Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Dr.. Stearns' Opinion as to the Reports o.
Typhoid Fever.
He Think. There IRE No More Cases
Than Usual ''us That the Fever
is More firulent.

'In my opinion" said DR.. S. S. Stearns
enc Of the leading homeopathic physicians
Of the city. "thissMhoge matter of the scare
over typhoid fever has been greatly exag.
gerated. There is%typhoid fever in this
city now, as there is every year. but think
l am safe in saying that the number OF
cases is not bit above the average.
have watched typhoid very carefully fol-
the last thirty years, and my own investi-
cations lead me to believe that there is nc
more here this fall than any other fall
since 1877.
Typhoid fever is endemic, not epidemic.
and is always to be found in large cities.
We are certain to have typhoid in this city
so long as the city grows at the present
rate. Streets are extended, and the hills to
the north and northwest are being torn
away. The result is that new ground is
being opened up, and when the wind is
from That direction it has strong ten
dency to disturb the sanitary conditions OF
the city. Then, on the other side of the
city. are the reclaimed fats, which are
covered with the rankest kind Of vegeta-
ton. There the bottom of the river has
been dug up and exposed to the action of
the atmosphere, and it stands to reason
that all that decaying matter cannot be SO
very much better than the old marshes as
they used to exist. The flats they are
To-Day constitute a splendid source of sup
the city with every breath from that point
OF the compass. The flats should either be
improved or else the vegetation that covers
them should be cut down and burned every
August
A More virulent Form.
Typhoid varies not only in extent and
distribution, but also as to it's severity.
The result is that while I am convinced
there are no more than the usual number
foil T I'd, hot = I,a
fever seems to be of more virulent form.
Ihat Is to say, the death rate from typhoid
this year seems larger than in years gone
by. There is a great deal of malarial
trouble In the city at this time. and 1t
undoubtedly affects typhoid. Some people
insist mat 1t is possible to tell at once in
the beginning whether a case is malaral
fever or typhoid. am satisfied that this
Is not true. for 1 have known of many
cases diagnosed as one which turned out
10 De the other. l was not long ago called
IN consultation In case which the attend
ing physician had diagnosed as typhoid,
Out the crisis came at the end of nine days,
Wnlch showed very clearly that there WAS
a mistake A good many physicians, when
In doubt as to the exact character of the
disease. would be likely to report it as the
more serious. Then if it should turn out
otherwise 1t would put them in a better
light than il they had called 1t mild case
OF malaria and had it turn out typhoid. 1
think this accounts for a good deal of the
leak in the reports of typhoid. In other
words 1 do not think that there are as
many cases of typhoid as have been re-
ported as such. DIR. Woodward, the health
officer, has DONE very wise act in send
ing out cards to all the physicians in town,
asking them to report the number Of cases
of typhoid they know of. 1 think that the
results of such a census will show that the
disease is not SO widespread as is gener-
ally thought" "a
But 1t is said that the health office has
received comparatively few answers to
its request" SUGGESTED The Star reporter
That is as sit should be-" said DR..
Stearns. "A physician ought not TO report
until he is absolutely certain, and l am
sure l shall not. send in my response until
1 can make it accurate beyond question.
Sources Of infection.
Water is, of course. the chief source of
infection. Mill, is, also an element of
danger. but to nothing like the same ex-
tent. Milk is a source of infection only
when it has been Yatersd or put into cans
which have been washed with impure
water. The pumps in or near the barn
yard always furnish the very worst of
water. Water Is the greatest solvent
known. and cleans pure water will do us
an lncalculable amount of good in cleansing
the system from all impurities. But when
the water itself is impure and infected. it
Is source of danger and not of salvation.
The best advice to give is that which has
been given in The Star before. Boil all
drinking water before it Is used.'