“The Board of Health report for 1879 gives the investigation of an outbreak of diphtheria in Northern Vermont, which occurred in May, 1879. In a school of 22 persons, 16 were prostrated in two days, one-half of whom died. Upon investigation the cause of the outbreak was found to be from the public drinking water from a brook into which had been thrown the carcasses of dead animals. Another outbreak of the disease of great virulence was caused by persons using water that was poisoned by the dead carcass of an animal that had been buried 75 feet distant from a spring. The grass in this instance showed by its luxuriance the trace to the spring. After the germs were once developed in many of these cases by drinking the polluted water, the disease was communicated to other persons far removed from the cause of the primary outbreak. One convalescent patient communicated the disease to six persons. Numerous illustrations of the importance of sanitary regulations are given in these epidemics.” Thus we have illustrations of the origin of diphtheria from putrid animal matter; and, after the germs were implanted in persons, fatal epidemics spread, and many lives were lost that could have been saved by proper hygienic measures. Dr. Prosper de Pietra Santa, the most enthusiastic French cremationist, and a man who has investigated everything pertaining to incineration thoroughly, calls attention to the example of the villages of Rotondella and Bollita. The burial-grounds of these ill-starred villages were situated on the summit of hills that were beset with woods. They were at the lawful distance, and to all appearances in a most favorable location. Unfortunately, the springs from which the inhabitants were accustomed to derive their water supply emerged from the base of the hills which were surmounted by the woods. These springs were the result of collections of rainwater, which, percolating through the earth of the hills, became impregnated with the organic matter which the ground contained. In the course of time, the drinking-water of these two villages became so contaminated that it caused a frightful epidemic. Prof. Dr. E. Reichardt, of Jena (_Gesundheit_ I, No. 1), published a large number of cases in which drinking-water was polluted by cemetery emanations. Many cases are on record where water contaminated by graveyard emanations, by poisonous fluids oozing through the soil, has proven harmful to health. Numerous cases of typhoid fever sprung from this source. Contagious diseases can also be communicated in this way. Riecke and Galtie have compiled statistics of cases of typhoid fever and other contagious maladies due to this cause that withstand the severest criticism. “The rivers die into offensive pools, And, charged with putrefaction, breathe a gross And mortal nuisance into all the air.” [Illustration: CREMATION IN THE CASEMENTS OF PARIS DURING THE REIGN OF THE COMMUNE.]