Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1875 — Soil-Dampness as a Cause of Disease [ARTICLE]

Soil-Dampness as a Cause of Disease

There seems no longer to be any doubt that one of our most dreaded and fatal diseases is caused by soil-dampness. If a damp soil be not the cause, it is certainly one of the conditions most favorable to the development of pulmonary consumption. Two things have unquestionably been proved in this connection: first, that consumption is most prevalent on damp soils, and secondly, that the removal of this dampness by efficient subsoil drainage causes a rapid diminution in the death-rate from consumption in localities Where this* improvement has been made. Let us look at some of the facts which have led to these conclusions. In 1862 Dr. Bowditch, of Boston, the pioneer in these investigations, obtained statements from the resident physicians of 188 towns in Massachusetts, which led him to consider it as highly probable, though not absolutely proved, that soildampness held a causative relation to pulmonary consumption. He foreshadowed “the existence of a law having for its central idea that dampness of the soil in any locality is intimately connected, and probably as cause and etfect, with the prevalence of consumption in that town or locality.” What Dr. Bowditch rendered probable by these investigations Dr. Buchanan, of England, in his capacity of healthinspector, seems to have rendered certain by his. He found that in towns where improvements had been made in this respect the mortality from consumption had greatly' decreased and that the extent of the diminution corresponded to the extent of the drying of the subsoil. “ In Salisbury, for example, the deathrate from phthisis (consumption) had fallen 49 per cent., in Ely 47, in Rugby 43, in Banbury 45, and in thirteen other towns the rate of diminution, though not so marked, was nevertheless noteworthy.” The following general conclusions are given by Dr. Buchanan as the result of his inquiry: “ First. Within the counties of Surrey, Kent and Sussex there is, broadly speaking, less phthisis among populations living on pervious soils than among populations living on impervious soils. ‘£ Second. Within the same counties there is less phthisis among populations living on high lying pervious soils than among populations living on low-lying pervious soils. “ Third. Within the same counties* there is less phthisis among populations living on sloping impervious soils tuan among populations living on flat impervious soils. “Fourth. The connection between soil and phthisis has been established by this inquiry: first, by the existence of general agreement in phthisis mortality in districts that have common geological and topographical features of a nature to affect the water-holding quality of the soil; second, by the existence of general disagreement between districts that are differently circumstanced in regard of such features; and third, by the discovery of preuy regular concomitancy in the fluctuations of the two conditions, from much phthisis with much wetness of soil to Tittle phthisis with little wetness of soil. “ The whole of the foregoing conclusions combine into one: that wetness of soil is a cause of phthisis to the people living upon it.” Some investigators believe that soildampness is the cause of many other diseases, Dr. Bell, in his report oh the

.-..todrainage of Kings County, N. Y., expresses the opinion that not only consumption, but intermittent and remittent fevers, rheumatic affections,- neuralgia, croup, quinsy, diphtheria, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, cerebro-spinal'men-ingitis, erysipelas and diarrheal diseases owe their origin in a great measure to this cause. These considerations indicate the importance of living upon a dry soil and make it obligatory upon any community whose territory is water-logged, either wholly or in part, to drain such territory of its surplus water. By surplus water is meant that which is not held in the soil by capillary attraction; all that water which would run away from a quantity of earth placed in a barrel with holes in the bottom. Such drainage can be easily accomplished. Unglazed tiling with joints carefully protected, laixLaL a_depth of three or four feet, with proper inclination and at suitable distances, w-ill drain any soil however wet in less than twenty-four hours. To ascertain whether a given locality requires draining let an excavation be made to the depth of three feet and if water is found in it twenty-four hours after the heaviest rain the locality is unfit for human habitation. The ill effects of a damp soil are not confinedto those immediately living upon it, but extend to a considerable distance; so that every inhabitant, whether his own location be wet or dry, should concern himself in this matter. It is pre : eminently a subject of general interest. The evils resulting from a waterlogged soil rapidly increase with an increasing population, and at tlie same time the difficulties of drainage become greatly increased when a place becomes thicsly settled. In fact it is almost impossible in many cases, after grades are established and permanent improvements made, to accomplish, even at great expense, what in the early history of a place could be done with very little. It is also important that the water falling upon the roofs of houses should be promptly conducted away, and not allowed to saturate the soil around the foundations, and find its way into cellars. Shade trees should be so disposed about dwellings as not to interfere with the rapid drying of the surface of the ground. Where trees and shrubbery are massed together indiscriminately, and .cover large areas, they shut out the sun’s rays and offer such obstacles to the circulation of thoair-as-to-render them in many cases a source of unhealthfulness; especially is this the case when they are planted in close proximity to dwellings. Trees should be arranged in groups, with ample spaces between; and shrubs, instead of being plantedunder trees, should also be arranged ingroups by themselves, and should cover but a small proportion of the grounds.

Could these suggestions be acted on, there is no doubt that in many places the lists of mortality would be greatly decreased. It is evident however, that the thorough drainage of a place must generally -be accomplished as a public measure, and cannot be left to individual enterprise alone. Laws should be passed rendering it obligatory on local authorities to carrymto" effect such general measures as will render it possible for every one to drain his land, and making it illegal to erect dwellings on water-logged territory. A system of thorough inspection should be instituted in every place, and houses constructed without due regard to sanitary Considerations should be advertised as unhealthy. It is very important for practical sanitary reformers to arouse public interest and create a public opinion. Without doing this they will be impeded and, perhaps, thwarted at almost every step of their work by the selfishness of unenlightened private interest. But in the face of a public opinion such as knowledge of the facts is sure to develop, the most bigoted obstructionist will be unable to hold his ground, and most property-owners will become active favorers of reform. In many communities it would serve an excellent purpose if a Health Association eould be organized and as -many-intelli-gent citizens as possible be induced to join it. Such an association might take as its work the diffusion of knowledge on this class of subjects both among its own members and in the community at large; the securing of necessary legislation; and active'co-operation through its officers with the public authorities in giving effect to such legislation. A great field of usefulness lies in this direction, and in a rapidly-growing country like ours no time should be lost in attending to it.— J. W. Pinkham, M. D., in Christian Uniam -