The Washington times., 1894-06-21
PHYSICIANS In A WRANGLE
Typhoid Fever Report Attacked by
Some Practitioners.
COMMITTEES POSITION UPHELD
Wells. River Water, Sewerage, and Other
Sanitary Matters Discussed by the Dis
trict Medical Society-The Subject OF
Unlicensed Physicians Debated.

The Medical Society of the District of Colum-
bia last night continued the discussion of the
prevalence of typhoid fever and pure milk
supply, auspciously commenced last week
The hot weather had a visible effect on the at
tendance. Though only few were present the
discussion however, was earnest and interest,"
ing.
The meeting was called to order with DR.. s. G.
Busey in the chair.
DIR. Robert Reyburn read report in which he
took exception to that portion of the commit
tees report in which they stated that cases OF
typhoid fever diminished the city was more
thoroughly severed He cited data to show that
such was not the case, and claimed that while
perhaps the increase in typhoid cases was very
small, yet the sewerage system was increasing
with great bounds, and this was an absolute
proof of his claim. DR.. Reyburn then read re-
port of an investigation of certain alleys In the
city. He referred to Cedar alley in particular
He spoke of improper water closets, and scored
the health officer for his neglect of duty. In the
course of his remarks DR.. Reyburn made men
tion of the pump at Sixth and U streets, which
was universally condemned at the last meet
ing. DIR. Busey interrup ed and sad dryly:
THAT pump is closed"
"indeed," said Dir. Reyburn; "since when."
'Since last Wednesday night" said DIR. Busey,
and the little sally was met with a laugh.
DR.. Benjamin q. Poole read an exhaustive re-
port on the death rate from typhoid fever. He
claimed that typhoid fever was not as prevalent
as was supposed. He claimed that many deaths
laid at the door of typhoid fever were due TO
malarial fever. He next attacked the commit
tees report on pumps. He declared that never
had there been any authentic report of q case of
typhoid fever resulting from well water He
called the report "untrue Illogical, and based
on the Misrepresentation and miscalculatiors
of those who had made the investigation"
PHYSICIANS CHANGED THEIR DIAGNOSIS
DR. J. W. Chappell then said that he had
gathered from what had been said that there
was a very low percentage of deaths from ty-
phoid fever He objected to this, andsa.d that he
believed that II had increased, not because there
was any real increase of typhoid, but becaus
physicians had changed their diagnosis lie
showed by figures that real typhoid fever, how
ever. was on the decline He said that in 1880
the death l0T, in 1882, l4l, in 1890, 122,
and in 1892 il stopped to .S.
Dr. Chapel then went on TO attack the belief
that wells were conducive TO typhoid fever. He
said his experience had not taught him that, and
furthermore he was disciple of the theory that
water filtered through the ground would be puri-
fled lie said that he believed that the wells in
the city woise than in the country for
this reason. He admitted that the ground in the
city more befouled than in the country, but
claimed that the rule still held good
Dr. C. G Stone of Brightwood, rose TO antagon-
ize the claim that an improved sewerage sys-
TEN checked typhoid fever. lie said that in his
district there was not a proper sewerage system
He added that there We're not as many cases in
his district as in the city. Despite this, he said,
he wished to declare himself in favor of the
sewage system now under consideration by
Congress, ani would do all he could to push the
matter along.
DIR. MAGBUDER UPHoLDs THE REPORT.
DR. G. l. Magruder thanked the society for
their almost unanimous Endorsement of the re-
port of the committee as reported to the society.
He stated that at the outset the work appeared
to be easy. but as time wore on its laborous de-
tails became evident. and the report was the re-
suit of hours and days of hard labor. he felt
confident that the report correct.
II was in every detail as faithful as II was
possible to make it Therefore he asserted
again that typhoid fever was on the increase,
and again that to wells this increase was due.
He complained bitterly of the way in which cer-
tain members of the society had bounded the
report a sensational bugaboo. He said that
these things were true, and that 1t was better
that the society were awake to the fact and
prepared to combat the disease rather than TO
shut their eyes and allow the alarming growth
of disease TO pass unnotced in order to lull an
unsuspecting public into sense Of false secU-
rity. Therefore he asked for the Endorsement
of the recommendations made by the commit
tee.
COMMITTEES RLPoRT ADOPTED.
Dr. W. w Johnston said that he wished to
reply to Dr. Smart, who had asserted that water
in rivers was particularly conducive to typhoid
fever He said:
alt is not question for us to settle Authori-
ties have settled the matter for us, and it is en-
absolute certainty that polluted soil and we'll
water are prime factors in producing typhoid
fever.
alt is an undisputed fact that the pro rata of
typhoid fever is on the increase II may be a
few more few less than last year Never
theless il is the increase, and IL is for US to
rise ana try to overcome the disease. Now let
us go TO work, drop all differences, adopt this
report, and go to work with will TO stop this
evil"
DR. S. s. Adams moved that the committe e's
report be adopted The motion carried.
The society then took up seriatim the report
of the special committee relative TO the matter
of unlicensed physicians practicing in the Dis
trict. At this point the reporters were excluded
from the room.
Upon a motion made by DR.. Adams the meet
ing adjourned till the Eall