places débris, sawlogs, boardwalks, fences, outhouses, etc., from which the stench of dead animals emanated. The average of deposit was about one inch to the foot of water, finding its way into every crevice, partition, coping, wall, sill, cellars, wells, small sinks and cess pools. Out houses and privies were carried away, and the contents of their vaults became part of this solution that filled cellars, wells, etc., Two hundred and fifty-six wells, some partially, others almost entirely, filled with this filth are abandoned; others must of necessity be contaminated. Some are being used, but the water (I think) is of a dangerous character. The sewers are damaged in many places so as to obstruct sewerage, and the health of our people is endangered, unless they are at once placed in a good condition.

To summarize-To cleanse and disinfect 409 cellars, costing

To cleansing and repairing 319 wells, at $16.50 each,

To disinfecting abandoned wells,

To replacing building fences, walks, etc..

To cleaning streets,

Total expense,

$6,135.00

5,263.50

200.00

400.00

2,000.00

13.998.50

In conclusion, the above estimate has been prepared with care, and our expense will fully reach these figures. Upon a large number of our people the tax will fall heavily indeed; many are unable to subsist and maintain their families, and do the necessary amount of work and expense on their premises, to insure a safe sanitary condition. We fully realize our condition and to our friends we appeal for aid. Respectfully submitted,

G. H. CLINE, M. D.,
Health Officer.

6.-REPORTS OF MEDICAL INSPECTOR E. D. PAYNE, M. D., AND T. B. JOHNSON, M. D., OF AN INSPECTION OF THE WEST BRANCH OF THE SUSQUEHANNA AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.

TOWANDA, PA., June 15th, 1889.

Benjamin Lee, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health.

SIR-At nine A. M., of Friday, June 7th, I received the following telegraphic dispatch, dated at Pittsburgh, Pa., 6-6-89.

“To Dr. E. D. Payne, Medical Inspector :-You are hereby directed to proceed without delay, taking with you one other physician to inspect the sanitary condition of all flooded regions in your district, with full authority to employ laborers in the name of the state, to discover dead bodies of human beings and animals, burning the latter with the débris; send report here.

"BENJAMIN LEE, Secretary."

At that time I had no information of the destruction of life in Bradford county, though I knew that several creeks had been flooded and much property destroyed, and subsequent events have not brought such information. There were no reports from Tioga or Potter counties, from which reliable information could be obtained, by reason of interrupted railroad communications. So far as I could learn by rumor, those two counties had not suffered; but I supposed that Sullivan had suffered to some extent, and Lycoming in a greater degree. I therefore made the West Branch of the Susquehanna my objective point, and together with Dr. T. B. Johnson of this place, I started for there at 3 P. M. of the same day I received the dispatch.

It was impossible to reach there by rail, all communication with it being cut off by reason of the destructive flood; so I determined to take a pair of horses and light wagon, and travel through Sullivan county, striking the headwaters of the Loyalsock creek, and follow it down. The route by way of Dushore, Laporte, and Eaglesmere, was not practicable. The route we took, was therefore, the only one open to us; and I concluded that whatever lifeless bodies there might be, they would be carried to the Susquehanna, and there interrupted in their course by the lumber and logs in the river. Subsequent knowledge justified me in this conclusion. We reached Forksville, a distance of twenty six miles, that evening, and broke an axle to our wagon about half a mile this side. It was repaired for us at the village, and we were enabled to start again in the morning. Passing through Hillsgrove and Proctorville, we again broke our wagon while fording Bear creek at Barbours'. This necessitated our getting back to Proctorville, a distance of two miles, for repairs. Mr. Dutton, superintendent of the works, gave us all needed assistance, and we again proceeded on our way, passing through Loyalsockville, and reaching Montour by evening, having ridden forty-four miles. That day the road was ex ceedingly rough and difficult over that part of the way, necessitating the fording of streams, crossing the mountain, and riding during a heavy rain. The destruction of property consisted mostly of the carrying away of bridges, washing away of land and destruction of crops. We neither saw nor heard of any loss of life until reaching Proctorville, where one man, and some small stock, were reported to have been drowned and swept down the stream. These were not lodged at any point on the creek that we could discover or hear of, and were probably swept on to the river.

On our arrival at Montours, I put myself in communication with the burgess, Mr. Frank R. Konkle, that evening, and made an engagement with him to show us over the drift in the borough limits the following morning. The borough is a very neat and cleanly kept place, in quadrangular shape, with sides two miles long. Mr. Konkles' account of the methods to preserve health was interesting, his ideas good, and

the town healthy; but a detailed description would be out of place here.

We spent the following forenoon on the drift. It consisted of from fifty to seventy-five acres of logs, lumber and débris; in places from fifteen to thirty feet high. It was estimated that to move this mass, it would require a force of five hundred men for six months. It had now been ten days since the flood, yet a walk over a greater part of the drift gave very little evidence of the decaying animal matter within it certainly not such as would justify me in the outlay necessary to prove or disprove its presence. It was believed that most, if not all, the bodies had been reclaimed from the river at Williamsport, six miles above. It seemed unnecessary for me to remain there; but I showed Mr. Konkle your dispatch, and made an arrangement with him, by which, if bodies or carcasses were discovered, the one should receive burial, and the other be burned. For the performance of this, he is to send you duly certified bills for payment. We now learned that Williamsport was open to the southward by the way of Sunbury; and as we could not get into Tioga county by wagon, except by retracing our way over the mountain to Canton, we hired a driver to bring our team home from Montours, starting it Sunday afternoon. It arrived here in good condition Monday evening. About one P. M. we left on the train for Williamsport. On our arrival there, I called on Dr. Reichart, president of the city board of health. The result of the interview may be summarized in his words: "tell Dr. Lee, we will be in good condition by the end of another week." The wreckage and destruction of property in and about the city, by reason of the flood, was very great. There had been twenty-five or thirty bodies of human beings recovered from the river, and these had been claimed by their friends and buried. Quite a number of carcasses, how many he could not say, had been taken from the river and also buried. Dr. Reichart thought there need be no further apprehension from this source; that the river at that place had been virtually freed from dead animal matter. My observation would lead me to apprehend more danger to the city from the flooding of houses and cellars, and tearing up of sewer pipes and water closets, leaving a deposit of filth wherever water had flowed. This was being systematically looked after, to avert sickness. Each one of the board of health has a ward assigned to him; windows and doors are kept open for free ventilation; cellars were being pumped out and cleaned; lime, as an absorbent, was being used to the extent of every call, and disinfectants abundantly. Dr. Reichart seems to be an enthusiast on the subject fo sanitation, and rigid cleanliness as a chief means to that end. When I had finished my interview with him, it seemed to me that I was an unnecessary element in that locality. After a walk about the city, which seemed to confirm all that Dr. Reichart had said, we left for Sunbury that even

ing, and remained there over night. The next morning we took the train for Wilkes-Barre, and arrived home before night.

In reviewing the result of our four days trip, it would at first appear that there was no fruit to show for our labor, as indeed we did no actual work; yet, I hope the knowledge gained of the actual state of affairs, at a point which would naturally cause apprehension, may be some compensation.

I send herewith bills rendered necessary by this inspection.

Respectfully submitted,

E. D. PAYNE, M. D., Inspector for Lycoming District.

I fully concur in the above.

T. B. JOHNSON, M. D. .

TOWANDA, PA., June 20th, 1889.

SIR: On the morning of the 11th, after returning from the West Branch, I saw by the papers there were fears of much damage from the flood in Tioga county. Up to that time, there had been very little information from there. Believing that it was full time for action, if there was any need of it, I immediately went to Elmira for the purpose of finding out whether or no, I could get through to the interior of the county. For that purpose I visited the Tioga office branch of the New York, Lake Erie and Western (commonly called the Erie) railroad, and was informed by Mr. William Buck, that as yet there was no certainty of getting beyond Lawrenceville or Tioga, but that in a day or two the road would be open, not only on the branch through Mansfield, but connection at Lawrenceville would be made through to Wellsboro. His information was to the effect, that not only had there been conslderable destruction of property, but some destruction of life, especially among animals. But his information on subjects not immediately connected with his road was indefinite, and made up more of speculation and of rumors than exact knowledge. I next visited Dr. Henry Flood, an eminent practitioner of the city and also postmaster. He was now sending mail through Tioga county; partly by rail, partly by wagon, and in some sections by horseback. He appeared quite confident from information he had, that there was no need of my going there. He said I could reach Mansfield by going to Troy by rail, thence to Mansfield by wagon, and thought I could there hire some one to take me across to Wellsboro. In view of the fact that I was not in condition to travel in that manner, that the railroads would be open in two or three days more, and that there might be no need of my going at all, I adopted another plan, namely, returning home. I sent the following telegram to Dr. Smith, Tioga; Dr. Elliott, Mansfield; Dr. Bacon, Wellsboro:

TOWANDA, PA., June 11th, 1889:

Is there need in your vicinity or county resulting from recent floods, for visit from health officer? Answer here.

E. D. PAYNE, Inspector Lycoming District. To this I received replies in the following order:

No.

TOWANDA, PA., 6mo., 12, 1889. We are doing everything possible to clean up.

R. B. SMITH.

MANSFIELD, PA., 6, 12, 1889.

Think there is no necessity for a visit in this vicinity. Cannot say how it is in Tioga village or Lawrenceville.

C. H. ELLIS. WELLSBORO', 6, 12, 89.

Are few carcasses in this region that should be buried. Sheriff will attend to it if he receives authority from you. It may be necessary for you to visit Tioga and Lawrenceville. Sheriff can meet you there.

M. L. BACON.

Upon the receipt of the last, I determined to start on the following morning, the 13th. Unfortunately I was sick all night, and not in a fit condition to go; and knowing that whatever was necessary to be done should be done immediately, I telegraphed Dr. Bacon as follows on that day: Tell Sheriff bury all bodies of human beings, and burn all carcasses of animals immediately. Letter follows.

E. D. PAYNE, Inspector Lycoming District.

On the 14th I wrote the sheriff as follows:

To the Sheriff of Tioga County, Pa.

TOWANDA, PA., June 14th, 1889.

DEAR SIR:-On the 11th instant I sent a dispatch to Dr. Bacon, asking if there were any need of health officer visiting your county, dependent on the recent floods.

He replied, he thought there were a few carcasses throughout the county, and that you would bury them if requested. On the receipt of his dispatch, I determined to go to your county and ask you to act in connection with me for the proper disposal of them. Unfortunately I was taken sick that night, and am not at present in proper condition to go. As the matter requires urgency, I yesterday sent him a dispatch saying, "tell sheriff burn all carcasses immediately." My instruction from Dr. Lee, Secretary of the State Board of Health, is to bury the bodies of human beings, and burn the carcasses of animals. I therefore request that you will take the matter in hand immediately, following the instructions of the State Board of Health, properly burying the bodies of unclaimed human beings, and burning with driftwood, the carcasses of all animals found. So long a time has now in