Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07
TYP HOID FEW e r
Studying the Increase Of The Disease II
This City.
DR.. woodward Explains How the
and Milk.

Inc reports maze TO the nealtn once
during the past few weeks show that there
has been considerable increase in the
number Of deaths from typhoid fever, and
that the disease is prevalent to quite an
| alarming extent.
During the five weeks ending last Satur-
day there were 66 deaths from typhoid.
In the week ending September there were
10; in the week ending September IA there
were 81; in the week ending September p
| there were 10; in the week ending Septem-
Der % there were II, end in the week end
ing last Saturday there were 10. With a
death rate Of 10 per cent from the disease,
which Is considered rather low. there would
seem to be in the city upward of eco cases.
Murchison's rate of 10 per cent was COM
piled from an exhaustive study of reports
OF hospitals. mortality records Of cities and
all other available sources of information.
According to that estimate there would be,
approximately, $50 cases. In the opinion of
Health Omcer Woodward. who is making a
thorough investigation of the matter, there
| are between 400 and 600 cases now in the
city.
DR.. Woodward today said that during the
months OF October and November an in
crease may be looked for; at least the rate
will remain stationary. There is no reason
to hope for a decrease. In conversation
with Star reporter. DR.. Woodward said:
A comparison Of the mortality from this
disease this year as compared with last
year and the year before shows that there
has been marked increase. In 1923 the
fall months showed an average of 25. Last
year the record was as follows: August, 80;
September, 20; October. 80; November, "a;
December, 10. The number for September,
1895. was Sc.
Reasons for Increase.
1T ia practically impossible to account
satisfactorily for the increase this year.
The long dry spell and the low water in
the river may have something to do with
it. Typhoid does not spread from contact,
as Is the case with smallpox. and. conse-
quently, 1t is always a difficult matter to
The typhoid bacillus does its work on the
intestines, and, consequently, gets into the
system in food or drink. There Is no record
Of the disease being contracted through in
halation. Insantary drainage may leave
the system in a condition where 1t is liable
to contract the disease. but do not think
it is primary cause of typhoid.
THE chief sources of the contagton are
impure water and milk. Some authorities
hold to the view that the bacillus is trans
mitted through the lacteal glands, but I
do not think SO, nor do think that the cow
Is liable to the disease. Milkmen. even II
they do not water their milk, wash out their
cans with water, which Is not properly dried
out nor are the cans subjected to heat suf-
f1cient to destroy the germs. If the water
is from an infected well. a whole milk route
absolutely safe, should be boiled. When
used for small children it should be Pasteur-
lied, that is to say, heated not quite to the
boiling point. allowed to cool and then heat
ed again. This will kill all the germs it
may contain.
Water should be boiled before 1t Is used
for drinking purposes. Ice is also a source
of Infection, for freezing does not destroy
the germs. and when 1t is melted in the
pitcher, even boiled water becomes polluted.
In other words. in making ice water, the ice
should not be placed in the water. but in
contact with the vessel in which the water
is kept, as is done in modern improved re-
frigerators which have water tank.
Water Supply.
1.-The low condition of the water in the
Potomac undoubtedly increases the dan
ger to some extent by minimizing the
amount of water in which the same num-
Der of germs may be confed. That is to
say there may be more germs in a cubic
yet we have investigated a number Of
cases in the northeast section. where the
patients did not use Potomac water at
ALL but depended for their supply on a
pump. heavy rain after this dry spell is
likely to still further pollute the river. The
refuse UP the river has been dumped along
the banks. but on account of the low wa
ter has not been carried off. With a good
rain much of this would be washed into the
river. What is really needed here is q
of drainage. The water for Washington
ought all to be filtered before 1t enters the
city.
There is some danger also from the use
Of uncooked vegetables, but this is compar-
atively small as against the danger from
water and milk. which are the two staples
that are usually taken into the system in
uncOOked state"