Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-17
IT'S WE'LL WATER.
To What Physicians Attribute
Existing Typhoid.
DEATH RATE NOT VERY GREAT

The Number Of Cases In the City and the
Probable Cause - A Suggestion IS to
the Safest Course to Avoid l,he Disease
An Analysis to be Made.
While the existence of typhoid
fever in Rock Island at the present
time is more marked than has here
tofore been the case at this season in
recent years, at least. the majority
of the physicians OF the city with
whom Representatives of The ARGUS
conversed this morning, do not view
| the situation with alarm or evince
the least manifestation Of fear of an
epidemic. There are in the city, in
GLIDING the patients at st. Anthony's
! hospital, not all OF whom are resi-
dents here, as far as can be esti-
mated, about seventy cases. Pro-
portienately speaking, the death rate
has not been great, although physi-
clan as a rule report the disease
where it does exist of unusual sever
ity in type. There is slight differ
ence Of opinion as to the cause OF the
disease, although the preponderance
1
water.
| Ex-Commissioner Of Public Health
G. 6. Craig stated: The disease is
PROFESSIONALLY attributable to we'll
water. Hundreds of families whom
I know of, use river water where
there is no sign of the disease, and
my experience has been to trace the
origin to well water in most in
stances. If were asked to give a
suggestion as to a precaution l
would say to filter all water con-
sumed thoroughly and to boil it also
before using it. This would be the
safest course"
Ex-Health Commissioner G. L.
Eyster said: "Most assuredly the
trouble is chargeable TO well water.
Ii the river water was to blame we
would have an epidemic here that
the combined medical fraternity
could not control or comb bat against.
Still think as a precaution all wa
Ter should be analysed, and the river
water examined in all its phases,
first before it enters the intake pipe;
then as it comes from it, and then
after it is filtered"
Ex-Health Commissioner s.
c. Plummer: According to my
Experience and observation the
disease is abating. have dis
charged most OF my patients. l at
tribute the cause to the river as we'll
as well water. The neglect in the
matter of Properly guarding the
water mains is an outrageous shame,
but am told now that the mains
have been flushed out and am sure
the water is much purer than it has
been, and consequently I look for a
gradual improvement all over the
city,"
--u Health Reconnaissance Sale.
Health Commissioner e. Nj. Sala
said: II do not attribute it in the
least to the river water. l think the
/ wells are to blame. If the river
water was contaminated the disease
, would have assumed the form OF an
epidemic in all portions of the city
=, that no power could control. Never
I theless, l have arranged for ana.
lytical tests to be made at Cham
paign, and these will determine def.
nitely. do not look upon the dis
ease as at present existing as iusti
flying the least cause for alarm.
do not think it is increasing and the
D percentage of fatalities is not at al
great"
DR.. c. c. Carter said: "There is
b no cause for alarm. In the frs
place people should not become un
duly nervous about such matters
Let them avoid well water, boil al
nourishing food and keep their sys
Or TENS in good order. Then there will
be no danger. / think the wei
20 water is to blame for most case
that have existed; still atmospheric
conditions may have had some in
lluence. 1t is always safest, how
ever, to use river water, and jus
now, to boil it."
DR.. W. Ii. Ludewig said: "The'
1 is considerable typhoid fever prevail
! ing. l attribute it to impurities o
both river and well water"
DIR. J. X. Hollowbush, of Barth
Hollowbush said: "We have quite
number Of cases, and we think tn
trouble is in the water, to the vel
water unquestionably, but perhap
to the river water as well. Peopl
as q precaution should boil all tn
water they consume"
DIR. J. T. Comegys said: Il d
not regard the situation as particu
larly unusual for this season. l al
. tribute the disease in the cases
have attended to well water en
tirely."