22 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



carried along for 9 kilometers, that in many places the pipe had been purposely broken in 

 order that the small farmers could obtain water for irrigating purposes, thus providing another 

 source of contamination. 



This was one of the reasons for outbreaks of typhoid fever in this section in 1909 and 1910 

 and veritable epidemics in 1911, 1912 and 1913,which made the death rate rise to 187.9 per 

 thousand inhabitants, when in the rest of Cuba is was but 41.2. 



A laboratory analysis of samples of river water of the six provinces showed that 54.1% 

 was good, 37.8% bad and 8.1% suspicious, but it is well to state that while one day determined 

 rivers will be free from an imdue proportion of organic substances and bacteria, that on 

 the next the same rivers will be full of contaminating matter. Filters and laboratory analysis 

 daily of these waters and the employment of purifying agencies are urged. 



The well known unsanitary surroundings of native huts are largely responsible for much 

 of the contamination and the natives must be educated in the elements of practical sanitation 

 before much improvement can be secured. 



Throughout the island, according to Dr. Guiteras, 49 per cent of the houses possess no 

 kind of indoor or outdoor toilet convenience, 42 per cent were equipped with cesspools and 

 5 per cent were properly furnished. During the last fifteen years the most laudable efforts 

 of the Cuban sanitary department has been devoted to bettering these conditions. 



Havana Vital Statistics gives us an idea of the importance of pure water without taking 

 into consideration the average of 1894-1898, which was an abnormal period (21.01), the 

 annual average coefficient of typhoid fever was 10.24 in the previous five years and 5.78 

 for the year 1899, when the census was taken and Spanish dominion ceased. 



From that time cisterns have been suppressed, the black wells have been closed and the 

 provision of water from the Vento Springs was extended to the suburbs of Havana, resulting 

 in a decrease as follows: 



1899 5.78 



1899-1903 5.80 



1904-1908 2.58 



1904-1913 2.37 



Primitive water distribution in Cuba. Getting a supply at the river, which later will be sold in 



the nearby Villages. 



