The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-02-26
ITHACA'S EPIDEMIC.
President Schurman of Cor
nell Issues a Statement.
CONTAMINATED WATER THE CAUSE
Fifteen Students and sixteen Citi-
seDs Have Already succumbed
to the Typhoid-Five Hum
dred Are Now Ill.

B. ITHACA, n. Y, Feb. 24.-ln reply TO
request for an authoritative state
ment concerning the origin of the ty-
phoid fever epidemic as it has affected
Cornell university, its cause, the num-
Der of cases and deaths and the steps
that have been taken to remedy exist
ing conditions at the university Presi-
dent Jacob G.. Schurman has given out
the following:
"The cause of the epidemic of typhoid
IS generally believed to be contamina-
ion of the water of Six Mile creek,
which, along with Buttermilk creek,
furnishes the water supply of the city
Of ithaca, by band of laborers who
we're engaged in the fall and early
winter in the construction of Il dam in
that creek for the Ithaca Water COM
pany. This belief is confirmed by an
Investigation which in behalf of Cor
nell university has been made by DR..
v. A. Moore, our bacteriologist, and
Or. II. NJ Chamot, our taXicologist,
and which they have just completed.
"They say study of the various
ways by which typhoid bacilli are dis
seminated will show that in our pres
ant epidemic we should look TO but two
lf the channels of dissemination
namely, milk and water-for source of
Infection. A careful inquiry into dis
sribution of routes does not show or
dive reason to suspect that milk has
Jeen a source of infection. This leaves
rs with but one possible source for the
infection, the water.
''The university authorities have
nadc arrangements to enable students
% secure pure water duly inspected.
Artesian water has been placed in all
the university buildings, where stu
lents may draw it freely. Distributing
tations have also been established
both on and near the campus, and stu
tents have been officially Informed that
shey may have pure water in any
quantity desired at the expense of the
university.
"To insure pure water for the city
md university not later than Sept. 1,
his year, the board of trustees has
authorized the expenditure of S150,000
FOR the installation of complete and
adequate filtration plant"
From a gentleman who has visited
ithaca for the purpose of ascertaining
he actual facts regarding the situa-
ion we are enabled to print the fol-
owing statement:
The death roll among the students OF
Cornell university from the scourge OF
Uphold fever has already reached
alarming proportions, and there are
low no less than fifty-four cases the
,utcome of which is uncertain. Fifteen
student deaths have been recorded
within sixteen days, four of these oc-
:urring within the last twenty-four
hours.
Despite the fact that the university
authorities are inclined to the belief
hat the crisis is past there is no deny
ng the fact that the situation is ap-
,alling. Every day brings forth its
read list of new cases, and the physi-
ians of ithaca are toiling night and
lay in their efforts to bring relief to
he suffering. Already nearly half Of
he 1900 students have fled from the
3est ridden place.
The situation outside the university
J equally alarming. Sixteen of the
0wnspeople have died of the fever,
md the death rate is increasing at an
appalling rate.