The Washington times., 1895-02-03
Citizens Discuss Typhoid Fever
and Other Diseases.
DIR. S. c. BUSEY'S ADDRESS
Justice Harlan Presided and Health Officer
Woodward Was Secretary-Typhoid Is
Living Organism - Increase in Wash
ington's Death Rate-BOnd Bill Endorsed
and Congress Urged to Pass II Speedily.

The dangers TO which, it is alleged. resi-
dents Of Washington are exposed from the
present system Of sewerage, and the best way
10 prevent the outbreak of epidemies Of
typhoid fever and other diseases, were pre-
sented by leading physicians at a meeting of
100 prominent citizens held yesterday after
noon IN the banquet room Of the Shoreham.
The reed for radical change in the present
sewerage system was demons rated, TO the sat
faction Of those present, by Drs. S. c. Busey,
president OF the medical society. and w. W..
johnson, and the president of the meeting
was authorized to appoint a committee OF
seven. OF which be shall be chairman, TO ap-
pear before the House and Senate District
Committees and urge the passage of the
81. 500 600 bond bill for The extension OF trunk
sewers.
The meeting was called by a committee OF
citizens consisting Of the following gentle
men: W. C Whittemore, I. s. Hamlin L lwia
Stewart. Francis Cotton. W J. Boardman,
and George II. Sternberg. Justice John NJ.
Harlan was chosen chairman. and Dr. w. c..
Woodward. secretary.
In a brief opening speech Justice Harlan
spoke of the object OF the meeting. ana said
there should be no division Of opinion a. to
the necessity of providing proper sewerage
for the city. Ii was an Important matter not
only to the owners OF private property, but 10
the government as well. He then introduced
Dr. S. c. Busey. president Of the medical So
ciety, as the first speaker.
ILLUSTRATED HIS TALK.
DR.. BUsey used a number OF charts and dia-
grams to illustrate his talk. AS an introduc-
tory remark he said his address was to be in
the interest Of advanced medical science and
the good health Of the city.
Washington was not up TO the standard o.
other cities in providing means for the pre-
vention Of the spread OF diseases.
He then discussed the causes and preventa.
tiyes Of typhoid fever because, he said, il is
the malady about which we are most thor.
oughly informed. Typhoid fever is a living
organism. capable Of rapidly reproducing il.
self. During the past twenty-five years
nearly every case OF typhoid fever in the Dis
trict has been traced 10 an impure water OF
milk supply. Numbers or epidemics have
been traced direct 20 a single dairy
The Medical Society Of the District has beer
trying for a number Of years to secure th,
passage of pure milk bill in Congress tC
prevent epidemics. The House recently
passed desirable bill bot the measure hai
been so emasculated in the Senate that il
from tubercular cows.
DIR. Busey proceeded, by the aid of a chart
TO illustrate the influence of water upon
cholera epidemic. He had map of the cite.
Of Hamburg and Altoona, showing the loca
ton OF cholera patients during the epidemi,
Of 1898. In the former city there were hun
dreds Of cases. while the latter was almos
entirely exempt. The water supply of boti
cities was situated above them. But betor,
going into the houses of consumers at Al
toOna the water was filtered. which was no
the case at Hamburg, and that was the caus
Of such spreading.
DEATHS N WASHINGTON.
The number:of deaths in O.OOO population
during the past five years in Washington ha
iEcreased from 4 10 6.s. The causes whicl
DR.. Busey assigned for this was the existenc
OF 1000 open priyies and street pumps. ''W
can't get lid OF these until there is a prope
and sufficient sewerage system. The morta
hyin houses equipped with sewers is two-third