The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-31

ems and water barrels.
The meteorological analyses resulted as fol-
lows:
The water from all sources showed the
presence of the ordinary water bacteria, and
the bacilH tyDhosus was obtained from the
delivery hose Of the distributing tank. The
demonstration of the presence of the typhoid
bacillus in the above tank may be ac-
counted for as follows:
FrstIThe drivers hands may have come
In contact with some medium containing
typhoid bacilli, and in handling the hose
for filling the tank had in that way con-
taminated the water.
boards which were water soaked, may fur
n1sh organic materials which might serve as
a culture medium favoring the growth OF
the B. tyDhosus.
Third-The bacilli having higher specific
gravity than the water may have settled to
the bottom Of the tank and had thus drawn
off through the delivery hose.
Fourth-The delivery hose may have
in some way become contaminated and the
typhoid bacilli rubbed or washed off when
the water was being discharged into the
barrels. This appears to be the most prob
able means Of infection, as a list of the SICK
men shows only certain companies which
supply been contaminated, 1t would seem that
the infection would have been more general
lied Further Investigations are at present
being made to confirm positively the presence
of the B. typhosus In this tank
The general water supply is distributed
through system Of pipes over the fair
caS6u
feet deep, directly in the rear of Secretary
Randall's house.
The water supply may not at present,
so many cases of typhoid fever have devel-
oPed on the grounds it is more than prob
able that the soil is to certain extent con-
tan1nated and 1t is possible that the water
may at some future time become contimi-
mated and prove source of typhoid infection.
the tower tank at the we'll was cleaned on
July 20. The tank wagon was inspected by
Mowers nj hn
regiment, United States volunteers, on July
10, and pronounced clean. On July 20, the day
wagon was scalded and the delivery hose
replaced with new one. This tank wagon
was cleaned in the above manner five times,
and Is now perfectly safe regarding further
distribution Of the bacili of typhoid fever.
unless 1t again becomes contaminated.
All water barrels and receivers at the COM
pany kitchens were scalded as soon as the
meE began to show symptoms of the fever,
and this was done every day or every other
day while the regiment was on the grounds.
AS soon as the water supply on the fair
grounds was pronounced suspicious 1t
was abandoned and water from the St. Paul
water supply was hauled to the grounds both
for drinking and cooking purposes. While
arrangements were being made for the st.
Paul water supply all water used for drink
ing purposes was boiled.
The camp was situated on ridge of high
ground about 2oO yards from the WELL the
closets and .eesspools being on the further
side of the ridge where the drainage is away
from and not toward the well.
AS soon as possible after the Fifteenth
regiment went into camp the main sink or
cesspool was removed to the farthest possible
point from the. camp and was situated ON
On July %. all kitchen sinks were disinfect-
ed and filled up and tight barrels were sub
stituted: These barrels were emptied into the
main sink and then disinfected with lime,
being daily covered with fresh earth
All refuse Of solid nature was placed in
other barrels being afterwards removed and
fed to some hogs kept near by.
On Aug. heavy rain storm flooded many
tents. the trenches around tents and COM
pany. streets not being large enough to carry
eff the water.
1t might be interesting to note at this point
that the clinical diagnosis pointed strongly
to. typhoid fever on Aug: 8, only three days
after the rain storm, although the Vidal re-
action was not obtained until Aug. 49,
The trenches mentioned above were deep
ened and put in better condition soon after
the farthest possible distance from the camp
These closets were policed, that is to say
kept in sanitary condition by covering the
when it shown that an epidemic was
liable to occur, each man was required to
cover such excreta deposited with lime and
fresh EARTH and a large supply of lime was
daily distributed in the closets. At about this
time all trenches about the tents and kitch-
ems were also covered with lime.
to Fort Smelling all straw and refuse matter
was burned, and all closets and cesspools
were dtsnfected with bromine water and
filled with fresh earth.
In conclusion l have recommended to the
state fair authorities that the grounds for
merly occupied by the Fifteenth United States
volunteers be disinfected by some cheap but
efficient means to prevent any further spread
Of this disease. I have suggested that
quantity of straw shavings be saturated
with crude petroleum and scattered over the
ground and burned, or per cent solution
of crude carbolic acid spread by means Of
sprinkling cart.
,o,,1d oh
these suggestions in connection with such
suggestions offered by the Minnesota state
board of health, the visitors to the state fair
grounds are perfectly safe from typhoid
fever infection.
Since the above report was completed.
visited the state fair grounds and learned
that pipe, line had been laid from the
artosian well system at Lake Como. The
tanks and pipe system of the fair grounds
will be dsinfected with a current of live
steam before the artesan system Is connect
ed. This will assure a supply of the purest
water obtainable Respectfully submitted,
"A. w. Miller, M. D..
Assistant Commissioner Of Health.