Part 3

21.8 per 1,000 in 1876 20.3 ” ” ” 1877 17.2 ” ” ” 1878 19.5 ” ” ” 1879 23.9 ” ” ” (9 months) 1880

The average would be 20.5 per 1,000 annually which is at least six above what it should be.

Herewith I give a table of recent sanitary analyses of our city well and cistern waters, which startlingly outline the impending dangers and serve as texts for many cases of ill health and death already met by those who have drank the waters.

The first and second samples were taken from two wells in the rear of a block having about twenty occupants. An inspection of the back yard and alley showed an immense amount of filth. There was no sewer to carry away slop or excrementitious matters. A large privy vault was in the rear of the block. There was one well north and another south of the vault, and about twenty feet from it. These wells supplied the water to the occupants of the block. Six cases of scarlet fever were there developed and three of them died. The other persons in the block were constantly ailing. One of the leading physicians of the city attributed the outbreak of the fever to the bad surroundings and the impure water.

The third sample was taken from a well on East Walnut street. The family using the water were more or less sick all the time. Languor, loss of appetite and spirits, sleeplessness, or nightmare, morning diarrhœa, headache and nausea, one or all, continually annoyed those drinking the water. The privy vault, twelve feet deep was forty feet northeast of the well.

The fourth sample was obtained from a well on North Tennessee street. Throat affections, fevers, diarrhœas, headaches with malaise, etc., made up the list of the complaints of the family using the water.

The fifth sample came from a well on North Alabama street. During the last three months, among those who drank the water there were three who had scarlet fever—one of whom died. And so on similar reports can be made of the other samples, except those marked “good” or “excellent.”

SANITARY ANALYSIS OF WELL WATERS.

==============+===============================+================= | | PARTS PER | GRAMS PER LITRE. | MILLION. WHERE FROM +----------+--------+-----------+--------+-------- | _Total_ |_Organ._|_Chlorine._| _Free_ | _Alb._ |_Solids._ |_Volat._| | _Amm._ | _Amm._ --------------+----------+--------+----------+--------+-------- Susqueh. st. | 1.53 | .62 | .117 | .12 | .33 Susqueh. st. | .88 | .33 | .088 | .07 | .16 East Waln. st.| 1.32 | .72 | .127 | .04 | .18 N.Tenn. st. | .94 | .41 | .077 | .05 | .0612 N.Alabam. st. | 1.126 | .616 | .096 | .055 | .057 N.Ills. st. | .60 | .18 | .043 | .01 | .24 N.Merid. st. | .24 | .012 | .008 | trace | trace N.Alabama | .68 | .30 | .045 | .01 | .14 Hoyt Av. | .30 | .16 | .0018 | .12 | .04 N.Penn. st. | 1.41 | .03 | .075 | .24 | .4 Blackford st. | .78 | .28 | .038 | .04 | .4 N.N.Jersey st.| .798 | .178 | .104 | .05 | .39 E.Ohio st. | 1.032 | .50 | .09 | .04 | .19 ==============+==========+========+===========+========+======== | | | |_Nitrates_|_Degree_| WHERE FROM | _and_ | _of_ | OPINION. |_Nitrites_|_Hardn._| --------------+----------+--------+------------- Susqueh. st. | much | 3 | Bad. Susqueh. st. | much | 2½ | Bad. East Waln. st.| much | 1½ | Bad. N.Tenn. st. | much | 2 | Suspicious. N.Alabam. st | much | 3³/₁₀ | Bad. N.Ills. st. | much | 2½ | Very bad. N.Merid. st. | trace | 1½ | Excellent. N.Alabama | little | 2 | Suspicious. Hoyt Av. | little | 1 | Good. N.Penn. st. | much | ½ | Rotten cist. Blackford st. | much | 1½ | Very bad. N.N.Jersey st.| much | 2 | Bad. E.Ohio st. | much | 4 | Bad. ==============+==========+========+==============

================+===============================+============== | - GRAMS PER LITRE. | PARTS pr MILL NAME +----------+--------+-----------+------+------- | _Total_ |_Organ._|_Chlorine._|_Free_| _Alb._ |_Solids._ |& _Vol._| |_Amm._| _Amm._ ----------------+----------+--------+-----------+------+------- E. Verm’t st. | .908 | .36 | .058 | .12 | .13 Davidson st. | .848 | .34 | .08 | .20 | .08 E. St. Joseph. | .738 | .21 | .035 | .06 | .22 E. Mich. st. | 1.588 | .96 | .09 | .12 | .202 N. Tenn. st. | .968 | .48 | .07 | .06 | .28 N. Penn. st. | .928 | .4 | .065 | .025 | .20 New York st. | .5 | .13 | .04 | none | none N. East st. | 1.788 | .874 | .09 | .08 | .22 Irvington. | .697 | .29 | .04 | none | .03 N. Merid st. | 1.06 | .57 | .10 | .08 | .164 N. Delaw. st. | .86 | .36 | .95 | .07 | .10 N. Tenn. st. | .44 | .14 | .007 | .01 | .00 Blind Asyl’m. | .65 | .214 | .025 | .01 | .042 N. East st. | 1.00 | .62 | .34 | .114 | .142 332 N. Miss. st.| .68 | .321 | .043 | .03 | .234 ================+==========+========+===========+======+======= |_Nitrates_|_Degree_| NAME | _and_ | _of_ | OPINION. |_Nitrites_|_Hardn._| ----------------+----------+--------+------------ E. Verm’t st. | small | 6 | Very susp. Davidson st. | large | 6½ | Very susp. E. St. Joseph. | large | 4.2 | Bad. E. Mich. st. | large | 5½ | Bad. N. Tenn. st. | large | 3½ | Bad. N. Penn. st. | large | 5 | Bad. New York st. | none | 3½ | Excellent. N. East st. | large | 4 | Bad. Irvington. | small | 3½ | Good. N. Merid st. | large | 3½ | Bad. N. Delaw. st. | large | 5 | Bad. N. Tenn. st. | none | 2 | Driven good. Blind Asyl’m. |{ heavy | 2½ | Driven good. |{ slight | | N. East st. | large | 4 | Very bad. 332 N. Miss. st.| large | 4½ | Very bad. ================+==========+========+============

================+===============================+=============== | GRAMS PER LITRE. | PARTS pr MILL NAME +----------+--------+-----------+------+-------- | _Total_ |_Organ._|_Chlorine._|_Free_| _Alb._ |_Solids._ |& _Vol._| |_Amm._| _Amm._ ----------------+----------+--------+-----------+------+-------- Blackford st. | 0.78 | 0.39 | 0.38 | .04 | .4 Peru st. | 0.54 | 0.36 | 0.025 | .03 | .13 N. Penn. st. | 0.65 | 0.38 | 0.03 | .08 | .10 N. Alab. st. | 0.48 | 0.24 | 0.059 | .06 | .06 N. Delaw. st. | 0.54 | 0.22 | 0.31 | .029 | .182 School st. | 0.994 | 0.414 | 0.10 | .04 | .16 East Ohio st. | 1.04 | 0.63 | 0.47 | .12 | .22 Mass. av. | 0.89 | 0.39 | 0.213 | .07 | .13 E. Ohio | 0.892 | 0.374 | 0.121 | .04 | .10 N.N. Jersey | 0.78 | 0.29 | 0.08 | .03 | .13 E. Pratt | 0.69 | 0.28 | 0.074 | .02 | .09 E. Maryland | 0.99 | 0.47 | 0.111 | .07 | .199 Bellfontain | 0.49 | 0.19 | 0.004 | .03 | .022 Christian av. | 0.67 | 0.23 | 0.012 | .035 | .06 East Verm’t | 0.59 | 0.19 | 0.12 | .03 | .09 ================+==========+========+===========+======+======== |_Nitrates_|_Degree_| NAME | _and_ | _of_ | OPINION. |_Nitrites_|_Hardn._| ----------------+----------+--------+------------ Blackford st. | large | 6½ | Bad. Peru st. | small | 12 | Suspicious. N. Penn. st. | small | 3 | Suspicious. N. Alab. st. | small | 7 | Good. N. Delaw. st. | large | 4 | Bad. School st. | large | 5½ | Very bad. East Ohio st. | large | 7 | Abominable. Mass. av. | large | 4½ | Bad. E. Ohio | large | 3½ | Bad. N.N. Jersey | large | 3½ | Bad. E. Pratt | large | 4 | Bad. E. Maryland | large | 7 | Very bad. Bellfontain | small | 4 | Good. Christian av. | large | 4 | Passably good. East Verm’t | large | 3½ | Suspicious. ================+==========+========+============

================+===============================+=============== | GRAMS PER LITRE. | PARTS pr MILL NAME +----------+-------+------------+------+-------- | _Total_ |_Organ._|_Chlorine._|_Free_ | _Alb._ | _Solids._|& _Vol._| | _Amm._| _Amm._ ----------------+----------+--------+-----------+-------+------- N. Alab. st. | .832 | .56 | .059 | .70 | .12 N. Alab. st. | .79 | .39 | .055 | .64 | .10 N. N. Jersey | .82 | .39 | .09 | .06 | .09 N. N. Jersey | .91 | .40 | .055 | .08 | .12 Alab. & Waln. | .87 | .39 | .067 | .11 | .10 N. Penn. st. | 1.04 | .62 | .111 | .16 | .204 Oak st. | .57 | .24 | .014 | .02 | .009 E. Verm’t st. | .66 | .29 | .04 | .05 | .07 S. Merid. st. | .89 | .385 | .07 | .07 | .09 S. Penn. st. | 1.24 | .81 | .22 | .19 | .22 S. Penn. st. | .87 | .33 | .072 | .095 | .088 Vir. Av. | 1.12 | .50 | .79 | .11 | .29 E. Wash. st. | .79 | .33 | .09 | .107 | .18 N. West st. | .83 | .42 | .07 | .067 | .093 E. South st. | .74 | .22 | .03 | .03 | .06 ================+==========+========+===========+=======+======= |_Nitrates_|_Degree_| NAME | _and_ | _of_ | OPINION. |_Nitrites_|_Hardn._| ----------------+----------+--------+------------ N. Alab. st. | large | 4½ | Very susp. N. Alab. st. | large | 5 | Very susp. N. N. Jersey | med. | 5 | Suspicious. N. N. Jersey | large | 5 | Bad. Alab. & Waln. | large | 4½ | Bad. N. Penn. st. | large | 7 | Very bad. Oak st. | small | 4 | Good. E. Verm’t st. | small | 4½ | Good. S. Merid. st. | large | 6 | Very susp. S. Penn. st. | large | 7 | Abominable. S. Penn. st. | large | 5 | Bad. Vir. Av. | large | 4½ | Very bad. E. Wash. st. | large | 4½ | Bad. N. West st. | large | 6½ | Bad. E. South st. | med. | 5 | Passable. ================+==========+========+===========

================+===============================+============== | GRAMS PER LITRE. | PARTS pr MILL NAME +----------+--------+-----------+-------+------ | _Total_ |_Organ._|_Chlorine._|_Free_ |_Alb._ | _Solids._|& _Vol._| | _Amm._|_Amm._ ----------------+----------+--------+-----------+-------+------ S. East st. | .82 | .39 | .05 | .037 | .114 E. Market st. | .97 | .32 | .12 | .049 | .23 E. Mich. st. | 1.12 | .57 | .07 | .072 | .17 Central av. | .607 | .22 | .044 | .041 | .09 Laurel st. | .92 | .38 | .089 | .105 | .38 East Georgia | .62 | .49 | .072 | 1.08 | .427 Broadway st. | .63 | .30 | .022 | .03 | .04 East N. Y. st. | .59 | .21 | .094 | .07 | .07 N. N. Jersey | .66 | .24 | .07 | .08 | .069 N. N. Jersey | .68 | .22 | .075 | .09 | .066 N. Illinois st. | .80 | .31 | .03 | .039 | .113 Hoyt av. | .30 | .06 | 0.1 | .04 | .06 W. St Clair st. | .83 | .32 | 0.7 | .045 | .112 N. Tenn. st. | .69 | .27 | 0.55 | .07 | .09 N. Tenn. st. | .66 | .19 | .065 | .09 | .11 W. North st. | .74 | .30 | .04 | .09 | .12 E. North st. | .69 | .28 | .03 | .08 | .08 N. Delaw. st. | .75 | .29 | .075 | .07 | .11 ================+==========+========+===========+=======+====== |_Nitrates_|_Degree_| NAME | _and_ | _of_ | OPINION. |_Nitrites_|_Hardn._| ----------------+----------+--------+------------ S. East st. | large | 5 | Bad. E. Market st. | v. large | 4½ | Very bad. E. Mich. st. | large | 4½ | Very bad. Central av. | med. | 6½ | Suspicious. Laurel st. | v. large | 6½ | Very bad. East Georgia | large | 1½ | Very bad. Broadway st. | small | 7 | Good. East N. Y. st. | large | 6½ | Bad. N. N. Jersey | large | 7 | Bad. N. N. Jersey | large | 6½ | Bad. N. Illinois st. | large | 6½ | Suspicious. Hoyt av. | small | 4 | Good. W. St Clair st. | large | 7 | Very susp. N. Tenn. st. | med. | 6½ | Very susp. N. Tenn. st. | large | 6½ | Very susp. W. North st. | large | 6½ | Bad. E. North st. | large | 6½ | Suspicious. N. Delaw. st. | large | 7 | Bad. ================+==========+========+============ J. N. HURTY, Analyst.

It is very surprising to me that many people are so ignorant in regard to impure water and its deleterious effect on health. I have met with “would be” highly educated persons who have regarded, and do regard any agitation of this subject, as of little value to the public, and as very damaging to the fair fame of the city, and for that reason to be at all hazards covered up and kept secret.

They also express the thought that every kind of water is filled with microscopic creatures, and that a small amount of filth or dirt in drinking water does no special harm to anyone. All this is the opposite of the facts. Prof. Barnard, of Cornell University, says: “Pure water is not inhabited by organisms; on the contrary stagnant water or impure water alone affords them subsistence. They hasten the destruction of dead animal and vegetable matters the waters may contain, causing for the time being an infusion or fermentation.”

Macdonald states that “mineral particles may affect health on account of their mechanical action, as for example when mineral silt or clay causes diarrhœa. Dead animal and vegetable substances may have more important effects, as when suspended fecal matter produces irritation of the whole alimentary tract. On the other hand, living things, such as the ova of entozoa, the nematoid worms and small leeches may give rise at once to certain grave disorders, or algæ may act on sulphates and disengage sulphuretted hydrogen.”

Pure water is one of God’s best gifts to man, and if that is allowed to be adulterated the impairment of our health and the destruction of our happiness is sure to follow.

In the samples of dug well waters which have recently been analyzed, the following animalculæ in addition to those given above were found by the use of the different powers of the microscope:

At Indianapolis we have on the Board of Health three earnest and capable physicians who thoroughly understand the present necessities and stand ready to enforce all laws pertaining to public health; but our laws on hygiene are very inefficient, and the power and usefulness of the board are unwisely limited; therefore the board can do little towards averting the calamity already upon us. The Board of Health need more money, more men and the largest liberty of action.

We shall never have a healthy city until the health department is advanced to the position it deserves. We need a vigorous public sentiment in favor of cleanliness and hygienic measures. The best thought and energies of physicians and scientists everywhere should be directed to questions pertaining to water supply, sewerage and garbage of cities, and if necessary to secure proper legislation, the people must arise in their might and compel timid and shortsighted rulers to give better laws on sanitary matters and more money to make the laws effective.