1893-1894 - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

:
APPENDIX. 213
was analyzed by Dr. Venable, of Cliapel Hill, and prononnced O. K. It
may be that we have malaria in spite of good water from all our sources,
and this supports our theory to some extent. The lowlands bordering
on Little and Xeuse rivers are prolific in malarial fevers during most of
our fall months; and the past August, September, October and November
we bad in this hospital among patients and their employees and their
families nearly two hundred cases, many of them relapses; but from
this cause we had no deaths."
FROM OTHERS THAN PIIYSICIAXS—UXFAVOR.\BLE.
H. WisiLxiU, Winsiead villi', Beaufort county:
"We have used cistern water and sometimes water from driven wells,
never from the other wells. I cannot say that we have escaped the chills,
but I do think that we have fared much better than othei-s who use
poorer water."
W. H. Johnston, Esq., Tarboro, Edgecombe county:
"Up to the time I attained the age of forty-three years I used water
from ordinary wells, and since that time have used cistern water. I
greatly prefer cistern water to the water we obtain from wells, and am
sure it is more wholesome, but I suffered no more from malaria when I
used well water. I was married at thiity-seven years of age, and my
fomily used well water for six years and have since then used cistern
water. I am now sixty-three years old. I cannot say that my doctor's
bills for malarial diseases were greater when we used well water than
when we u.sed cistern water. I think they were about the same."
Mr. Frank E. Hitch, Hamilton, Martin county:
"I have lived in Bertie and Martin counties for more than twelve
years, in close proximity to Roanoke river. I have a wife and five children.
In that time there has been but one chill in my family. I had
that at Xag's Head last summer. We have drunk well water all the
time. Xo other family in this section has such a record as mine."
Mr. J. B. Bryan, Aurora, Beaufort county
"Would say that cisterns are cheap and appreciated by our people.
Am sorry to say that I am not certain that they add to the health of our
people, but think they must."
In assigning to the evidence just cited its proper weight I am not
unmindful that the conditions demanded by rigid scientific acuracy were
not always present, but most of the letters are so clear, definite and
positive as to be, to my mind, taken in connection with the evidence
cited from other writers, absolutely conclusive of the fact that the
malarial poison finds its way into the system largely—not to express it