The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-04-08
STATEMENT
Directors of Tome Institute Issue
General Letter Regarding
Recent Typhoid Cases.
INSTITUTE TO RESUME APRIL II
THE JACOB TOME INSTITUTE,

PORT DEPOSIT Nd, April 5, 1904.
The Director of the Jacob Tome Institute begs
leave to submit the following statement of fact 8
in connection with the outbreak of typhoid fever:
On Saturday, March u, the attending physician,
DR.. 81. c. Donahoo, reported three boys as show
| ing some symptoms of typhoid. 1t was believed
that the disease would prove to be grippe. until
Monday, when DIR. H. E. Clemson was called in
consultation and diagnosis of typhoid fever was
| made
| The Boarding School was Immediately closed.
The following physicians were asked for advice
in caring for the sick DR.. E. H. cambridge, of
Philadelphia; DR.. Geo. NJ. Stump, of Perryvilie,
and Dr.. William Thayer, of the Johns Hopkins
Hospital. On the recommendation of DR.. Thayer
| and OF DR.. William Oser of the Johns Hopkins
Hospital, ]. B. Briggs, NJ D., of the Johns Hop
kins University and formerly assistant to DR..
Osler, was appointed March 18th as resident
physician.
There are seven boys and three teachers i'll at
Port Deposit with typhoid. All are tar on the
way to recovery.
To determine the cause of the outbreak, the
Institute applied on March 18th to the Johns
Hopkins Hospital to detail bacteriologist to
make an investigation. DR.. W. w. Ford, who
responded, made two visits to the Institute and
has examined about fifteen samples of water and
milk. His report is conclusive. The water from
the great reservoir located a mile above the
campus is found exceptionally pure at the springs
that feed it, in the reservoir itself, and at the
school buildings. The milk is pure
The source of the outbreak was found to be in a
large spring situated on the campus which had
been used for drinking purposes for many years
and was supplying the Inn. The polluted spring
has been cut off completely and drained through
the sewers. The only water now in use in the
Boarding School is from the great reservoir, which
by periodical analysis has been shown to be pure.
Investigations made by DR.. Stokes, bacteriologist
of the State Board of Health, under the direction
of the secretary, DR.. Fulton, confirm DR.. Ford's
conclusions. Personal examination made by DR..
Fulton and also by Dr. Bratton, secretary of the
Board of Health of Cecil County, and clinical
considerations lead DR.. Fulton and DIR. Bratton to
similar results.
The authorities consulted in regard to the re-
opening of express their opinions as follows:
From the Secretary of the State Board of Health
of Maryland
Replying to your inquiry of April ID, I have
to say that the work OF the Institute may be
resumed on April 11th with entire safety to re-
turning students so far as typhoid infection is
concerned You are in full control of the pos
sible causes of infection. This advice is based
the satisfactory outcome of our own investi-
cations"
(Signed) JOHN s. FULTON, Sec.
From the Secretary of the Cecil County Board
OF Health:
LAS the possible sources of typhoid infection
are known, and we are confident, from per-
sonal Investigations that these can and will be
controlled, it is opinion that the work of the
Institute may be safely resumed on April 11th."
(signed) HOWARD BRATToN, Sec.
From the Resident Physician at the Institute:
"The danger of contracting typhoid fever could
not be less than it is at Tome Institute with
our accurate information of its present cause and
distribution, and the perfect control of its further
spread afforded by modern methods of hygiene"
(Sigued) J. B. BRIGGS,
Resident Physician.
The schools will accordingly be re-opened
April 11th, at noon.
A. W. HARRIS, Director.