The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-10
TYPHOID FEVER DUE TO
POTOMAC RIVER WATER
DR.. Woodward
Health Officer efendsCity's
Mix Supply.
BUT A VEHICLE FOR GERMS
Stream Reelzs With Filth, He Says,
and Contains BacilH IN
PROPULSION.
BUT A VEHICLE FOR GERMS

The District Commissioners have re-
ceived communication from Thomas w
Gilmer. who asks whether attention
should not be given 10 milk as me prin-
cipaI cause of the dissemination OF ty-
phoid fever germs.
Mr. GiImer refers to a letter from the
Secretary of Agriculture, in which it is
said that in two recent examinations Of
Potomac water made by the biochemfeaI
laboratory Of that department no ty-
phoid bacilli were found Owing TO the
results OF this analysis. Mr. Giimer
thinks that it Is more than doubtful
whether this water is the cause of 50
much typhoid fever in Washington.
Health oficer's Opinion.
DR.. William c. Woodward. the Health
Officer. said today in reference 10 the
matter that IN he inspection of cases of
typhoid fever reported to his depart
ment. investigation Of the milk supply
OF be family was always made He said
that within the last six months about
thirty cases had been traced to milk. but
that the great majority of cases were
due to some other cause, and he believed
1t TO be Potomac water
Dr.. woodward said that milk could
only be the indirect vehicle for the
transmission OF this disease. He said
that typhoid fever is not disease affect
ing cattle and, therefore, could not be
transmitted through milk in the same
way as tuberculosis. Dr. Woodward
thinks that milk is not. and cannot be
the chief cause of the prevalence of ty-
Phoid fever in a city SO large as Wash
ington. He said that in small village.
where the milk supply was derived from
single dairy and there happened to be
typhoid fever on the farm, the eondi-
tons would be different
F5is16 Water Responsible.
OF the presence of typhoid baciIu in
the Potomac water, he said, there could
be no doubt All careful analyses made
OF the river water had shown that It was
full Of sewage filth. and that it con
tanned the typhoid germs. Samples test
ed by the War Department in connection
with the report upon the filtration plant,
he said, showed that so per cent Of them
contained this germ. In another report
from the same source It was shown that
The intestinal bacillus was present in so
per cent OF the samples examined, when
only five cubic centimeters-a teaspoon
fulzof- the water was tested.
TIE sEseaalADfieer spoke OF the DIM
entities attending the meteorological ex-
animation Of water He said it required
large, costly, and elaborate outfit.
which Congress had never provided for
the District. In the absence of such IA
ciHties. he said, he could not conduct the
tests TO show the presence or absence OF
these germs in the water.
A Drainage Basin.
But the character of the watershed Of
the Potomac River had not changed from
year to year, except TO grow worse. It
was the drainage basin, he said, of a vast
territory where typhoid fever existed
always. The surface drainage of iris
aFaza Of course. carried the germs into
the water. and there they were acquired
by the Inhabitants Of Washington With
the results shown IN the health reports
Of the past summer.
Referring to the results Of two an
alyses by the Department of Agriculture.
Dr.. Woodward said that If they were only
two they proved nothing IN such tests
usually about a teasponful Of the water
is used This, he said, was about a hun
dredth part Of the amount drunk every
day by the average person. OF the quart
which represents the supply for a single
person every twenty-four hours. a tea
spoonful might not show the presence. Of
the germs even with FIVE OF six tests, ow-
Ing TO the diffusion OF the bacilIi
DR.. Woodward said that the District
Health Department and the War Depart
ment we're agreed that the chief cause Of
the presence Of typhoid fever in the city
was the Potomac water, and that this be-
lief was founded on thorough tests made