Proximity of Privy and Well.  -- unless privy and well be located at considerable distance from each other, and further unless the nature of the ground be such that the flow from the privy will be away from the sources of the well, there is always great danger of the pollution of the well water with germs from the privy.  This also applies to nearby stable yards.  There are many authenticated cases of typhoid which have been directly traced to the proximity of wells to privies and stables, and the dangers should not be underestimated.

Today, we often consider the injury that we sustain at the hands of others, but consider that 100 years ago, just living, building or improving your home could potentially create unintended results that could significantly impact your health.  Searching for a Seattle injury lawyer in a case where you have essentially poisoned yourself due to the poor design or layout of your water supply and privy or septic system would not do you much good.

Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:

• The Knee-Pan
  
  

  The Knee-Pan.-The patella toward me pan is seen held firmly in position, giving greater strength and security to this important joint.  Around the ankle is observe the annular ligament, finding the long silvery thongs or tendons of the muscles of the legs, thus preventing their displacement.  It also towards security and string to the ankle joint, but not interfering with its elasticity in motion.  The foot shows us the natural position in shape in which the toes should be when encased in a boot or shoe.

  This section relatively speaking does a decent job of sticking to the facts and avoids excessive and irrelevant language like I avoid beer pong tables.

• The Toes
  
  

  The Toes. — the toes are observed to be straightforward and align with the general contour of the foot. This is their natural position. The beautiful outlet of the natural foot, is here represented in the several different views, the graceful arch of the instep the elegance of its form, it’s marvelous elasticity and string all combine to make the foot that only of great perfection in beauty, but admirably did it for the manifold duties is called upon to perform. Man, in his diversified labors and very trials throughout life, is sometimes obliged to walk, run, jump, leap, climb, stand erect, lean forward, etc., and he depends upon the foot to maintain his equilibrium in the performance of the several duties.

  This section provides us with a great deal of non-information about the toes that your average 4 year old intuits without having to verbalize and often verbalizes none-the-less.  This section might as well offer up an auto insurance quote advertisement as opposed to supposedly providing medical education information on appendages attached to our feet.

• Bed Bugs
  
  

  Bed Bugs.–The bedbug is a small but plainly visible ovoid-shaped bug, giving off a peculiar nauseous odor. It is of a reddish brown or rusty color with some discoloration on the abdomen and is furnished with a puncturing or sucking apparatus. The eggs are tiny white oval bodies. As many as 6 to 50 batches are laid in cracks of beds, furniture, picture frames, wall paper, crevices of woodwork, floors, etc. Each batch of eggs develops in from 6 to 11 weeks, and several batches may be hatched in a season. One generation succeeds another as long as the temperature remains sufficiently elevated.

  Not exactly the type of thing that many people worry about much in the twentieth century a hundred years after the writing of this article, but these pests are possible in modern times from foreign countries to Mediterranean cruises to homes and beds that are infested accidentally or through neglect.

  They hibernate during cold weather, during which season the insect is merely stupefied and renews its activities upon the return of warm surroundings. It is found in the dwellings of man, but other species of the same family have been found upon birds, as the common chimney swallow, pigeons and bats.

  The bedbug comes out at night and begins to bite and annoy. It conceals itself very cleverly and quickly in the day time or when surprised by a sudden light at night. It lives on the blood of man particularly, but can exist on food of other insects. It thrives best on filth and in old houses can keep alive without food for a year.

  Bedbugs are said to transmit smallpox. There is a possibility of their carrying the germs of typhoid fever and leprosy, but this fact has not been proven as yet. The bite is poisonous to some individuals, resulting in inflammation at the seat of the bite. This is supposed to be due to the same secretion which gives the characteristic nauseous odor.