The Jackson herald., 1905-09-28
Board OF Health not Alarmed.

bOdTo OF nedItn not PIdfneo.
COLUMBIA, Mo-, Sept. 16, 1905.
The State Board of Health has
just completed a thorough inves-
tigation of the typhoid fever sit
uation at the University of Mis-
souri,, and while not finding the
situation serious, advised students
not already on the ground to
wait few days before entering,
in order that sanitary conditions
may be put in more satisfactory
shape by the local authorities.
The fever is not of a malignant
type, and the Board finds no oc-
casion for an exodus of the stu
dents that have already arrived.
So far there have been but two
deaths, one since the report of
the Board, from the sixty-five
cases that have existed during
the months of July, August and
September. Most of those now
sick are convalescing and the
Board believes that with i'm
proved sanitary measures which
are being rapidly put into execu-
ton, the condition will soon re-
sumo the normal. The milk and
water supply were found uncon-
taminated and this is leading to a
more hopeful view of the situa-
ton. a large number of old
students who have been awaiting
developments came in Saturday
and the outlook is growing
brighter. Despite the uneasi-
ness felt the enrolment at noon
Saturday was 779, which is just
few less than the correspond
ing day last year.
The members of the State
Board of Health are DR. Robt. II.
Goodeir, Hannibal, president;
DR.. j. A. b. Adcock, Warrens-
burg, secretary; DR.. W. S.
Thompson, and DR.. J r. Thatcher,
Oregon. The full text of their
report follows:
I'VE, members of the State
Board of Health of Missouri after
a thorough investigation of the
causes and conditions now exist
ing in an outbreak of typhoid
fever at Columbia, Mo-, desire to
submit the following report that
those interested throughout the
state may know the facts.
"We found that since the out
break of this disease which dates
from about July /, there have
been approximately sixty-fiv
cases with the record of one
death. There are perhaps forty
cases at present and quite
convalescent. We proceeded to
ascertain, if possible, the cause
of this outbreak of typhoid fever
and together with the state bac-
teriologist we inspected the pub
lie water and milk supplies of the
city and found both wholesome
and free from contamination.
We found very unsanitary con-
ditions in certain localities due to
defective street drainage and the
large number of surface water
closets polluting the soil and
cisterns near by. The outbreak
of fever in our opinion owes its
origin to this source of infection,
as in nearly every instance where
surface water closets existed and
where the people used cistern or
we'll water greater number of
cases were found. By a thor
ough system of cleaning streets
and alleys in which the city is
now engaged and the abandon
ment of the use of surface water
closets and private cisterns the
danger of further infection will in
our judgment be removed.
"The local board of health
actively and earnestly supported
by the citizens of Columbia have
been, and are now, using every
possible effort to overcome the
unsanitary conditions in local
districts and prevent further
spread of the disease.
We found the city thoroughly