis at Boston. Cincianati this afternoon, with Maul and McGuire, Dwyer and Murphy as the bat. teries. Ward will resume his position -at —— base, Hasamaear retu S to right id. Princeton took a game from Harvard yes-, terday at New Haven, by a score of 11 to 4. O'Rourke umpired the contest. * It is said that owing to bad weather and « Peor attendance the Southern League will | Cease to exist within the next few weeks. It is said that Director Wheeler of } York offered Boston $5,000 for Duffy lease a few weeks ugo. The same gentle- man recenily offered St. Louis $7,000 for the release of Breitenstem. Both offers were i has released Pitcher Phil Knell and suspended Outfielder Larry Twitchell. Bernie las also recalled Pitcher Stratton’s Felase. Vitcher George Sharrott, reieased Brooklyn, will sign with Cincinnati. by 21 w Brooklyn... Cup Given by Rev. Dr. Smith. Rev. Alexarder Mackay Smith, D.D., of this city, who was at St. Paul's school, Concord, N.H., as a student from 13% to ‘1868, has presented a prize cricket cup with these conditions: ‘The contest to begin in the spring term of 1804. Each of the three cricket clubs must play six games in the spring and two games in the fall. The club first winning twelve games shall the r “Only four victories may be counted in any term by a club. Racing at Night at Brighton Beach. It is reported that the managers of the Brighton Beach race track have decided to hold races at night on their track, be- ginning on the nightof July 4. They will it in extensive electric light apparatus. Bre Ughts wiil be arranged all around the track, the grand stand and the betting rirg. —<.——— GUTIERREZ IS PRESIDENT. Bol. Mora Prociaims the Head of the Salvadorian Government. A speciai to the New York Herald from La Libertad, Salvador, dated June 6, say: Gen. Gutierrez has been prociaimed presi- @ent of the Republic of Salvador after a might and day of excitement, in which the forces from the United States war ship Bennington played a prominent part. The American consulate was a harbor of vefuge for crowds of women and children, who sought the protection guaranteed by the United States. All of the Salvadorian cials fled last ni in charge of Lieut. Coffin of the United States Bavy, who, at the head of a small force, Bad been sent ashore by Commander Thomas during the day to protect the con- gulate and American interests. ‘The barracks had been deserted, aban- doning 300 riftes, 400,000 rounds of ammuni- tion and two cannen to the rebels. Gen. Colocho, at the head of rived at 10 o'clock this morni eharge of the town. He looter Zovernment offi- giving the town men, ar- and took the bar- racks, shelled the woods at the west of the | tuwn, and then ali was quiet, and the Bington’s men withdrew to their ship Another force of 13) men arrived at 2 @clock in the afternoon, and it was re- rted that a body of 2,000 rebels was fol- wing. The soldiers that had already entered the town, after looting the barra: turned their attention to houses, and had pillazed Many when the American sailors landed egain and stopped them. Col. Mora, with 300 men, arrived at half- Past 4 o'clock in the afternoon and sumed control of the city, proclaiming Gen. Gutierrez president of the republic. It is expected large force will arrive her @Guring tt Ben- is The town ts now quiet, but all day long! the consulate was thronged with women end children, who fled there to escape the Gangers in the city. One child that had been taken from a bed of illness by its ter- Fified parents and carried to the consulate for protection died during the day. Nobody was harmed in this port during the day. Twelve runs | I TO CHECK TYPHOID The Medical Society Considering an Important Subject. SEWERS, MILK AND FEVERS WATER, Recommendations Looking to a Reduction in Death Rate. TEXT OF THE REPORT —_—— For some time a committee of the Medi- cal Society of the District has been en- gaged in Investigating the subject of typhoid feyer in the District. The atten- tion of the general public as well as of physicians has beer attracted to this mat- ter by some striking stutistics published during the last year. The eummittee of the Medical Society has made an exhaustive report, which was submitted to the society at a meeting last evening. It goes thor- oughly uito the, relations of typhoid fever to the water supply and sewer system of the city. ie committee is composed of Drs. G. L. Magruder, W. W. Johnston and C. M. Hammett. When the society met last night the wal! was strung with maps and charts, showing the amount of mor- tality from typhoid fever in the. several portions of the District, together with poe relative ‘mortality of the District as ; compared with other éities. Dr. Magruder | read the réport, which was receivad with j much applause. At its close, upon motion jot Dr. Magruder, it was laid over for a week, when it will be discussed. The Dis- trict Commissioners will be present at the meeting next Wednesday. The report recommends the immediate abandonment of all wells within the city limits except where there is no Potomac supply or where the wells after being sub- jected to repeated chemical and bacterio- logical examination have been found free from all possible sources of danger, and even these to be abandcned as rapidly as possible. Also the purification of the sew- erage system, the introduction of new sew- ers in advance of other improvements, the adoption of some system to relieve’ end drain the lower portions of the city, the final and safe disposal of the sewage, the early completion of the plans of Col. El- liot looking to the construction of works tor | filtration as the only proper method of | purification, the suppression of all privies and the enforcement of a law to make sewer connections, and careful inspection of ail milk and dairies supplying milk sold }im the District. Lastly, it_urges upon the | medical profession of the ‘District the need of a careful collation of all facts bearing upon the mode of infection in each case and the propagation of! correct doctrines “concerning disinfection. The report follows: The Committee's Report. The committee appointed by the Medical Society to report upon the subject of ty- phoid fever in the District of Columbia | begs leave to make the foliowing report: The consideration of this subject by the society is justified and demanded by the very great prevalence of typhowl fever and } by the large number of deaths, which gives Washington a most unenviable position among American cities. it is right that a disease which is known to be preventable, which has becn almost abolished ‘in some of the capitals of Eurape, . should re- ceive here, in the capital of this country, the closest study and attention. If the causes of its persistence are known, if, above all, these causes can be removed, it is our part and duty to make the facts pub- | Ne and to arouse public attention to the ne- cessity and urgency for action. better fitted to speak authorfiatively on this subject than the Médical, Society of | the District, whosé members are in daily ccntact with the disease, and who have every opportunity to study the modes of its diffusion among our popiilation? ‘The committee has endeavored to present, as briefly as possible, the data upon which an intelligent judgment can be formed. The ragnitude of the task of making a com- | piete study of typhoid fever in all of its | @spects must be apparent to all, and the | imperfection of the report in many of its jetails. Much gould only be touched upon, mech had to be omitted.. ‘The importance of the subject demands continued observa- tion and study, and it is suggested that the Work be continued from year to year in whatever way which seems best to the society. The committee is indebted for much valu- able assistance from the District Commis- sioners and their assistants, who have all | shown great interest in the work of the society in this investigation. The accompanying report will consider— 1. The prevalence and mortality of ty- phoid fever in the District. 2. ‘The relations of the dissemination of the disease to the (a) public water supply; (b) to the pollution of the soil with the leakage rom privies, from defective sewers and movements; (c) to the drinking of well or ; Pump water; (d) to contaminated milk and to other causes. 3. The difference ‘n mortality in differ- ent areas of the city, with a view to dis- . | cover the causes. 4. Conclusions based upon the foregoing data, as to what measures should be taken | to diminish the spread of the disease, | Prevalence and Mortality of Typhoid | Fever im the District of Columbian. | ‘the following table gives the ‘statistics of typhoid fever in the District of Columbia from 1881 to 189%, the ratio of deaths from all causes and the total deaths based upon the records of the health office of the Dis- trict: Typhoid Fever in the District of Columbia 1881 to to 1893, inclusive. z | gag |e 3/5 i, | & | 38 | 288 {gts £ Gee #3: | Years. ; se\$ 3 | 323 8 [Sel ok | osk 3 i 223! 53 & 2 | 883 |/s65|3 ofa fae aoe eB 24 | 48.) 2x5 igo) Xa Ser Br) 03 | £8 Baa) a Bea) BS 366 &.. 30.4 zz 28.6) 6. From 1881 there has been an almost un- interrupted yearly increase of the death rate, the highest point being reached in 1800, with a ratio of 8.3 ta 10,000 inhabt- In 1891 the rate was 5.3; in 1802 it had dropped to 7.0, and in 189% te-Gfi.-Ehe Jowest mortality, 3.6 and 3.8, was in I8s1 and 1884. The past nine years show a greater number of deaths, representing a | larger number of cases, than at any pre- | vious time. In the past two years the ra- tio has been less than in the previous seven years. An exception should de made to the percentage of 1803, as given m table 1. It ‘is based upon an assumad in- crease of 25,000 population in one year. ‘This is not thought to be justified by the actual increase of previous years, and the percentage of 6.5 as the ratio of deaths in his year should be much higher, as high, as 1892, which is 7.0 to 10,000 ion. ctual number of annual deaths has increased from 67 in 1881 to 208 in 1890 and 1801, both years reaching the same | number. In 1802 there were 183 and in 1808 186 deaths. In table 2 the ratio of deaths in the White and colored population ts | ten years from 1883 to 1595, 1 ‘The | Whites had an average mortality of 5.8 j and the blacks of 7.5 to 10,0) population. | Here, as in the general morvali ties, the high death rate is «dv the greater fatality of typhoid f the colored race. ever among Typho-ms 1 fever is not included in these tables. If deaths from this cause were added to those from typhoid fever, as | hould be done, the per: es would be mi Jit leads to co: } Tha doned may be inferre jfrom the decrease in th th returns from this cause, pari passu, with increase in the returns of typhoid fever. (See chart.) Table 3. Deaths from typho-malarial fe- Who is} | committee must ask an indulgence for the} from the backing up of sewerage from tidal | ver and malarial fevers in the District of Columbia from 1881 to 1893, 223 Bas BS gE. S52 S23 F a Es <a @ is ‘The mortality from malarial fevers, as seen in the above table, is still greater than seems possible; the progressive falling off in the number of fatal cases shows either, that malarial diseases are on the decrease or that there is a change of opinion as to the nature of many cases of fever. In order to represent more clearly the ex- tent and fatality of typhoid fever in this city maps have been prepared, which ac- company this report. Map 1 is compiled from the maps of the health office, aud tm mate up of an aggre- gation of the fatal cases occurring in resi- { Gences in five years from 1888 to 1892, inclu- sive, and shows the number of deaths dur- ing that period. } There were in the whole city 626 deaths } in residences, j The same map shows the number of deaths from the malarial fevers, jimcluding the deaths from typho-malarial | fever. The actual number of deaths from \ typho-malarial fever in the five years was 120, an annual average of 24. There were 328 deaths from malarial fevers in the same period in residences, an annual rate of (6. No one can believe that malarial fevei |have any such mortality in the District, and we are forced to the. conclusion that many of the fatal cases of malarial fevers are also typhoid fevers. In public institu- tions and in the county the fatal cases of walarial fever numbered 130 in the five years, making a total of 455 deaths from this cause. ‘The thap shows that there {s a coincidence in locality of the deaths from typhoid fever, typho-malarial fever and malarial fevers, Deaths in the public institutions, hospitals and in the county are not represented on this map; there were 201 in the hospitals and 90 in ‘the county. Map 3 shows the locality of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases. Here, too, the area of greatest mortality is the same as that of typhoid and the malarial fevers. ‘Table 4° gives a comparative statement of the mortality from typhoid fever here and in a few of the chief cities of this coun- try and Europe. The average annual mor- tality in the District to 10,000 population was 6.2; in Philadelphia, Chicago, 7. | Boston, 4.1; Baltimore, 4.1; New York, 3.1; | Paris, 6.1; Berlin, 2.0, Comparative statement of the uumber of ; deaths per 10,000 inhabitants from typhoid ; fever in the cities named during the years ISS1 to 18%, inclusive, and the general av- ‘erage therein, Ag 3 g err eae Stel S12 ae ae BEae: a\éialé et 46 os ao 61 [ts os 174 ie 6. OS 1.6 é 5.0 La roar t) \r4 7044 et oa 4 Lo 6. 16.0 08 £9 103 uable report of Erwin F. Smith, now of the Agricultural Department, on “The Influence of Sewerage and Water Supply on the Death Rate in Cities," shows the compara- tve mortality in country and Europe. We will have ccca- sion to refer to this chart lat Causes of the Prevalence of Typhoid fs Fever. What interésts us most is to trace the cause of the disease as it exists here, and in so doing it is assumed in this report | that the question of its etiology is definitely beettled, and that the conditions underlying its prevalence are (1) an impure water (supply, (2) the imperfect drainace of a polluted soil, (8) infected milk, (4) and other causes, * 1. The water supply of our city and the District comes chiefly from two sources, the Potomac river and the wells which arc scattered about the city and country. Py reference to the tabulated list of cities (Table 5) It will be seen that Wash- ington, out of fifty of the largest citics, | Stands second in the list, with a per capita {ard per diem supply of 177 gallons. Only Buffalo, with 196 gallons, is better supplicd. while Philadelphia has 111 gallons, Balt more 92, Boston 8#, and New York 74. Much of our public water supply is used in government buildings and in public fountains. It Is not possible to compare the extent of | typhoid fever In cities with abundant water | supply with those which have an imperfect supply, or none at all, for cities well sup- plied with water are at the same time fur- nished with a good sewerage system, and it is not pessible in most citles to separate these conditions so as to discover the influ- ence of water supply alone. The example of Dantzie, however, shows that an abundant water supply alone does not diminish the death rate. This city was supplied with water in 1869, and sewered in 1872. No marked diminution in the death rate of typhoid fever occurred until after the Introduction of the sewers. Washington, with a daily individual supply of 177 gallons, has an average annual mortality of 6: while New York, with 74 gallons per capita, has 3.1 deaths yearly to 10,000 population. Abundance of water alone, as might well be supposed, does not mit the spread of typhoid fever. There ts evidence enough to show that the public water supply may be contaminated with typhoid bacilli, and thus propag-te the disease, The epidemic at Providence, R. L., in November, 1888, which was traced to the pollution of the water of the river with fecal matter from typhoid cases, three and & quarter miles above the pumping station, is a case In point. The bacilli were found by Pruden and Ernst, in the filters of the Prov- idence houses. It is an admitted fact that the disease has often been originated In this way, but it is a question as to what value this mode of infection has as compared with others. Does the typhoid fever, which {s the chief endemic fever of Washinzton, owe its continued existence to recurring of continued infection from this source? Would we eliminate the disease by purifying the Potomac supply and destroying all its or- ganic life? Von Pettenkofer and other authorities do not believe in this as a usual moe of in- fection; it is a popular belief, easily laid hold of, easily understood, but difficult to prove. ‘The Potomac water has been subect to very cai ‘ful analyses, and, “in general, the water ma, be said to be in excellent cond! tion and ‘to compare extremely favorab! ° * with that of other cities. Its chief defect” is “the presence of suspended clay in the winter” and after heavy rains | in any season. The value of the so-called biological anal- yses af drinking water 1s, as Theobald | Smith says (Medical News, Philadelphia, | Apri 9, 1887), still very unsettled. As the result of one year’s observation made by 7 and the presence of bacteria, Bacteria ware most abundant in winter, January and Feb- | ruary having the highest average; August, September and October, the months of the greatest prevalence of typhoid fever, having the lowest. Hacteria, most of which ‘ere harmless, were mest ‘abundant after heavy rains, and their presence in association with turbidity proved the then source from the washing of the surface of the soil. In the latest bacteriological report on Potomac water Theobald Smizh adheres to this statement, and says that fecal bacteria and turbidity were coineident—that is, that rainfall carries into the Potomac whatever may happen to be on the surface of ‘the soll, clay, manure from the fields, inorganic or organic matter of any sort. The nature of the country through which the Potomac ‘lows, much of it being mountainous, as we as the absence of large cities on its banks, diminish the risks of infection. As the country coms more and more under culti- vation, turbidity and impurity from the vashing of plowed and manure-covered land will be more common. The possibility of the introduction into the watef of the wicro-organism of typhoid fever is d esence in localiti 1c and its tributaries, The sr all, is not whether typhoid | be propagated in this way, but whether, as a matter of fact, ft is propaga in this way. Before ‘this question ean be determined other prob- able sources of origin must be con- sidered. Be Ge Gor waist das enue different cities of tiis | him, a relation was found between turbidity } NING STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1894-TWELVE PAGES. cause fecal bacteria are found in Potomac water, therefore typhoid fever is usually by the drinking of Potomac Bacteriology may lead us tray here, and data of a very different sort 1 ust receive due weight before a logical con- clusion can be reached. 2. The relations of the mortality of typhoid fever and its distribution in different sec- tions of the city to the pollution of the soil by the leakage from privies, and ‘o the drinking of contaminated well water. The truth of the theory may be consid- ered as established that there is a relation- ship between pollution of the soil with hu- man excrement and the drinking of weil water contaminated with the poison of typhoid fever contained in this excrement. The converse of this has aiso been abso- lutely proved that typhoid fever can be dl- minishei—almost eliminated—by a proper purification of the soil and the drinking cf pure water. Facts will be alluded to fur- ther on, which will illustrate this point. Out of a total of 1,174 squares in Washing- ten and Georgetown, deaths from typhoid fever occurred in 426 squares, or one death in about two and two-third squares. if the city is arbritarily divided into four sections, Georgetown making the fifth, and the number of deaths from typhoid fever during the last five years be marked in the localities in which they occurred, it will be seen that there is a great difference in the distribution of mortality. In region 1 (all that part of the city south of East Capitol street, and the public grounds, including the southeast and south- west parts of the city) there are a very large number of cases. In this area there were 197 fatal cases in 131 sqnares, and in region 2 (east of North Capitol street and north of East Capitol strect) in fifty-nine squares there were eighty-four deaths. In region 3, comprehending all that part west of North Capitol street and east of 1th streets and north of the public grounds, in 116 squares there were 179 cases. In region 4, west of 13th street to Georgetown and north of the river to Florida avenue, in eighty-two squares there were ld deaths. “In Georgetown in thirty-cight squares there were fifty-two fatal cases, Assuming that each death represents ten cases of typhoid fever, in the five years there were about 6,269 cases in Washing- ton, at the rate of over 1,200 cases a year. Of these there were nearly 400 cases a year in the southeast and southwest districts, 170 in the northeast, 360 in the middie re- gion, 230 in the northwest, and 100 in Georgetown, 400 in hospitals and public in- sututions, and 1 in the county. If we add the cases occurring in hospitals and the county to those in the city proper we have a total of 9,220 cases in five years, an annual average of 1,444 cases. The percentage of deaths from typhoid fever in 2ach of these divisions to the con- tained population is: CEES Ponu'ation of The interesting fact is to be noted in this table that the annual rate of mor- tality of the whole District being 6.2, that of the northwest section is 4.6; central region, 5.0; south, east, Georgetown and the county having each the same averase, prec- tcally, as that of the total District aver- a The close relation of a soll polluted by sewage to typhoid fever prevalence is ad- mitted to be a causal relationship, and no argument need here be adduced to support & theory so universally adopted. In Wash- ington and the District there are three modes of infection of the soil with human excreta and sewag?: 1. The overflow and leakage from privies. 2. ‘The leakage from defective drain pipes in the soil. 3. The backing up of sewage In the sewers draining the lower parts of the city, and the flooding of basements and cellars. The existence of the privy-method of dis- pesing of human excreta in cities ts suffi- cient evidence of a contaminated soil. Map No. 4 shows the numerical distribu- tion of the privies of Washington. There are in the city limits 8,959' box privies, 5,153 In the county, a total of 14,002. In the Ist division (South) there are In the 2d division (N. In the 3d division (C In the isicn (N. & W.) there are. In the Sth division (Geo.) there are. SSD Squares 743 to 795 in the southeast region may be cited as‘an example of the relative distribution of privies and closets with sewer connections, 3. 355 In fourteen squares in the northwest part of the city there were 153 privies and 207 closets. The report of the inspector shows that for the nine years ending June 30, 1891, there were 42,197 full or overflow privies reported, 8.455 boxes with leakage, and 663 old and apidated boxes. In one year, 1892, there were 465 boxes noted with leakage. It is difficult fo ascertain the extent to which the saturation of the soil takes place in this way, but the above facts demonstrate that the saturation with execrementitious matter is a necessary result of such conditions. 2. Every report of the engineer depart- ment of the District government contains a statement as to the relaying of pipe sew- ers. In the year 1892 there were 1,534 lin- car feet of sewer pipe which were taken up end relaid; 8.438 linear feet of obstructed sewers were replaced. “These sewers were faulty in gradient, alignment, and because of defective joints, allowing the intrusion of tree roots, and in quite a number of cases, they were of insufficient size. They were all laid under contracts made with the board of public works, in 1871-74." (Report upon the sewerage of the District of Colum- bia, by board of sanitary engineers, June, 1890.) All pipe sewers laid prior to is74 require to be replaced by those of suitable construc- tion, with joints protected by concrete. It need not be added that such defective sew- erage conditions permit the saturation of the soil with feca! matter. 3. A third canse which prevents thorough drainage of the soil and adds to the dangers from saturat'on with sewage is found in the fact that from the foot of Capitol Hill west- erly to the Potomac river there js a long, flat area ouly a few feet above high tide. To the north and east the ground rises: the soil of the lower area is moist, that of the elevated territory is composed of coimpact gravel, clay and loam, and is commaratively dry. “Owing to the absence of slope, and, therefore, of scouring velociti in the sewers In the south and east, accumula- ticns take place in the sewers, which are | added to by the entrance of tide water. In the Tiber creek sewer these deposits reach- ed two to three feet in depth and several thousand feet in length, reaching nearly to the present District building. ‘The dally ef- fect of the entrance of the tidal current into the sewer Is to prevent the complete emptying of the drains and in times of flood great quantities of noxious sewage is car- ried into cellars and basements. It. The drinking of the infected water of wells has long been known to be a mode of propagation of typhold fever. Tf the soil of the city Is recetving a considerable portion of the exereta of typhoid cases; if much of that soll is badly drained, and wet with re- turred sewage, is it possible to avoid the danger of the fouling of well water? In that low section of the city in which there is the most imperfect drainage, in which the soil is most contaminated by the defective sewerage, there are many thous: and inhabitants with 3,904 privies, drinking | the water from 14) wells. In the southern region, with 197 fatal cases, there were 140 pumps, now reduced to 87; in the northeast S4 fatal cases and 47 pumps, now reduced to in the midale area 179 death: now 42; in the rorthwest, 114 deaths, pumps, now (The number of pumps here given is taken from map ublishel by District. Comm: s‘oners in 188), and list furnished May, 1§4.) In Georgetown there were ith 18 pumps, by May list, 19 by map. It can be assumed that where there are the largest rumber of pumps there is the largest con- Aumption of well water; that well water is used most largely by the poor, and in those qvarters of the city where the water and sewer connections are fewest: and that Po- tomae and sewer conections are most numerous | We know that water from the 310 pumps existing at the report of 1889 was larg: used by the people Iving on the 426 sque in which the G26 fatal cases occurred. The number of wells here given may not be strictly correct. as errors have been found in the map of 1889. It is, however, approxi- mately correct. aven by those having access to Poto: water, well water is largely consumed] on account of its being colder during the hot rionths ef the year. The object of these considerations Is to show that the soil underlying fhe city is ing constantly impregnated with hur crementitious matter, and with all mtero-or- $2 privies 13 closets 23 privies 5 closets | 44 privies closets | 41 privies 14 closets 21 privies 19 closets 24 privies 22 closets water of wells lable to be contaminated with such material is being constantly and generally used as drinking water by the people. It is not an assumption that the well water thus consumed is infected and dan- gerous to health. It is a matter of chemical and bacteriological demonstration. At the end of 1890 there were 271 public pumps in service; 17 of these were aban- doned during the year as being no longer fit for use. In the report of the engineer of the Dis- trict for ISsy-'00 it is stated that 75 per cent of the water of weils examined was found to be suspicious: in the northwest 71 per cent was bad or suspicious; in the south- west all examined were bad or suspicious; in the northeast two out of three; in the southeast 40 per cent, and in the county 70 per cent. The report adds that the only excuse “for keeping the wells open is the filthy condition of the aqueduct water and the high temperature which it reaches in the mains in summer, often 85 degrees, which is far from palatable to the poorer classes, who are unable to purchase ice.” In the following year 9 wells were filled and abandoned. In the year ending June, 1892, of 57 wells examined 24.6 per cent were condemned or declared very suspicious; 14 were tilled and abandoned. The wells of the county were, as a rule, more contami- nated than the city wells, a condition due to the fact that the soil of the city is bet- ter drained by sewerage than that of out- lying districts. The report for the year ending June 30, 18%, states that a larger number of wells were condemned than in the previous year, “owing to the large number examined from | the low portion of the city in the southeast }and southwest sections.” Fourteen were | found dangerous. This is the very section of the city in which the number of fatal cases was so great in the five years, The following report of bacteriological examinations of thirteen wells made for the committee by Dr. J. J. Kinyoun fortifies these views of the general unhealthfulness of the well waters: ee, 2 & EES cz 4 science #4 2 AS = oe 23 2 B82 33. eyo tp d PRES TE | 2733 fags ie : & 233 | feb gh é tects Seuteil § # Fog e? 23325 & iS a2 si adeg é Seay Gagne 2 ¢ Bae Fy 4 é | ag = 2 2 Pye Wer = § Pas g pte F ESE Eg? or: 2? | 2 2 3 | 2 HE ELEEEELE id |’: f inie TEE REL | f et eiirt=2&]| | ‘SHPEEL Pisses! € nies eeeege! § bh. PEF ae In the recently published report of the ex- }amination of the water of the city wells by Drs. Theobald Smith and Mew sixteen wells were reported as examined. bacterio- logically by Dr. Smith, and the conclusions reached were favorable to the general pur- ity of the well water. Five wells only were ‘found to contain fecal bacteria; the water |of four was in good condition, and that of seven in need of improvement. The suggestion is made by Dr. Smith that | | the wells upon which a favorable report is made should be retained, that others | Should be improved and that bacteriological \examinations should be made at least once @ year to determine the fitness or unfitness | of the water for drinking purposes, He.also | Suggests that wells considered safe should | be So labeled. But is not the fact that | some wells at a particular date contain fecal bacteria a sufficient reason for con- jdemning the whole system? As long as causes of soil pollution exist, is pot one well as liable, or nearly as liable, to contamination as another? And the fact that one well contains no bacteria, another a few and another many is no proof that all are not liable in different degrees to be- | come at some time infected. To be under jthe necessity of labeling each particular | Well as healthy or unhealthy, after annual | | examination, is an endicss task and a most | unscientitic procedure, for how many in- | dividuals who wish to quench their thirst will be influenced by the published state- ment impugning the reputation of a par-! ticular well? Even if the individual knows that bacteria are found he will drink and take the risk. As sanitarians, we must condemn the whole system, and advise an early abandonment of all wells as the only solution of the question. The advice con- tained in the report of the Sanitary League we believe to be mischievous, and to in- volve a continued menace to health. It should be remembered that the water of the sixteen wells reported upon by Dr, Smith is of these which have been permitted to stay, and that over sixty have within the last five years been condemned and filled up. Dr. Kinyoun finds sewage and | fecal bacteria in nine out of thirteen ex- aminel. For how long a time will these now reported upon as free from fecal bac- teria remain so, with the continued pres- | ence of :yphoid fever among us? Shall we | wait for the infection to take place, or shall | we remove the possibility of the dissemina- | tion of the disease in this way? These are | questions te which we should give no un- certain answer. The lesson of Vienna should teach us |} what this answer should be. From 1851 to 1874 well water of an impure character was used to a large extent. During this time the deaths from typhoid fever ranged from | 10 to 34 annually in every 10,000 of the | population. In 1874 spring water of great | | purity was introduced, and the well water | |of impure wells was given up. ‘The annual | | mortality rate immediately fell to 5.0, and in jthree subsequent years to 1.1. sewerage system was in existence long be- | | fore this, bat it had no effect in reducing | the mortality. } One fact to which separate attention | should be drawn is that many of our cases of typhoid fever are Imported from without. At the end of the summer it Is a frequent | occurrence for the disease to develop in in- dividvels who have just returned from sea- shore and other resorts, and a much larger number of our inhabitants go out of town now than formerly. This Is one means by which our mortality 1s increased, and fresh infection is added to that already existing. Infection Through Milk. milx supply in the District has not been in- vestigated fully enough to warrant any ex- tended remarks or conclusions. It would be well to make this a separate matter of | study, It is safe to assume from the ex- perience of many observers elsewhere that phoid fever is to a certain extent propa- ted by milk; there is nothing In the con- dition of the dairies from which our supply s drawn to maice us think that we are bet- | ter protected from this danger than other ! communities where epidemics have | traced to milk infection. There are sixty-five distinct places in the District where cows are kept and from | which milk is supplied. Conclusions, It has been shown that in Washington there is a coincidence between a soll pol- luted with the leakage of the excreta from typhoid fever patients, the drinking of in- fected weil water and an extensive distribu- tion of typhoid fever; that where these two ‘ water is used chiefly where the water | fitst conditions exist to the greatest degree | typhoid fever is most prevalent. It re- mains to be seen whether the purification of the soil, and the abolition of the | supply from pumps, would lessen the dis- ense. ‘ | "the belief that typhoid fever-spreads by “soil contamination” would be much strengthened if other cities with the same s have diminished the percentage isease by draining the soil and oning the use of well water. phoid fever increases in proportion saturation of the soil with decom- organic mz especially human | | . ‘Typhoid fever decreases in proportion esa city is well sewered. ‘The dissemination of typhoid fever by the | showed the number of deaths from typhotd | has taken place in England and Germany, where expert engineers and liberal munici- pal governments have combined in the work of sewering the principal cities, In the cities of Spain, Italy, Russia and Mex- ico, where the sewerage systems are less complete, the diminution has not taken Place. The history of Munich offers the strongest evidence on this point. From 1854 to 1859, when no means existed to prevent the fouling of the soil, the mor- tality was 24 to 10,000 inhabitants. From 1860-65 the sides and bottoms of the pits of the privies were cemented, and the mortality feil to 16.90. From 1866-73, with partial sewerage, it was 13.20; from 1874 to 1880, with improved sewerage, it was 9.26, and from 1881 to 1884, with still greater improvements, it fell to 1.75 to 10,000 inhabitants. The experience of Berlin is very instruc- tive to Washington, as showing the differ- ence in mortality in houses with sewer con- nections and in houses without them where privies were used. 1, In_ houses with sewer connections there were 15.5 cases and 4.5 deaths to 10,000 population, In houses without sewer connections there were 56.0 cases and 17.9 deaths. 1, In sewered houses there was one case to each 49.3 houses and 1 death to 137.5 houses. there 2. In non-sewered was 1 case tc each ¥.3 houses and one death to 43 houses. In Dantzic, with a wretched system of privies, there were 10 deaths to 10,000 inhab- itants. The introduction of an abundant water supply in 1869 produced no effect on the death rate. The city was sewered in 1872. In the following twelve years the average mortality was 2.4 and in the last five years was only 1.5. In Breslau in 1866, without sewers, the mortality was 15.2; in 1876, with sewers, it dropped to 5.5 to 10,000 inhabitants. In the cities of England, be- fore any extensive sewerage systems were introduced, from 1850 to ISTI, the mortality Was 9.0; from 1876 to 1884, it was 3.6, the change following upon a general introduc- tion of sewer drai Brooklyn and New York have the best sewerage systems in this country. New York has 300 miles of sewers, but Brooklyn is perhaps the best sewered large city. New York has a mortality of 3.0 and Brooklyn 1.5. The mortality of Brooklyn, our best sewered city, is lower than Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Vienna, which are the best sewered cities of Europe. And when a city is said to be sewered, this means that water closets are substituted for privies, and the soil is kept free from contamina- tion. ‘To turn now to other cities in this coun- try, Baltimore, as Osler in his excellent re- port says, “has practically only surface sewerage. * * * The excreta pass, for the most part, into privy pits, of which it has been estimated there are from 70,000 to $0,000, occupying one-twentieth of the entire surface of the city, exclusive of streets end parks.” Leakage, he says, unquestionably occurs in a very large number, with satura- tion of the ground in the vicinity. Balti- more has a mortality of 4.8, more than three times that of lyn. Washington, whose sewerage system is very in most ts, but with fatal defects which diminish its efficiency and with that equally great danger from soil pollution from its 9,000 privies, has an aver- age annual mortality of 6.2 in the last thir- teen years. This is four times the death rate of Brooklyn, twice that of New York, and the same us that of Philadelphia. The daily pollution of tue soil by the fecal discharges of our patients suffering from typhoid fever,with the resulting contamina- tion of well water,must be ized as the chief source of the diffusion of the disease. It is a case of auto-infection. We are dally breeding the poison which poisons us, and the inevitable round from intestine to soil, from soi! to well, and from well back to in- testine, goes on and on with the most tragic uniformity. We sustain all the conditions favorable to rapid and perfect propagation and Descham; of the bacilli. Granches Lied have experimentally shown that typhoid germs placed on the surface of frequently moistened ground will penetrate nearly two feet into the soil, and will there retain life for five and a half months. They multiply rapidly in illy drained soil, ve for an in- definite time in privy vaults, and have a much longer existence in cisterns and wells than in running water. In Washington we supply all these neces- | sary conditions—leaking privies for the re- ception of the excreta and their contained germs,a damp and illy drained soll for their reception and rapid growth, neighboring wells for the resulting—the inevitably re- sulting—contamination of drinking water consumed by a thirsty population. What more conveniences can we supply? What more successful means can we adopt to raise our mortality to a point higher than that of Brooklyn, New York, Baltimore and Boston? We are among the most success- ful cultivators of the deadly bacillary plant in this country. Recommendations. The committee would urge upon the Medi- cal Society the importance of taking the initiative in the effort to control the spread of this destructive but preventable disease by urging upon our municipal government and upon Congress the prompt adoption of measures to remove the causes te which this report has drawn attention. The measures to be recommended are: 1. The immediate abandonment of all wells within the city limits, exception only to be made in case of the absence of the Potomac supply, and where the wells, after repeated chemical and bacteriological exam- inations, have been found to be free from all possible sources of danger. But even ee to be abandoned as rapidly as possi- 2. Purification of the sewerage system al- ready existing, by replacing as rapidly as possible all damaged or defective drains. 3. The introduction of new sewers in ad- vance of other improvements in parts of the city not now supplied with drainage, and the extension of the system as far out- side of the city limits as the rapidly srow- ing population demands, so as to prevent soil contamination, 4. The adoption of some system by which the lower sections of the city can, be more completely drained, and the risks arising from the backing up of tide water and sew- age prevented. 5. The final and safe disposal of the sew- ¢. age. 8. The early completion of the plans rec- ommended by Col. Elliot, in charge of the Washington aqueduct, and now in course of execution, which have in view the sedi- mentation of the Potomac water, and ulti- mately the completion of works for filtra- neg the only proper method of purifica- ion. 7, The suppression of all privies and the ow of the law to make sewer connec- tions. ‘8. Careful inspection of all dairies in the District from which our milk supply is drawn and the enactment of a law by which no milk shall be sold in the District with- out a permit from the health office. The inspection should cover an examination at the dairies of all possible sources of infec- tion, including the water supply. 9 The urging upon the members of the | profession of a careful collation of all facts bearing upon the mode of infection in each case, and the advantage of reporting such facts to the society, and the propagation of the doctrine that immediate disinfection of the stools is the first duty of the physician pos guardian of the health of the commu- nity, G. L. MAGRUDER, W. W. JOHNSTON, Cc. M. HAMMETT, Committee. Typhoid Statistics. The most striking chart exhibited in con- nection with the report was one which j fever to cach 10,000 inhabitants in sewered | | and unsewered cities on an average during | |five years, 1880-1884. In cities with good | {sewers and general water supply the aver- wes were as follows: Munich. 1.7; Dantzig, | t. 1.4; Breslau, 3.3; Hamburg, | Brussels, 3.3; London, j Berlin, 2. twenty-eight English citi New York, 3%; Brooklyn, Washington, 4.6; Washington (885-90), 6.7. In cities | ] | without sewers or very imperfectly sewered ithe yearly averages for each 10,000 resi- | jdents were as follows: Paris, |seilles. 12.8; ‘Turin, Napies ‘(1 | Palermo (‘81-84), Catania, | cities in Italy (SI-82), 9.5; St. Petersbur Riga (‘81 15.8; Buda-Pesth twenty German cities .°78-82), Orleans (water supply from ci: ve ground), 2.7; Baltimore (abun- 4.8; Cincinnati, 7.3, {terns abo | dant water supply), cab S, 0 Suicides of Europea From the Army and Navy Gazette. A foreign military paper gives ‘he rate of iclues in the German army as 6.23 per | 10,000; in the French army as 2.33 per 10,- | 000; and in the English army as 2.07. Sui- | cldes in the German army are said to be | caused by the exaggerated sense of honor in | the soldiers of that nation, the fear of pun- lishment, and, lastly, ill treatment. ‘The sol- | diers from Silesia end Prussian Saxony a: ford the largest number of Suicides. It | noted that suicides are more common both | among civilians and soldiers in Germany | than in other European countries. H SS enforce a Judgment creditor's bill of and costs amounting to $33.85 on lot block 9, Isherwood, Barney McQuade Soldiers, To ‘has filed a bill in eauity against John A. }lows’ Hall on-Columbus street last digl | Confederate Infaniry, 8: IMPORTANT NAVAL CHANGES Coming Transfers and Retirements of Prominent Officers. Ae SEES, Observatory=Changes in the Stations of Vessels. be A number of important naval assignments will be made in the near future. Capt Phythian’s term as superintendent of the Naval Académy ts nearing an end. It is Practically settled that he will be succeéded by Admiral Walker, new commanding the Pacific station, as soon as he can be spared from his mysterious diplomatic functions at Honolulu, probably early in “August. Commodore Fyffe, commandant of tlie Bos- ton navy yard, will retire next month on account of age. Commodore J. N. Miller, recently in command of the receiving ship Vermont, at New York, will probably guc- ceed him. Several important changes in commands aftoat ‘are imminent. Capt. Phillips,commanding the New Yor will be relieved soon after that Vessel x4 turns from Bluefields. Counting his pre- vious service on the Atlanta, bis tour of sea duty will be up next month. His most pI Succéssor is Capt. ‘Theodore F. Kane, now on duty at New York, as presi- dent of the board of inspectors of me rehant vessels. Capt. Allen V. Reed, now on wait- ing orders, stands chance, however, for this assignment. Capt. Watson, command- ing the San Francisco, will also be given shore duty, on the return of that vessel from Bluefields. His two years’ cruise awill be up on the 24 proximo. It ts said the San Francisco is to go out of commission and be fitted up as the flagship of the tain- ing squadron at Newport. ‘ihe Lancaster, on her way home from China, and the Alliance, on her away hor from the’ Pacific, will be put out of tom- mission on their arrival at New York and Norfolk, respectively, and their command- ers, Capt. A. A. McCormick and Comman4- er T. A. Lyons, will be given shote duty, Commander Charles V. Gridiey, commana- ing the Marion, will also be detached on her arrival at San Francisco, and Capt. Chas. H. SS will probably succeed him in command, provided the vessel is con- tinued in commission. Charieston and Philadelphia. The cruiser Charleston, which has gust returned to the Pacific station from ber visit to Hampton Roads and New Yorl, where she took part in the Columbian naval re- view, will be put im dry dock at Callao, Peru, and given a thorough overhauling, including the scraping and painting of her bottom. When the state of ataia te Peru justifies her departure, she will proceed to Honolulu and ry the Philadelphia of further duty in waters. The Phila- delphia has been at anchor in the harbor of Honolulu for eight months.without a crajse, and her bottom is very foul from an accu- mulation of marie vegetation, which is of extremely rapid growth inthat section of the world. When relieved, the Philadelphia will proceed to San Francisco and: be put in thorough repair for further service. Chief Engineer G. J. now on duty at San Francisco, has been ordered to Callao for duty on. the Charleston, relieving Chief Engineer H. H. Cline, who has been in- valided home. —__- --______ ALEXANDRIA NEWS. Local Happenings of Interest on the Virginia Side. Mr. J. T. Beckham, president of the board of the western state hospital, at Staunton, returned last night. While in Staunton “he Succeeded in getting the officials of the Chesapeake anf@ Ohio road to pat in a coal track and dump, which has been’needed for @ number of years: Work will be begun on the track at once. ‘ J The Alexandria Athletics and the crack Rockville base bali team will cross bats on Colross commons tomorrow aftetnoon, and @ close contést is expected. The Athletics will go to Rockville on Saturday t» play the return game. The little cook shop of Presley colored man, was emtered by thieves about noon yesterday, and @ jot of cake and other edibles stolen. Three col- ored men, who -were seen -loating in the vicinity, have been arrested, charge with the offense. The Alexandria Brick Company ‘esumed operations this morning, at their plant on Hunting creek. This will give ‘cmnployment to fifty hands. A. T. Motley, a brakeman on the Rich- ang nee Danville railroad, was quite bed- ly, though not seriously, hurt near Spripg= field station yesterday. He was stasding of &@ car which jumped the track, hrowing him to the grounl. He was brougtt to this city and attended by the compasy’s sur- seon, Dr. M. W. O'Brien. At a meeting of the Columbia Fite Com- pany last night only routine busitess was transacted. Some finishing touches were gut on the arfangements for the arip te Hagerstown on the 14th instant. The Grand Camp of Confederate Teterans, which is in session here, was hawisoguiy entertained at a banquet given at Odd o the members of R. Lee Camp of this city. Covers were for eighty. It was one of the handsomest spreads ever seen in this city. The following toasts were re- *ponded té: “The Grand Camp,” by Com- mander Hugh R. Smith of Petersterg ” by Col. T, ten of Staunton; “The Artillery,” John Murphy of Richmond; avy.” by State Senator Stubbs of Gbucester; by Dr, Powell ef Prince “The South,” by Col. N. ,. 3; “The Women of the;Coufeder- acy,” by Col. Bernal of Petersburg; "R. EB. Lee Camp and Alexandria” was responded to by Col. Thos. E. Pollard of Richmond.» The camp resumed its session this morning “and will adjourn this evening. Many of the veterans have ridden over the electric road to Mt. Vernon today. “The time for taking out dog Noenses ex- Pires on Monday next. So far about nineiy , licenses have been issued, «lthough there. are nearly a8 many thousand dogs in the elty. The pupils of St. Mary's Academy went to River View on an excursion yesterday. There was an exciting chase in the nei borhood of “Hard” corner yesterday af ncon about 4 o'clock. From what cou! learned, it appears that a colored man ed Lewis Gordon had some words w women with whom he was livng, name Maria Johnson, and when she answered him back he got mad and jumpaf on her and a! most kicked and beat hor to geath. The polic@ were at once sent fof and Officers Gayton and Arrington responded! promptly. As scon as Gordon Saw the officers he made up his mind he would not be caught, so started on the run. The officers tmmeiiaiely fol- lowed, and a hot chase was had for about ten squares. The oMficer got close enough on Gordon to halt him by drawing his re- volver, and he stopped short. He was take to the station house and this morning a fine of $20 was imposed on him. About twe hundred people gathered on the corner an¢ witnessed the chase. ——— THE COMFORT OF WIGS. Especially Do Red Wigs Re; the Elderly Society Woman. From Lonéon Truth. Byzantium, Rursia ani Egypt have all been in turn borrowed from by Sarah Bern- hardt. who is as eager on pic aa sculptures at both salons as if she were not the hardest-worked actress in Europe, and never went to bed before 2 in the mornin, She Is Resicrucian in her hair. the shedes of which very according to the prevailing tone of her get-up. Of course, her tocks are owed. tovuat'T wonder at ts that wirs are not universal. They do such goed service in eparing the natcral hair. One can dye a wig to teste without unpiensantnees to the calp. Iam getting reaily to like the wispy wig of a hue that nature neve> could have invented. A beauty born with red hair looks so much better in a dark wig, or a flaxen or an amber-colore4 one, than in what nature gave her. The red ~ig makes a dark-complexioned person going on to y almost seem young. AT ymet the other day @ dealer of fashion who danced at tne fancy ball xiven thirty- | three years ago by the kimpzess Eugenie in her house in the Champs Flysees, which was tnen known as the Hotel @’Albe. It was the fancy ball te which the Princess Mathilte went as an Indion, wearing une robe ‘eFerement attechee. This fashionable person might have easily passed for being any age from thirty to thirty-one. eo keeps a gond fizure and bright eyes, an the snow of years is hidden by @ red Rosie crucian wig. 200 A gasoline stove exploded in Adam Long’s house, No. 1526 —— street, — sas City, Tuesday, and two servant Mary Giynn and Nora Keivel, were friehe- t 21 Ny %