Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-26
DR.. Woodward's Warning
Merely Meant as Precaution.
REPEATS HIS ADVICE
DRINKING WATER SHOULD BE
BOILED, HE SAYS.
The Danger Point Of Infection Believed
to Be Passed-Col. Mil
ler's Views.

The liveliest interest is being manifested
by the citizens of the District who use the
Potomac river water for drinking purposes
in the reports of typhoid pollution from
the sewerage system emptying into Wills
creek. small tributary of the river few
miles below Cumberland, Md. 1t is not an
exaggeration to say that many persons are
frightened at the prospect and are there
fore going to take no chances by drinking
water taken from the river.
While the health officer of the District
does not regard the situation as imme-
diately alarming, he is, however. glad to
see that the published reports of the pol
luton of the water have brought about a
state of caution. 1t is not his intention to
brighten anybody-indeed, he sees no reason
to do so-but he regards the situation as
at least sufficiently serious to necesS!tate
care.
Up until ! o'clock this afternoon only
two new typhoid cases had been reported
at the health office On the same day last
year there were three cases. This is ag inst
eleven reported yesterday, which was the
exact number reported on the same date
of 1903.
Commissioner Macfarland had nothing
new to say about the situation this after
noon. He again emphasized the impor-
lance of caution among the residents of the
District.
COl. Miller S statement.
Col. Miller superintendent of the Wash
ington aqueduct, in conversation with a
Star reporter this afternoon, said that 1t
takes the water of the Potomac at this
season of the year between two and three
days to come from Cumberland, which is
our point Of water supply. This fact ap-
pears to some to put new light the
matter. From reports received here from
Mount Savage, Nd. the little town on
Wills creek where the epidemic exists, the
fever first broke out seriously about August
5, and was explosive In nature" that is
to say, very rapidly reached Its maximum
in the number Of cases existing at one
time. All this, 1t would seem, indicates
that the infection should have reached this
city some time ago.
AS there bias been no increase in the
number of typhoid cases of so marked a
character as to suggest infection here, 1t
is believed that the great danger point has
been passed
DR.. Woodward, the health officer, figures
that if the epidemic began about the first
of this month at Mount Savage. the time
Tor the breaking out of resultant cases here
is overdue, taking into consideration the
time for the development of the disease
1t must, of course. be understood, however
that the cases up the river are still contin-
ulng, but the reports from the state Secre-
tary of Maryland say that the greatest pre-
cautions are being taken to prevent the
spread of the disease.
Up to Maryland Authorities.
1t is up to the Maryland authorities and
the individual of the District to prevent the
epidemic from coming here, according to
DR.. Woodward. The District authorities
| can do practically nothing.
Just let the individual drink boiled wa.
ter said the health officer today. LAS lone
as drink that l shall feel perfectly safe -
He went on to explain that the old theory
or the publication of flowing water within
a certain number of miles has been par
TALLY exploded by the formulation of the
bacteria theory. Formerly the spread of in
fectious diseases through water was laid
to chemicals in solution, which, it is true.
Will become so dissolved and changed in
character in running stream as to lose
their infective properties
But with the inception of the idea that
lVlng organisms in the water cause the
spread OF contagion the publication theory
lost It's force, since the germs will live
through hundreds Of miles of their Journey
downstream, provided they are reasonably
healthy specimens. 1t is quite certain that
no small number of them will die on the
way from Mount Savage to Washington
ana It is Just as certain that the .crea
lures will be rather far apart in the
washington aqueduct, but, nevertheless,
one germ has the aggravating propensitv
or multiplying after it finds a home in the
human system " '-o
so be careful is DR.. Woodward's advice.