The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-10-19
The LOCAL TYPHOID SITUATION.

The request has been made that
| should supplement my official reports to
the state and local boards of health
with simple, untechnical statement to
to the public of the results of the work
in my laboratory during the last four
months.
The first problem presented was to
determine the nature of the fever COM
planned of in this city. AS is well
known, this is question about which
not only the public generally, but the
medical profession as well, has been
much divided. Is it typhoid fever or
malaria? The meteorological examina-
ton of the cases leaves no manner of
doubt. Only two cases of malaria have
been discovered. OF typhoid cases
there have been considerable number,
as my official report shows. Three
fourths OF the typhoid cases originated
in this city and the remaining one-fourth
probably outside the city limits-most
Of them in the country near BY. The
cases occurring in the city have origi-
mated in different localities, but several
centers are observed where the cases are
especially numerous. 1t is encouraging
to note the almost entire absence of the
disease from certain blocks where there
was the most trouble last year, and
which afterward, by order of the city
J If hn "a,
subjected to thorough sanitary over
hauling. The water used by more than
20 per cent of the typhoid patients was
from wells or ditches-chiefy well wa
ter. Many samples of water have been
examined with the result that all those
taken from bitches and most of those
taken from wells showed sewage con-
tamination. 1t hardly needs to be said
| that such waters are not fit to drink
without boiling. They may have no Of
fensive taste or odor, and yet carry the
tious diseases. Typhoid fever is espec-
! tally tilthy-water disease, and vet such
water is frequently clear and sparkling
Many examinations have also been
made of samples of the city water. and
these, together with thorough inspec-
ton of the city ditch throughout its en-
/ tire length, emphasizes the necessity of
guarding carefully the banks OF the ditch
above the reservoir indeed an open
ditch is at all to be tolerated. The safe
and proper way would be to convey the
water in enclosed pipes from its source
in the mountains and thus prevent the
possibility OF contamination through
drainage of the country through which
| it now flows exposed.
A biological examination of the water,
which the writer procured to be made
in the government laboratory at Wash.
ington, reveals a trace of vegetation in
the reservoir which if present in suffi-
cient quantity, though harmless. would
impart an Objectionable taste and smell
to the water. The reservoir ought to
be cleaned frequently.
The sources of water and milk supply
and the sanitary conditions at the homes
in which typhoid fever has occurred are
now being investigated with view to
locating specific sources of infect ion
An illustration 4 family in this city
! has been in the habit of making butter
and selling it in the market. Fever in
vaded the household. The person who
attended the sick one also looked after
| the butter. An examination of the but
ter disclosed the presence of live ty-
phoid germs, and the health officer put
stop to its sale.
! Investigation shows that many closets
in outbuildings in the city are in bad
condition. Many are close to wells, and
the vaults being shallower than the
wells, drain directly into them. The
/ loose character of the soil and the abun-
/ dant moisture supplied by irrigation
greatly facilitates this process. The
danger from this condition is very great
and calls for an extensive sewer system
and thorough drainage. This need is
exigent and imperative.
This laboratory has also made many
examinations i'm cases of other contag-
ioas diseases affecting vitaily the public
health, particularly OF tuberculosis
/ Consumption and diphtheria.
X. 4. BEBB, NJ. n.
Bacteriologist.