The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-26
DR.. LOwry's Report on Cause of
Typhoid.
Disease in Topeka Came from
Contaminated Water.
HE FOUND $50 CASES.
Investigated the Causes Of
Thirty-twO of These.
Boiling of Water May Avert the
Disease.

DR.. Chas. Lowry has completed and
presented to the state board of health
the result of his investigation of the ty
phoid situation in Topeka. He reports
that $50 cases of the disease have been
located, and gives the result of a detail
ed investigation made of 80 special
cases. DR.. Lowry's report is the most
complete and satisfactory which has
been made of the Topeka situation. 1t
seems strange indeed that Topeka has
20 depend upon the state health officials
for information about conditions here,
when the city-is paying out about 5000
q month to maintain a health and sani-
tary department.
DR.. Lowry's report follows:
Mr.. President and Members of the
State Board of Health.
Northumberland BILE to a resolution
passed at the meeting of the board Sep
TENDER IS. requesting the secretary to
investigate and report the cause of ty-
phoid fever in Topeka, hereby submit
the following:
There have been I find about $50 such
cases in the city of Topeka and imme-
diate vicinity in the past two months.
The history of 80 typical cases in differ
ent parts Of the city was obtained by
getting answers to the following ques-
lions:
J. Have you been with a case of ty-
phoid fever, as nurse or otherwise?
> Has water used been boiled continu-
ously or only part of the time?
3. Has water used been hydrant, well
OF cistern?
4. Was well dug or driven?
;. Was well covered?
s. If cistern is water filtered?
Z. When as we'll or cistern cleaned?
s. Conditions of cellar. is it dry and
clean or damp and containing vegeta-
bles?
.. Is there water closet in house, if 50,
are traps in good condition.
10. If outside closet how near to well?
BY classifying the causes from an
swers to the above questions l find that
of the 30 cases six have been infected
by being with other typhoid fever
patients as nurse or as a member of
the family, but in part of such cases
the cause may have been the same as
for the first member of the family in
fected.
IN no case has boiled drinking water
been used continuously. In 20 OF the 81
cases the drinking water was not boiled
at all.
In 20 cases the water used was. well
water. in three cases hydrant water.
In almost every case where we'll wa
ter was used the wells have been dug
wells The evidence in most cases Is
that the wells have not been cleaned
recently and in nearly all such cases
there is an clubhouse with dug vault
within from 81 to 20 feet of the well.
In one of the three leases where
hydrant water was used the cause was
Internationally one of direct infection;
Cistern water has not been USED IN
any of the above cases.
In only 8 of the cases investigated did
I find cellars in damp or muddy condl-
ton.
Conclusions from the foregoing his
tory Of the cases investigated. The only
conclusion to be reached is that the
prime cause of typhoid fever in Topeka
in nearly every case has been the use
OF unbOiled water from open wells not
recently cleaned. and too close to vaults.
The suspicion early in the season thai
the hydrant water had been contami-
mated by the flood. and the advice of
physicians and agitation by the news
papers that such water should be boiled
in all cases has caused the people 10 use
greater precaution in boiling the ny
dranr water. whereas well water that
has no doubt been more liable to be-
come contaminated has been used with
out boiling. and is undoubtedly the
cause of the recent epidemic.
/ have no doubt that the one general
cause of typhoid fever everywhere
greater than everv other is the ola
fashioned. unsanitarv clubhouse vault
from which typhoid germs can percolate
through the soil a distance no one
knows how far. CITY ordinance com
Polling all who build new houses which
do not have sewer connections to use
only sanitary. Odorless. earth closets
which are much more inexpensive and
absolutely safe would be. in my opinion,
a preventive measure of great value.
and some steps should also be taken to
clean and close old vaults everywhere.
All water used for drinking purposes
should be boiled.
CHARLES LOWRY. Secretary.
Y = IN N nm mn CmrC-