New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-26
"oYsTERs AND TYPHOID FEVER.
Difficulty of Reaching the Seat Of the
Trouble-Remedy Proposed.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The editorial in your issue of yesterday
upon the subject of oysters and Typhoid Fever"
is a temperate and intelligent discussion both of
the recent report of Dr. Soper. published in The
Medical News" about month ago, and of the
general subject. 1t deserves to be emphasized and
impressed upon the public more than fear it Will
be. under existing circumstances. have given the
subject considerable study, and feel bound to say
that, while there is respectable medical authority
for the claim that typhoid fever cannot be com
hsps the weight Of authority is on the OPPOSITE tb
most casual reader of the newspapers that the
affirmative view of the question is generally held
it is no longer open to serious dispute.
But the difficulty Of reaching the Tedt OF me the
OYSTER 0 BUSINESS Of NewYorR ou and H its en1rons
business Transacted here for New-York depends
sumes from neighb9Tng States such as New-Jer Ter
Virginia still larger proporfon of its supply
1t would be comparatively easy. l apprehend to
spection of our own oyster beds by competent in
spector detailed from the State Board of Health to
The Forest Fish and Game Preserve and elo5h oal
NTH Of To bS neh or
be not only discrimination against our own oyster
it afforded any protection to the general health
1t would be obviously unfair TO require oysters
State to be accompanied with medical certificate
to be brought here and sold in Our markets without
any certificate at all. It hardly needs be said
that we have no power to inspect the oyster beds
of other States.
My purpose in writing this letter is to suggest
the following for the consideration of your read
ers The danger of infected oysters does not arise
that does sometimes happen. The infection Is
more commonly due to the practice, all too COM
mon, OF so-called drinking artihcally fatten-
ing oysters in supposedly fresh water after they
have been removed from the salt water beds. rms
process takes only about five six hours and
gives to oysters the white or grayish appearanG9s
which adds to their appetizing appearance ana
also to their STABILITY. The process, however,
ADDS nothing of substance TO the oyster, for the
fresh water taken in is of course nothing but
bloat But the danger of this practice is that only
too often the so-called fresh" water is some small
creek river the salt water beds which is
no better than open sewer The danger of in
is certain that oyster will not thrive and grow
10 maturity in anything but pure salt water. FUR
thermore the Bureau Of Shell Fisheries, which mas
charge of the leasing of State lands for oyster
growing, never knowingly leases or permits the use
of lands in any way exposed TO contamination
What I have to suggest is, first. that the prac-
tce of drinking oysters be absolutely prohibited
by law and i would have this prohibition apply to
all oysters offered for sale in this market whether
grown in NeW-York or elsewhere. Second, would
require by law that all oysters offered for sale here
be accompanied by proper medical certificates or
their purity. and exclude from sale all others
The Interstate Commerce law is not in the waV
posed for the protection of the public
health.
This will doubtless prove difficult and interest
ing programme Have any OF your readers any
thing better TO propose? WILLIAM A. DAVIS.
New-York, March 20. 1905