66 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. [June 23, 
The soil of that portion of the valley on which the village of Spring- 
water stands, is of.an open, porous character for a depth of from ten to 
twenty feet, below which depth are said to be found thin layers of 
impervious hardpan alternating with beds of quicksand of variable 
thickness. 
The present water supply of Springwater village is derived from 
shallow wells, either open or driven, the latter being in greater number 
as may also be seen from the map. As stated by citizens of 
Springwater, none of these driven wells exceed eighteen feet in depth, 
and the majority are from ten to fifteen feet. The operf wells are quite 
as shallow, and a measurement of the elevation of the ground water in 
a number of them, made soon after heavy rains, shows the height of the 
ground water in the main part of the village at from three and one-half 
to seven feet below the surface. (See plate 8, profile of Mill street, etc). 
Extended discussions of the relation of privies to the wells is 
unnecessary, as such relation is also clearly indicated on the map. _We 
have no doubt, however, that the proximity of privies to. wells has led 
to a serious contamination of the water used for domestic purposes in 
many of the families residing in the village of Springwater. 
We give the foregoing brief statement of the conditions obtaining 
at the locality in order that a clear understanding may prevail as to the 
relation of aserious endemic in the village of Springwater to the health 
of the city of Rochester, and we deem extended preliminary statement 
of the matter unnecessary, by reason of the clear showing of the essential 
physical facts on the accompanying plates 5, 8 and 9. 
We proceed, therefore, to a brief discussion of the case in hand: 
According to the statement of Robert Wiley, Esq., member of the 
local Board of Health of the town of Springwater, the first intimation 
that typhoid fever was present in the village, was on October 19, 1889, 
at which date some of the local physicians reported the presence of 
typhoid to the local board. On October 23d, the Town Board of Health 
convened to. consider the matter, and on the following day the condi- 
tion of affairs was brought to the attention of the Chief Engineer and 
the Executive Board of the city of Rochester. At the suggestion of 
the Chief Engineer, Mr. J. Nelson Tubbs, the Executive Board imme- 
diately consulted Drs. W. S. Ely and E. M. Moore, Sr., who, on 
request, furnished the following suggestions as to the necessary inspec- 
tion and disinfection. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., October 25th, 1889. 
To the Executive Board: 
GENTLEMEN :—In reply to your inquiry as to the proper measures to be instituted to 
