The Washington times., 1904-08-25
Health Officer Sends Out
Warning Against Po-
tOnaC Water.
FAULT OF MOUNTSAVAGE
Disease Widespread There
and Sewage Is Pouring
Into the River.

There is danger Of Washington being
swept by such an epidemic Of typhoid
fever as held the city in its grasp in
the winter of 1889 and los and now. as
then. the water of the Potomac River
is regarded as the agent OF transmission
for the deadly germs.
Dr. William G Woodward. health Off
Ger OF the District, today. after a con-
sultation with District Commissioner
Macfarland. issued an official warning
that a recent outbreak Of typhoid at
Mount Savage. Md. all of whose drain
age flows into the Potomac. gives
ground for the fear that the epidemic
will be brought to the National Capital
Even now. according to the published
records Of the Health Department. the
tainted water may have begun 10
spread the disease among the residents
Of the district.
Official Warning.
According TO the bulletin issued by
the health officer today, there have re-
Gently occurred at Mount Savage, neal
Cumberland. 120 cases OF typhoid fever
the total population Of the place being
only 2,645. In speaking Of the town
which has absolutely no sewerage sys-
TEN. the DuAlFLAu GOuN4uuGS-
1T is on steep hiIlsides and the rains
do most Of the scavenging. Jennings
Run drains the town and empties into
Wills Creek about three miles above
Cumberland Wills Creek empties into
at Cumberland.
When II is remembered that the out
break Of typhoid fever I'm this District
Fr, h., -Fr.k - 81 90
closely upon an outbreak Of typhoid
fever IN uEpberland and vicinity par
Of the drainage fr6m that locality ther
flowing into Wills Creek, and when ii (,
known that the local outbreak was at
tribUted by those best able 70 Judge {,
the prevalence of the disease at Cum
berland. the possibilities of the presen
outbreak are apparent
What Figures Show.
Dr. Woodward, who has been in com
munication with the Maryland authOri
ties. SAYS the work OF disinfeCtiOn a
Mount Savage has been undertaken OF
a fairly good scale OF late. and tina
the outbreak is now subsiding. He f
in receipt of letter from Mount Sa
wage. however. which says the diseas
NAV break out again.
= perusal Of the following figures from
the Health Office records at the Distric
Building will show that there is rea
son 10 believe that the conditions caus
ing typhoid fever have been re-enfOrCeS
lately by q unusual factor:
IN the month of July. 1893 there OC
CURED IN the District 10 typhoid cases
In July. 1904 there occurred l0l cases
In August. 1903, there were l35 cases
while this August, mp TO date. ther'
have been reported 10 the Health De
partment l5l cases.
River Is Affected.
I'm other words. while there were II
1893 twenty-one more cases of typhoi,
in the month of July than in this yea
at the corresponding period. "A com
parison of the number in August Of thi
and last ycar shows that this yeal
there has occurred an increase of six
teen cases. While last summer Angus
had an increase of only thirteen owe
the cases I'm July. this summer Angus
shows an increase Of fifty cases Owe
The question the health officials ar,
now asking is. Why such a sudden in
crease
The reasonable answer seems to b,
thai Tho water has been affected by TIN
outbreak UD the river
Viewed With Alarm.
Commissioner Macfariand and Healtl
Officer Woodward both view the situa
tiou with some alarm. and the direction
OF the Heath officer is that the peopl
should 10y 1ll means refrain at once from
drinEiu- Potomac water without bOilin;
IL FlltcrinS is not believed to be gen
orally Elective IN killing germs. Boil
ing is tho Only sure E3y the health Off
Cials viii point out.
Every effort will be made by the Dis
trict authorities TO prevent the epidcmh
gaining sway in this city. but as ha
been pointed out today. their efforts viii
not avail much unless they are support
ca sCuslbly ard thoroughly by preCau
tiOus on the part OF the citizens. TIL
only way TO render this support an,
hcln IS 10 boil every drop OF water tina