The Wilmingtonian., 1888-02-25
Drinking water and Typhoid Fever.

, duction Of typhoid fever, is one OF the mos
important subjects which can engage the al
tention of physicians and sanitarians. 1t IL
commonly believed, and with much show o.
reason, that typhoid fever is caused by the
ingestion of a poison Of chemical or of d
biological character virus or a germ. This
belief is, we say, plausible and yet it is not,
so far, placid hey ond reasonable doubt.
There are suthors whose study of cases oc-
curing under their own observation, and OF
others reported by intelligent and oonscien.
tious observers, lead them to the belief that
typhoid fever an ant',-int xication due TO
the putrefaction of ingesta in themselves or.
rignally nnocent-what has been aptly
termed "fecal intox cation "
However this may be, there can be no DE-
NAL of the fact that many cases of typhoid
fever seem to be explIcable upon the former
theory, namely, that they are caused by the
ingestion of a definite. poison or OF a specific
germ. Furthermore, there is sufficient rea-
son 70 believing that the poison or germ is
usually introduced into the human body in
milk or water; and that when it is introduce
ed in milk, it's presence is to attributed to
the fact that the milk has re ceived an ad-
mixture of polluted water. Thus, in the
end, it is the water which 10 suspected, and
it becomes very serious question, whether
or not drinking water is usual vehicle for
the contagion of typhoid fever.
Unfortunately for the cause of ofscencp, and
for the good of humanity, this question can
not be answered positively at the present
time. As has already been itimated, there
is much to support an answer in the affirma-
tive. A recent discussion at the Society Of
Public Medicine and OF Professional Hy-
giene, of Paris, indicates the uncertainties
which surround this question, and at the
same time shows that the general drift of
| meulcai opluIOn 10 tOWdlu Jne conFiuulOn
that an impure drinking wafer is frequent
cause of epidemics of typhoid fever. We
have had our own experiences in America, in
which well-studied looal epidemics have been
traced with seeming reason to the pollution
of streams or of wells, with the excreta OF
the ty phoid fever; and Others in which they
have attributed to Impurities of dringipg
water which were not of a demonstratable spe
cific cl aracttr. The fol mer source OF danger
need not be dilated Oh; the latter demands
the mos earnest thought from all who are
interested in preventative medicine.
So far as 10 know, no connection has been
traced, logically and incontroveriibsy, be-
tween the water supply ofany large rivrs in
America aud the prevalence of typhoid fever ;
vigorous attempt has been made to do this
in tho case Of Philadelphia; but, although
this attempt has engaged the Cooperation OF
v, althy corporation, which had every ca
sou to demonstrate the evil character of the
drinking water Of this city, the atte mpt has
so far utterly failed.
In Europe the csse is different. In one
city, at least, the experience of recent years
indicates that an impure iiver water may
have been chargeable with a considerable
proportion of the cas- of typhoid fever oe'
curing there. This city is Vienna, where al.
most total abandonment ofthe Danube, as
source of water supply, and the introduction
of water from distance and from an eleva
tion considerably higher than that of the city
has been followed by notable decrease il
the number of cases OF ty phoid fever. Thi,
evidence-athough it is of negative sort
it must be remembered-is very strong; sLc
it certainly makes it reasonable,:to asser
that the use of water of the Danube wa
formerly the cause of many cases.of typhoic
fever in Vienna.
An attempt has been made to show tina
the use oi, the water from the Seine has ha'
+ a similar result in Paris. But this is not s.
2 clearly established. The most that can b
: said IN regard TO tits, that there is fairl
good evidence that it is true.
We are not aware that any other deduC
. tons, on SO large scale, have been mad
: for other civilized cities; and we are of tn
1 opinion that the qut stion of the relation q
It the drinking water of large cities to the pre-
" duction of typhoid fever Is not yet defnitel
settle d. The most that can be said postlvel
by those who have at heart the purity
their dr. mixing water is, that exi erienC
/ shows it to be important that every effol
u should be made tn exclude the possibility
infection by this means; an that an impu
r water certainly facilitates, if it does not o.
d ig mate, the d, vslol ement Of typhoid fever
,s Such temp, rate statement of the cat
N utilities careful invt st gat on of any su
g pected source Of water supply, and u
T. ad bption OF any practicable measures to s.
cure for the Inhabitants of town wat
a supply which is above suspiction. Such i
Of stigations, however, must be candid
ne well as thorough. and such measures ust
D. adolt d with no other object tt an the go,