176 Kansas Academy of Science. 



Water pollution involves economic as well as public-health prob- 

 lems. According to the census of 1900 there were 35,379 deaths 

 from typhoid fever throughout the United States. On an estimated 

 mortality of 10 per cent, it is within reason to assume a yearly prev- 

 alence of 353,790 cases of this disease. If we calculated the aver- 

 age cost for care, treatment and loss of work to be $300, and the 

 average value of a human life at |5000, we have a total loss in the 

 United States of $283,320,000 from one of the so-called preventable 

 diseases. 



Applying these same figures to Kansas, we find that last year 

 there were reported 355 deaths from typhoid fever, which, with a 

 mortality rate of 10 per cent, would make 3550 cases, making an 

 economic loss to the state of $2,730,000. 



Add to this enormous sum the economic loss through the dis- 

 semination of other diseases which might properly be charged to 

 the pollution of water supply, and it swells the total to amounts 

 which are almost beyond credulity. 



Surely the time has come, now that science has demonstrated 

 these facts beyond successful contradiction, that our government, 

 both state and national, assume such control over the natural waters 

 of this country, both surface and underground, as will preserve the 

 lives and health of its citizens and will stay this enormous eco- 

 nomic waste. 



