Look to Your Drain Pipes and Wells.
The Rhode Island State board of health has completed its investigation of the epidemic of typhoid fever at Conanicut park hotel, made last summer.
At the opening of the season of 1887 trouble was experienced, but no action was taken. Soon the people in the house began to be ill, and at a time when all the rooms were taken and many more guests were to come and occupy the cottage apartments. From the first symptoms, which were not considered serious, the disease, which proved to be typhoid fever, assumed a violent form, and Dr. Jernigan, on whose advice several patients had come to the island, directed a practical plumber to make a thorough examination of the premises.
The plumber discovered that the pipes leading from the water closets had leaked into the cellar, and that from all appearances the leak had existed from the first of the season. The sewage had run into the well from which the water was drawn for general uses about the hotel. Prior to the discovery of the contamination of the water, its sparkling qualities had been praised by all the guests. The plumber also reported that the ground near the well was saturated with the sewage, and that when disturbed the earth emitted an overpowering and sickening stench. From the cellar the investigation was continued to the well at the north end of the house. It was dug quite recently, and the shaft had been sunk through an old drain leading to a cesspool, and a portion of the drain constituted a section of the well shaft.
The State board of health proposes to ask for an appropriation this winter sufficient to pay for a careful examination of all the hotels in the State, and the inspection and analysis of all waters used for drinking purposes where there is liability of contamination.—Sanitary News.
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