New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-18
with clear statements of which will take further
notice.
THE EPIDEMIC ATPLYMOUTH.
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS OF DRs. EDISON AN
TAYLOR

TAYLOR
The result of the investigation of the causes
OF the demic at Plymouth Penn. made by DR.. Cyrus
Edison and Dr. James Taylor of the Board Of Health
assisted by the chemist Of the Board Dr. Edward W.
Martin, Will be reported to the Board as soon as the
analysis Of water taken from the Susquehanna River
where it flows past the from a mountain stream
from wells, and from the mines in the vicinity
peted. The investigating physicians went to Plymouth
last Wednesday and returned on Saturday DIR. Edison
yesterday told TRIBUNE reporter what they and
what conclusions they had arr ged He said:
The fever prevailing at Plymouth is OF the most
interesting epldemlcs that have had in this
country. The great majority OF the have been
caused by Of typhoid fever. That has in
oculated between 700 and 1000 cases almost stimuli
taneouslya within the period between March 20 and
April l. No doubt the infection spread by the
water though other assisted The town was just
ripe for 1t The streets filthy, and the place alto
gether in bad condition The systems OF the people were
in condition that made them easy victims to the dis
ease. They had been drinking water polluted with
sewage On March 90 new supply OF water was re-
ceved from mountain stream which had been polluted
by the objections Of typhoid fever patient who was
sick in house the stream. They were thrown
the within few feet Of this water course. The
melted and flowed into the stream, the water Of
which, being released by the melting OF the ice that had
confined it, filed up the reservoirs, which until
then were almost empty. The water passing through
the ice hardly exposed to the air reached the rese
yolrs little over Oneeighth of mile distant. The
great Outburst typhoid fever occurred between
April II and April ls. The time of incubation OF ty
poid fever Is generally from ten " twenty days. We
looked into the milk supply carefully. rev cases we're
due to that but many who had their own cows had the
fever. The epidemic is dying out The water Is all
right and before, but IL was infected by acc
dent. The river water, although that was hardly con-
taninaed pumped into the mines for several weeks
pj ior to March 20.
The result of the investigation only shows the neces
sity OF keeping water supply pure and free from con-
taninaton The wells In this city all worse than
any that town, where they frequently polluted by
adjacent filth. l have found people using water from
wells dug in this city. had to arrest John GestOn,
large mineraIwater manufacturer few weeks ago for
using well water in making his beverages He was con-
victed in the SIecal Sessions and fined S25. dscOv-
cred that he using well water by having his MINERAL
waters aualyZed. "A manufactures like him can save
from $500 to $1,000 IN CTOtOn water taxes by using
well water. Our recent investigation at the CrOtOn
watershed shows that there no reason for apprehen
sion Of the pollution OF the water at present.
but the population the river bank Is increasing,
and after while there will be danger unless the city
purchases the land both banks for halt mile back
takes other measures to prevent contamination
1t would he cheaper to buy the land now than to wait
until the danger Is Imminent and the land dearer.
With regard 10 the cholera. do not think we shall
have IL here this summer though there may be fe
isolated AS rule epidemcs do not come WHEN
they expected There be something in the story
from Madrid about the efficacy OF incubation
by cholera microbes practsed by Dr. Ferran for the
prevention of the disease AS usual thing not much
report that oxygen gas would the cholera but it
turned to be The cholera is driving
many people from the city. All who can get away Will
20 this summer, and 1t will be bad for local trade.