ing the water, the necessity for formulating for approval by this Board, rules and regulations for the sanitary protection of the water supply of your city, provision for which is made by article 5 of the Public health law, a copy of which is sent to you under a separate cover. I have just been informed by state engineer Adams that the public supply of potable water for the city of Lockport is taken from the canal which is also the receptacle for the sewage of your city, a condition which is certainly unsanitary and one which your board should cause to be remedied by either provid ing another outlet for your sewers or a proper method for the treatment of the sewage before it enters the water of the canal. Very respectfully, BAXTER T. SMELZER, Secretary ALBANY, March 3, 1898 CHAMPLIN FLETCHER BUCK, M. D., Health officer, Lockport, N. Y.: Dear Sir-Under date of February 16, 1898, I wrote to you concerning the epidemic of typhoid fever prevailing in your city, suggesting that you conduct certain investigations to determine, if possible, the cause of same. Not having heard from you in reply, and this department considering the conditions stated in your letter of the 14th of Febru ary as warranting prompt action on the part of your board, it is requested that you state what if any measures have been taken to locate the cause of the epidemic. As this Board stands ready to aid you in every possible way, it is suggested that samples of water both from wells and your public water supply be sent in compliance with enclosed instructions, notifying this office when the samples are sent, in order that the Bender laboratory may be directed to make bacteriological examinations of same, after which, if deemed necessary, a sanitary engineer will be sent to your city for the purpose of investigating and advising with the proper authorities. Very respectfully, BAXTER T. SMELZER, Secretary LOCKPORT, N. Y., March 3, 1898 BAXTER T. SMELZER, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Dear Sir-Your communication of March 3d at hand and contents noted. With regard to your letter of February 14th, would say that I had your letter with me at the last meeting of the board of health, but as there was no quorum present, I could not bring it up for action. I had a talk regarding it, however, with the mayor and he feels concerning the alleged scare as I do. We have no more epidemic of typhoid fever here than they have in Buffalo, Tonawanda or Niagara Falls. Rumor and some officious person who did not dare sign his name has started the story that we have such a quantity of typhoid fever here that it is epidemic. This you will find denied by most of the best physicians here; but some, as you know, always want to make things look worse than they really are, and this I think accounts for the large number some of the doctors reported. The open winter which we have had has had more to do with the fevers than anything else, for the cases of fever are not limited to any section of the city, nor to any class of individuals, but are widely separated and scattered. The water supply in the city mains is used for fire and sanitary purposes only, for no one would think of drinking it. A large proportion of the people use filtered rain water for drinking purposes. Regarding the wells they were examined and the water analyzed about two years ago and found to be in good condition. My duties as health officer and city physician for the past month have been such that I have done over three times the amount of work for which the salary pays, and I do not feel called upon to add to all this work the inspection and examination of the wells of the city, near which every so-called case of typhoid fever exists unless extra remuneration is made to me therefor. Our city water is 100 per cent better than it was a year ago, yet this is the year the busy-bodies howl. We should have a large quantity of lime sent here to Lockport to put on the excavated mud taken from the bottom of the Erie canal and dumped in East Lockport-within the city limits. This mud is taken from a part of the canal where a great deal has been thrown in past years and back of buildings where people have lived, and undoubtedly when warm weather comes will develope decomposition and a stench will arise. As to the quantity needed, I cannot say at present. Awaiting your further pleasure. Respectfully, CHAMPLIN FLETCHER BUCK, ALBANY, March 17, 1898 HON. CHARLES PETERSON, Mayor of the City of Lockport, Lockport, N. Y.: Dear Sir-On February 10th this Board received information that there was an epidemic of typhoid fever in your city, it being claimed that there were some 150 cases at that time. Upon receipt of the information the attention of Dr. Champlin Fletcher Buck, the health officer of your city, was called to the complaint, who in reply stated that he had interviewed some 17 physicians who had acknowledged some 50 cases of typhoid fever among their patients. In view of the above statement, and of the duty imposed upon this Board of the Public health law requiring it to make inquiries in respect to the cause of disease, especially epidemics, Dr. Buck was requested under date of February 14, 1898, to make certain investigations either in person or through some competent person under his instructions, to ascertain if possible, the cause of the epidemic. Dr. Buck, under date of March 3, 1898, replies as follows: * With regard to your letter of February 14th, would say that I had your letter with me at the last meeting of the board of health, but as there was no quorum present, I could not bring it up for action. I had a talk regarding it, however, with the mayor, and he feels concerning the alleged scare as I do. We have no more epidemic of typhoid fever here than they have in Buffalo, Tonawanda or Niagara Falls." Dr. Buck further states: "My duties as health officer and city physician for the past month have been such that I have done over three times the amount of work for which the salary pays, and I do not feel called upon to add to all this work the inspection and examination of the wells of the city near which every so-called case of typhoid fever exists, unless extra remuneration is made to me therefor." As Dr. Buck acknowledges that there are at least 50 cases of typhoid fever in the city of Lockport against 45 as reported by the different physicians, either number being far in excess of what they should be under proper sanitary conditions, you are requested as mayor of the city and president of the board of health to order the investigation as to the cause of typhoid fever as outlined in our letter to Dr. Buck, under date of February 16, 1898. If this Board can be of any assistance to you in the matter, either in the examination of samples of water, or through the services of one of its sanitary engineers it will be pleased to comply with any request you may make in the matter. Very respectfully, BAXTER T. SMELZER, Secretary LOCKPORT, N. Y., March 18, 1898 BAXTER T. SMELZER, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Dear Sir-I have gathered, according to directions, samples from seven (7) wells and one (1) spring in this city and expect to be able to ship them to the Bender hygienic laboratory to-day. Each sample is numbered according to the enclosed description. The reasons for sending these samples is that they were decided on by the local board of health at a special meeting. No. 1. Earles well, back of house, 18 to 20 feet deep, about 75 feet from nearest closet. Dug down to rock and then blasted. Used by neighborhood. No. 2. Eastons well, under house. Dug 16 feet and then drilled 40 feet through rock to gravel, about 50 feet from barn and about the same distance from privy vault on next lot. Some of the neighbors come there for water. No. 3. Cave street well, on side of street, about 20 feet from a house and 75 feet from a vault, 50 feet from a barn. Sewer in street and receiver on each side of well. Depth and through what unknown. Not much used. No. 4. Chestnut and McCollum street well, on street corner, 281 feet deep to gravel, through rock, 20 feet from nearest house, 100 feet from privy. 40 to 100 families use this water. No. 5. Chestnut and Charles street well, on street corner. Said to be 60 feet deep, a receiver connecting with sewer in front of it, 50 feet from a house, over 100 feet from barn or privy. Water used extensively by neighbors, and also in mills at quite a distance. No. 6. Spalding spring, source unknown, used by a large number of people. No. 7. Church and Grosvenor street well, on street corner, 80 feet deep through rock, 40 feet from nearest house, 120 feet from privy. Used by every one in the vicinity. No. 8. Dr. Bristol's well, between two houses, 25 feet deep, through rock to gravel, 50 feet from privy, 70 feet from barn. Everyone in the neighborhood comes here for water. Awaiting their report and your further pleasure. Respectfully yours, CHAMPLIN FLETCHER BUCK, Health Officer ALBANY, N. Y., March 19, 1898 CHAMPLIN FLETCHER BUCK, M. D., Health officer, Lockport, N. Y.: Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your communication of the 18th inst., stating that eight samples of water would be sent by you to the Bender hygienic laboratory of this city, for examination. |