New-York tribune., 1883-12-10
TYPHOID FEVER AT PORT JBRFIS'
REPORT OF OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.

INJECTED MILK AND OTHER ALLEGED CAUSES con-
sIDERED- BAD SANITARY CONDITIONS "EN-
ERALLY PREVAILING.
tvpox Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIDUNBl
PoRr JERyIs, Dec. S.-The epidemic OF
tvpbojd fever which has for period OF six week Deen
raging in this village has brought out many novel iea
ture and has evolved many questions for the medca pro
fessjon to solve Nearly two months ago II began 10 oe
whispered around that there getting to be great
deal of typhoid fever but knew how many cases
there were until the doctors declared the fever epidemic
Al meeting of the local Board Of Health, the statistics
nreented by the health officers showed that there were
nearly 100 cases socaed true typhoid feyer AT the
same meeting communication from Dr. a. L. Mac
Donald set forth that there report in circulation 10
the effect that milkman Andrew Hense was delivering In
this village the milk from the dairy OF Mrs. Thomas
Cuddeback on which farm there had been several cases
OF the typhoid fever. His statement was
that all, or nearly all, OF the patients had
used the milk from the Cuddeback DAIRY, OF
might have used it, the inference being that the milk had
carried the germs of disease and caused infecton'
Several of the other laughed at the idea until an
article IN THE TRIBUNE detailed similar in England
Then they admitted that possibly the milk might convey
the disease germs II there were any disease germs Inc
matter was deemed important enough to ca In the d
OF the State Boasd Of Health and Professor Curtis came
TO this village and made complete investigation OF the
prense OF Mrs Cuddeback and Of other places deemed
ikelv IN breed an epidemic His detailed report has not
been published yet but TIE TRIBUNEs correspondent
has been furnished for publication the following sate
As the facts stand the Incidence Of fever poison
definite along the lines where Mr 6 ensg those se lines
ended where those cans became empty. Ine
GsfS% SefSTe ae the mfcarred virus began as well as
the few such cases snce seem TO have no RELATION 70 ue
milk yet their definite or common suc as pro
duce fever every year Port Jervs Reading the mere
arithmetic OF the cases we find something IKE t1e ioow
Board service OF about 100 cases ota IN Port Jeryis
seveny-dve used the accused milk beyond doubt IL Is
casia use of it. OF l25 families supplied with the sus
peced milk thirtyseyen sick, probably with typhoid
of The entire amount supplied to and used by the whole
village OF the 12o quarts sold by the nllkmen eghty
vailed The most numerous along the part OF
the route first supplied by c mn5n 6arv ana ss Teg ne %
scattered all about the village indicating general cause
copsderbie number who drank this milk with impunity
some few reported protected by vhrious condoh
etc Their escape however for various reasons not an
argument against the hypothesis. -.
Tins the logical demonstration now shown by your
PHYSICIANS and Professor Curtis complete In favor
OF the disputed hypothesis that has proved so
for good dairy woman. The lesson l. OF vital import
ance and It win be fortunate many cesspooi does not
become fevernest OF its neghborhood now subject 70
Invasion by the treacherOus Virus OF fever that was
never known be personally CONTAGIOUS though thus
capable OF propasalng an IeclnG p and The cess
pool viii hold and convey.
This report is signed by Elisha Harris Secretary OF the
". l.,
Notwithstanding the above opinions, there Is
very decided feeling In thls village that the
milk had nothing whatever TO do with
propagang the disease there to lie every evil
denoe OF the greatest in handling the milk. and II the
disease was carried by the milk. It Is highly improbable
that It was communicated from the disease In the family
of Mrs Cuddeback but that II from outside
causes Indeed many OF the doctors are inclined TO doubt
the germ theory for lack Of evidence as TO the Identity OF
Fnasmuch as many of the case, which called ty
phoid fever decided 90 bc something else u -
probable that the total number o ca.eS OF true Ihol1
fever is not than forty fifty The disease hsH not
numbered some ten or twelve or these five have bad
standing disorders which left them an easy prey 10 the
Dr. J. Halsey Hunt, one Of the most prominent Of the
physicians in this village insconyersaon with reporter
fever might look great deal nearer home than Mrs
Cuddeback's farm for the cause OF their Illness lie
cites as AN instance that In house where there was
OF the fever examination proved that the cesSrool
into which thrown all the slops irOm te house was
connected with the sink by straight pipe without trap
and that 1t was throwing out disease constantly AZ
another house where me milk was sad 70 De the cause o
WELL which had been covered mp Tor years, the
water being regarded as and being fairly
stn King AlOngsde OF this and only few feet away
driven well had been put down. aud they were all the
time drawing from the old well As long ago as last
June Dr. Hunt predicted in local newspaper that there
would epidemic Of yPhus feTer There was every
any way aided by the milk from Mrs Cuddebacks dairy
Since the epidemic broke out very large and intelligent
class OF hygieniss OF this village have been discussing
the disease They condemn the treatment that has been
made of present cases and also declare tlat all mix Is
| likely TO produce fever
The tendency of the reports which have been circulated
have been 10 mpeach the healthfuness OF Port Jerys
On contrary however IL Is of the most healthy
well pretty villages along the line OF the Ere The
village is Just at the iuncture of the Delaware and New
ersnk valleys. and the strong healthy winds have fn
sweep through the valley. The water mostly good
1t Is nearly soft rainy water. There is IN Port
Jervis however utter lack Of fact which
Is much lamented. A sluggish stream OF water rlus
through the lower part Of the village and though has
always been regarded disease breeding ditch 1t has
been decided by the health officer to be far from un
| healthy.
ompleted before the first of tine coming month IL will
consider length the sanitary condition O the village.
|