The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-13
WATER THAT'S RANK
TYPHOID GERMS IN THE OUTPUT OF
MIR. DAyIs's COMPANY.
City sanftarian Discovers Fecnl Bac-
terra i'm It-Condftion That Calls
for Prompt Action.

City Sanharian Ferguson says he has
found conclusive proof that the city water
Is contaminated with fecal or intestinal
bacteria, which indicates the presence OF
tryhoid germs. although in itself 1t does not
prove that typhoid germs exist in the water.
Under the new order of the State Board Of
Health that physicians must report al cases
OF typhoid fever on the blanks furnished
for reporting contagious diseases. the City
Board Of Health has been enabled to make
thorough examinations of the surroundings
and therefore ascertain the cause Of the
prevalence of this disease
Since March Is DR.. Ferguson has received
reports OF forty-five cases of typhoid fever.
He began by securing samples OF water
used by the patients. He found that in six
teen Of the homes city water was used ex-
clusively, eight families used milk from
creameries where the milk cans are washed
in city water, 1--WE patients drank city water
at school and eight at their places Of bust
ness. making thirty-seven Of the forty-five
cases that might be traced 10 the use of
city water. th
The tests made by DR.. Ferguson at first
were the ordinary chemical tests which are
for the purpose of discovering such i'm
purities as chlorides and nitrites. These
tests showed the water TO be potable, l. e..
sufficiently pure for drinking purpose. But
this did not show whether or not bacteria
were present. He then placed a few drops
of the water in a prepared culture for the
purpose of growing whatever germs might
be in it and producing a sufficient quantity
to apply a test After allowing the bac-
terra to grow, all the known tests for fecai
bacteria were applied and the result was
conclusive that such germs were in the
water. In speaking of his work yesterday
DR.. Ferguson said:
1.-THE fact of finding fecal bacteria, to-
gether with the large number OF typhoid
cases using city water, points to this water
as the source Of the infection.
Il have made daily examinations for
r psn in e1y TIERS cam be
| no doubt as to the Identification OF this
| bacillus, for 1t has answered every known
| test.
IT have not yet found the typhoid bacillus.
| The fact that i have not found 1t is no evil
dence that IL was not there previous TO my
| investigation, for in any epidemic the cause
| the water supply before the beginning OF the
| investigation. Typhoid infected water may
be drunk and the disease not developed for
a number of days.
''The presence of the fecal bacteria there
| warns us TO look with suspicion on the
| water, because the fecal bacteria are always
| present in typhoid-infected water Some be-
| lieve these bacteria TO be the cause OF
| typhoid fever. do not believe this myself"
The report of DR.. Ferguson made last
| January shows that his examinations OF the
city water at that time showed 1t TO be free
| from fecal bacteria. He also recalls the fact
| that the report OF DR.. Hurry for last year
| shows that of 126 deaths from typhoid fever.
not one of the victims used city water,
| which is an additional indication that the
water has only recently become infected
| with the germ.
DIR. Hurry, who knew of these examina-
| tons being made by DR.. Ferguson, says DIR.
| Ferguson has presented the best Of evidence
| that the city water is not now a safe thing
| to be used unless 1t is boiled, which alone
| will kill the bacteria. He thinks these ex-
aminatiOns will cause the city to compel
| some changes in the filtration Of the city
water II is now practically not more than
merely strained. while il is necessary 10
| filter it through thick sand filter TO make
F. A. W. Davis, of the water company.
| says he does not believe the report that
| fecal bacteria has been found. He cites the
| fact that between forty thousand and fifty
| thousand people drink the city water daily
| and only thirty-seyen cases of typhoid fever
| have appeared among the users OF the water.
Although this report is startling in its
nature and one OF great Importance to the
| public, IL was not given out voluntarily by
| DR.. Ferguson, even after he had thoroughly
| satisfied himself that his tests were correct.
| He has been making these examinations
| every day for twelve days and might have
| continued for twelve more days without
| saying word for the benefit of the public
| had not Dr. Hurry, who was cognZant OF
| the work, happened to mention the matter
| some newspaper men. DIR. Ferguson has
not formulated any report to the Board OF
l. Health, but will do so in a short time.
Except for the incidental remark OF DIR.
Hurry the examinations might still be In
| progress and the whole knowledge of them
| locked I'D in the brain of the city sanitarian