Sanitary Analysis of Water. This water carried large amounts of iron and gave an ochreous deposit on standing. The gathering area is evidently one of the ochreous peat bogs common in that locality. Aside from the fact that such a water might cause malarial troubles, it is probably not unwholesome. A. S. MITCHELL, State Chemist. WASHINGTON COUNTY. Kewaskum-Biological analysis, November 20, 1897. The following report is herewith submitted on sample of water received from Dr. H. M. Morganroth of Kewaskum, Washington county, on November 12. The report on same has been unavoidably delayed a few days by my absence from town. Water received in fair condition. Temperature on arrival, 46°F. Water faintly opalescent, taken from pump in well. Water was sent in two small bottles, without any indica uon as to source. Tests were made of both samples, but there was suca uniformity in results that respective waters were undoubtedly from same source. One sample contained 650 bacteria per cc, while the other had 725. Liquefying bacteria were fairly abundant in both samples, and in each there were from 4-5 different species. The character of the bacteria were those of usual water organisms, although all cultures showed bacteria that accompany the' decomposition of organic matter The fermentation tests showed in each sample a small amount of gas, rauging from 2-5 per cent. Lactose agar plates failed to reveal fecal organisms. From above results, I would consider that the water at present shows no sewage organisms, but that the conditions are such, as determined by the presence of decomposition bacteria, that if these come from the surface there would be a possible source of danger in case of contagious disease. The conditions are such that the well should receive attention as to possibility of surface drainage. H. L. RUSSELL, Consulting Bacteriologist. Kewaskum--Chemical analysis, December 1, 1897. The following is a report of examination of water from "pump in well" from Kewaskum, sent by H. W. Morganroth, M. D., health officer: Residue did not darken upon ignition. I consider this water reason ably pure. A. S. MITCHELL, Sanitary Analysis of Water. WOOD COUNTY. Marshfield-Biological analysis, January 10, 1898. The following report is submitted on sample of water received from Dr. W. H. Budge, Marshfield, Wis., January 5. Several cases of typhoid have developed in families using this water. A bacteriological examination shows about 500-550 per cc. mad p of five different species, among them numerous colonies of pro.us vulgaris, a species generally associated with the decomposition of animal or vegetable matter, were found. In lactose agar at high temperature a copious growth was noted, a fact that indicates presence of fecal organisms. In fermentation tests considerable gas was formed, but the Bacillus coli communis could not be detected. The presence of the putrefactive proteus colonies may be due to sewage origin or from some decomposing vegetable matter. They are not present in perfectly pure waters, but, on the other hand, their presence in and of itself should not absolutely condemn the water. Under the circumstances, I should consider the water as suspicious, although the chemical examination may tell whether the difficulty is merely temporary or has been existing for some time. H. L. RUSSELL, Consulting Bacteriologist. Marshfield-Chemical analysis, January 12, 1898. The sample of water sent by Dr. W. H. Budge, health officer, Marshfield, Wis., tested as follows: This is a soft water, the mineral matter of which consists largely of chlorides and nitrates of sodium and potassium. Most of the impurities are in the form usually considered as past pollution, but there is sufficient organic impurity, in my opinion, to warrant condemning the well. A. S. MITCHELL, How to prevent the Spread of Acute Diseases. HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ACUTE INFECTIOUS By C. H. Marquardt, M. D., La Crosse, Wis. This subject is of so nearly every day occurrence, and one that we are constantly called upon to deal with, that it may seem rather presumptive to present it, as a special topic, to a body of scientific and practical physicians; yet so important is it in the light of advanced preventative medicine, that we cannot as physicians review it too often, nor cease adding to our knowledge the improved methods and means that are constantly brought to light by scientific investigation. We are all unanimous in the conception that most acute infectious diseases are preventable, though we are not often in position to adopt preventive measures with the first cases; they come to us like other accldents that we meet with, no matter how carefully we may have planned to avoid them; they are simply the accompaniment of life. In my student days, not many years ago, it was taken as a matter of fact that in writing up the sick history of an adult, the patient should have had all of the contagious diseases incident to childhood, and this is a question today in every report made for life insurance, "What illnesses or diseases have you had since childhood"; as though it was necessary to have had these diseases, or other than those inseparable from growth and development. It is to preventative or State Medicine, the last child in our art and science, a mere infant half a century ago, that we are indebted to such progress as is at our command in dealing with infectious diseases and preventing so many children from the necessity of having to go through the list of contagious or infectious diseases. I presume that we are all agreed that no child is benefited by having had any of these ailments, and that they are no worse off for growing up without them, to say nothing of their suffering, resulting disabilities and the losses of many of their numbers. The physician who by intelligent management prevents the spread of any contagious or infectious disease in a family where it has gained a victim, or who, by hygienic measures alone, limits it to the patient so affected, earns for himself quite as much credit and respect as he who by patience, skill and frequent visits attends a number of patients to a safe recovery. Indeed, we might say that he who prevents diseases is a greater benefactor than he who attends when necessity demands it. It is a duty we owe to our patients and to the community in which we are active and have influence to explain these truths and thus assist in educating the masses in that greatest of blessings with which we as physicians have to deal, viz., health or preventative medicine. It has been the custom from time immemorial to hold in high esteem the physician whose reputation has gained for him the credit of coping successfully with diseases, but in my opinion the day has come when he who can prevent even the lightest ailments by timely hints ought to rank equally high. To come more directly to my subject, let us for illustration suppose we are called to see a case; as a rule the disease has established itself beyond the abortive period; our duty is to make it as harmless as we can and limit it to the one affected. To accomplish this we remove our patient from the rest of the family to a room suitable for the occasion, one that will admit plenty of fresh air and sunlight. These being nature's greatest disinfectants, we make use of them How to prevent the Spread of Acute Diseases. for the double purpose of aiding recovery as well as to weaken the germ of disease. In our endeavor to limit or prevent the spread of these diseases, it is necessary to isolate the patient and the attendant to one apartment, and carefully care for all articles that are in use by either patient or nurse; to immediately subject them to boiling water when not needed; it is not my habit to send any of the family away from home, I prefer home quarantine if you so choose to call it; neither do I remove any of the furniture or whatver else may be in the room, if it is desirable to make use of such room as the patient is found in, for in all probability the disease germs have been pretty well distributed, and they may be spread yet further throughout the house by the removal of some article being readily overlooked, when the last disinfection is applied, and so become a new center of infection. It is of the utmost importance in managing contagious diseases to observe absolute cleanliness of the patient and his surroundings, and to immediately and thoroughly disinfect any apartment in a dwelling from which a patient may have to be removed, as is so.frequently necessary. In many instances, with our present method of disinfection, this can now be accomplished with absolute certainty and no harm nor inconvenience result. It is of equal importance not to allow the recovered patient to mingle too early with the rest of the family or other associates, as the case may be, for we know that the germ of contagious diseases is oftentimes present for a long period, even after ordinary signs of disease have disappeared. In case of death it is best to begin disinfecting as soon as the corpse has been properly taken care of preparatory to interment; this guarantees a measure of safety against infection to those necessarily needed in carrying out funeral arrangements, which in these cases should be unostentatious and within the time now specified by most boards of health. Another advantage this early disinfection has is that the corpse itself can be rendered harmless to some degree at least. We, as sanitarians, have every reason to congratulate ourselves for having no longer to depend upon burning sulphur, or many other agents equally difficult of application and questionable in effectiveness, in applying disinfection. The discovery of the germicidal property of formaldehyde gas or formaldehyde spray is an advancement in this line of sanitary work which is both easy of application and effective in results. One of the first medical health officers to employ this agent in the form of spray on a large scale in the room disinfection and who demonstrated its reliability was Dr. Mackenzie of Leith, Scotland. In this country the agent is used in the form of gas, which, when properly generated, is equally effective. The apparatus used in the generation of formaldehyde gas is obtainable at such low rate of cost as to be within the reach of every board of health, no matter how small their territory may be. Every board of health should possess one of these generators; the health officer in charge should ever have it ready for use, be perfectly familiar in operating it in the various contagious diseases, and soon then we might look in vain for diphtheria, as well as other contagious diseases that have in times past spread and have been a terror to whole communities. |