The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-31
TYPHOID IN THE TANK
REPORT ON THE ORIGIN OF THE
CAMP RAMSEY CONTRACTION
The Assistant City Health Commits
sfOEer Found From Tests of the
Water That the Bacflli Had Got
ten Into the Hose of the Vehicle
Used for Hauling the Water
All Danger Is Now Over.

Assistant Commissioner Of Health
DR.. A. w. Miller yesterday submitted
to DR.. Stone, commissioner of the St.
Paul health department, a report on
the water supply and sanitary condi-
ton Of the state fair grounds and Camp
Ramsey. The fair grounds, in one por-
ton of which Camp Ramsey was To-
Gated, are outside the city, and for this
reason not in the jurisdiction of the
health department. The outbreak Of
typhoid fever in the Fifteenth regi-
ment, however, led Nal. Dennis, sur
geon Of the regiment, to request Dr.
Stone to make an investigati ton as to
the cause, and DR.. Miller, being the
bacteriologist of the department, took
charge Of the investigation.
In the report of DR.. Miller, which is
given herewith, the cause is not laid to
the water supply, but to the hose on
the tank from which the water was
distributed to various parts of the
camp. The water supply, the report
states, may not be contaminated, but,
in view of the SO many cases of ty-
phoid having developed. it is more
than probable that the soil Is to GER
tain extent contaminated.
DR.. Miller suggested that the grounds
formerly occupied by the Fifteenth
on the breaking of the camp and the
removal Of the soldiers to Fort Smell
ing the straw and refuse matter was
burned, and all closets and cesspools
were disinfected and filed with fresh
earth.
Since completing his report the state
fair authorities carried out the sug-
gestions made and have laid a pipe
line for water from the artesian well
system at Lake Como. The pipes and
tanks on the fair grounds will be dis
infected with steam before the artesian
system is connected, and this will as
sure a supply Of the purest water OBJ
tainable, and visitors to the fair
grounds are assured they will be per-
fectly safe from a typhoid fever infec-
ton. Following is a copy of the re-
port:
st. Paul, Mimi, Aug: 80, 1Ses.-Dr A. j.
Stone, Commissioner of Health-Dear Sir:
Although out OF our jurisdiction at the re-
quest Of Maj. Dennis, surgeon. Fifteenth regi-
/ ment, U. S. ", have made an Investigation
OF the water supply and sanitary condition
OF the Minnesota state fair grounds and Camp
Ramsey.
A few days since handed you report as to
chemical analysis of the above water supply,
which resulted as follows: Chlorine, 1900;
nitrates, trace; nitrites. none: oxygen con-
Stunning power, .O24; amonia, free, .131
albumen, .0065; SOLIDS total. 2s0O; vola-
tile, $500.
This water may be considered as good and
is potable from chemical standpoint
The archaeological analyses as follows:
On July rs DR.. Mowers, assistant surgeon
Fifteenth regiment, U. S. A., delivered to me
four samples of one ounce each Of water to
ascertain the presence or absence Of the
bacilE Of typhoid fever, as a few men were
at that time suffering from what was thought
to be a typical form of typhoid fever.
The samples were obtained as follows:
Nos. l. and were taken from the water
barrels supplying the . companies most
severely affected. No. was obtained from
melted Ice, which was supplied by the Ham
line Lake Ice company.
Cultures in beef broth were made from the
above specimens and after twenty-four hours
four white rats were inoculated, all of which
died in from twelve to eighteen hours.
Cultures obtained from the viscera and
abdominal cavities Of the rats showed the
presence OF B. coli Cumminis, B. pyocyanous,
Staph. pyogenes, aureus, Staph. pyogenes
albus and many other micro rganisms. The
! T. typhosus was not demonstrated, although
the presence OF so many colon bacilh would
Indicate the liberality to contamination by
| the typhoid bacillus since their source and
manner of distribution is much the same.
| On July u Mr. Sinks and I visited the
fair grounds and Camp Ramsey, and obta ned
| the following specimens of water.
No. l. From Hydrant No. 2, in rear of
| Stable B.
No. 2. From pump in rear of Stable A.
No. 3. From hydrant at pumping station
IN rear Of Secretary RandaH.s house.
NO. 4. From delivery hose on tank wagon