The Washington times., 1904-08-29
The Government Would
Aid District Upon APP
plication.
GOOD RESULTS OF TEST
How the Weak Solution Is
Applied to Stay Spread
of Disease.

If the District Commissioners or the
District Health Board will make the
request, the Agricultural Department
will Investigate the cause of the ty-
phoid situation in this city
DR.. George r. Moore, physiologist in
charge OF the laboratory of plant physi-
ology, has given this question a great
deal of study, and, it is asserted. has
found remedy. 1t is a simple dilu-
Uion OF copper sulphate or of metallic
copper.
1t has been used with considerable
success in several large cities. promi-
nent among them being INDIANAPOLIS.
Ind; Butte. Mon; Springfield. Mass.
ana Baltimore
In all these places the work has been
uniformly successful. No action IS
taken by the Agricultural Department
unless the request comes from the local
health officers or the State board OF
health.
Fever in Indianapolis.
A Few weeks ago there was an alarm
ing spread Of typhoid fever in Indianap-
oils. DR.. Moore was requested to try
his method. and the result was apparent
from the first day. The authorities at
Butte. Mon, spent over $1,000. .OOO in the
disease.
work was without effect
DR.. Moore was called upon and his
method did the work. Baltimore. only
few weeks ago. was threatened with
Z typhoid fever epidemic, and DR.. Moore
was called upon for assistance a let
ter on file in the department states that
his method worked the desired results
The situation in the District Of CO.
lumela Is somewhat different Baltf-
more, Butte. indianapolis. and sSuring-
field suffered from a pollution OF the
reservoir supply. The local condition is
that the waters of the Potomac are
polluted before reaching this city, and
the constant intake is that of infected
water
The Problem Here.
In order to overcome this situation II
will be necessary to treat the reservoir
supply daily with the solution Of sui
phate. as recommended by DR.. Moore,
or 10 visit Mount Savage. Md. from
which place the infection is thought 70
come. and thoroughly treat the ponds,
reservoirs, lakes. creeks. and rivers
flowing from that place into the Po-
tomac
This question will be considered by the
Department Of Agriculture. If the re-
quest is made TO il by the proper health
officials OF the District. and DIT. Moore
VIII be assigned to make thorough in
vestigation.
In speaking Of the method discovered
by Dr. Moore. an official of the depart
ment TODAY said:
III is entireiy pra acticable cheaplv ard
quickly 20 destroy Objectionable algae in
small lakes. ponds. storage reservoirs.
ana ctner similar bodies o. Wate- ~ .l-c
use OF extremely dilute solutions of cop
per su.phste or Of metallic copper.
The fact that an extremely dilute So
luton tone 10 one hundred thousand
Will also destroy the most virulent ty-
phoid and cholera bacteria at ordinary
temperatures in three hours is OF great
importance and significance.
solutions OF copper as dilute as this
are not considered injurious To man or
other animals. The value Of copper,
especially col-oidal. in preventing or
treating. typhoid and other related dis
cases should be carefully Investigated
by competent pathologists.
A Simple Process.
THE method Of introducing The COP
per sulphate into a water supply is ex-
tremely simple. Though any plan VIII
suffice which distributes the copper thor
cughly. the one recommended and used
by the Department Of Agriculture Is as
follows:
place the required number Of pounds
OF copper sulphate I'm 4 coarse bag
guuny-sack or some equally loose mesh
and. attaching tins 10 the stern OF a
row slowly back and four,n over the
Reservoir. on each trip keeping the boat
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