Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-07
TO CHECK TYPHOID
The Medical Society Considering an
Important Subject.
WATER, SEWERS, MILK and fEVERS
Recommendations Looking to a
Reduction in Death Rate.
TEXT OF THE REPORT

For some time a committee Of the Medi-
cal Society of the District las been en-
gagged IN investigating the subject of
typhoid fever in the District. The atten-
ton or the general public as well as of
physicians has beer attracted to this mat
ter by some striking statistics published
during the last year. The committee of the
Medical Society has made an exhaustive
report, which was submitted to the society
at meeting last evening. 1t goes thor
oughly INTO the, relations of typhoid fever
to the water supply and sewer system Of
the city. Tic committee is composed of
Drs. q. l.. Magruder, w. W. Johnston and
Z. NJ. Hammett. When the society met
last night the wall was strung with maps
and charts, showing the amount of NOR
tally from typhoid fever in the several
portions of the District, together with
the relative mortality of the District as
compared with other cities. DIR. Magruder
read the report, which was received with
much applause. At its close, upon motion
Of DR.. Magruder, it was laid over for a
week, when it will be discussed. The Dis
trict Commissioners will be present at the
meeting next Wednesday.
The report recommends the immediate
abandonment of all wells within the city
limits except where there is no Potomac
supply or where the wells after being SUBJ
Jected to repeated chemical and bacteria
logical examination have been found free
from all possible sources of danger and
even these to be abandoned as rapidly as
possible. Also the publication of the sew
erase system, the Introduction of new sew
ers III advance OF other improvements the
adoption of some system to relieve and
draln the lower portions OF the city the
final and safe disposal of the sewage, the
early completion of the plans of Col Ell
looking CT of
hItration as the only proper method Of
purihcation, the suppression of all pr;vies
ana the enforcement of q law to make
sewer connections, and careful inspaction
of all milk and diaries supplying milk sold
in the District. Lastly. il urges upon the
medical profession Of the District the need
OF careful collation. Of all facts bearing
upon tne mode of infection in eacn case
and the propagation of correct doctrines
concerning disinfection.
The report follows;
The CoIuraittee's Report.
The committee appointed by the Medical
society to report upon the subject of ty-
phoid fever in the District Of Columbia
begs leave to make the following report:
The consideration of this subject by the
society is justified and demanded by the
very great prevalence of typhoid fever and
by the large number of deaths. which gives
Washington most unenviable position
among American cities.
1t is right that disease which is
known to be preventable, which has
be-a almost abolished in some of
the capitals of Europe, should re-
ceive here, in the capital of this country
the closest study and attention. If the
causes OF its persistence are known it,
above all, these causes can be removed. il
Is our part and duty to make the facts pub
lie and to arouse public attention to the ne
eesslty and urgency for action. Who is
To
this subject than the Medical. Society of
the District, whose members are in daily
contact with the disease. and who have
every opportunity to study the modes of its
dinusion among our population?
The committee has endeavored to present
as briefly as possible. the data upon which
an intelligent Judgment can be formed The
magnitude of the task of making d COM
piete study of typhoid fever in all of its
aspects must be apparent to all, and the
committee must ask an indulgence for the
imperfection of the report in many of it's
details: Much could only be touched upon,
much had to be omitted. The Importance
of the subject demands continued observa-
ton ard study. and II is suggested that the
work be continued from year to year in
whatever way which seems best to the
society.
The committee is indebted for much yalu-
able assistance from the District Commits
sioners and their assistants, who have all
SHOWN great interest in the work of the
society in this Investigation.
The accompanying report will consider
l. The prevalence and mortality of ty-
phofd fever in the District.
.. The relations of the dissemination of
the disease to the (a) public water supply: %
to the pollution of the soil with the leakage
from privies. from defective sewers and
from the backing up of sewerage from tidal
movements; (c) to the drinking of well or
pump water; td) to contaminated milk and
to other causes.
5. The difference IN mortality in differ
ent areas of the city, with a view to dis
cover the causes.
1. Conclusions based upon the foregoing
data. as to what measures should be taken
TO diminish the spread of the disease
Prevalence and Mortality of Typhoid
Fever in the District of Co1umbin.
The following table gives the statistics
of typhoid fever in the District of Columbia
from 1851 TO 1898. the ratio of deaths from
all causes and the total deaths based upon
the records of the health Office of the Dis
trict:
Typhoid Fever in the District Of Colum ba 1881 to
to 1893, inclusive.
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