Evening journal., 1905-08-09

Thirty-s7von cases Of typhoid fever
have been reported during the past
week and as they are distributed
throughout the city they cannot be at
tributed to any particular locality IN
dicating a general rather than local
/ prevalence Of the disease.
Whfe there is 10 occasion for alarm
yet it behooves us to Go all in our
power to prevent the possibility of an
epidemic which is constantly threat
ening this city. Our water is uni
formly bad and our watershed Of about
4 324 square miles is constantly exposed
s. 20 pollution To prevent the poss'bil-
& ty OF an epidemic two things should
+ be done. The water used for drinking
& should be boiled invariably.
Second. the city authorities should
lirect all their efforts toward the
speedy completion of the sand filter,
which alone can assure permanent inn
nunity from the disease. 1t is unfor-
unate that politics has been injected
nto this life-saving project and the
forts Of the true citizens of Whining
on should be directed toward the
81 elimination of undesirable politics
rom this much needed public i'm
5rovement.
Statement Of Or. Albert Robin. city
1acteriologist, to The Evening Joui =
pal today.
Although it may not be generally
Enown, typhoid fever exists to great
xtent in Wilmington and an epidem.
II the disease may not be considered
Improbable In speaking on the suo-
ect this morning DR.. Robin stated
hat although he did not wish to be
Considered an alarmst the condi-
B ions for such an outbreak were fav-
rable at present
The water Of the Brandywine, th'
ole source Of the city's water supply
in bad condition. diluted sewage.
s he expresses il. and the constant
Sc Of it may at any time bring fortl
widespread epidemic.
DR. Robin attributes the direct caus'
the condition of the Brandywinl
,ater to ponutions from the towns O
& oatesville. Downngtown and Yves
hester. Pa. from which points sewaa
emptied directly and indirectlyy init
be stream. The number of laborer
nployed along the banks OF the Bran
ywine also contribute largely to tn
ollution OF the water. At several {
ne large mills ia the vicinity OF tn
tream sewerage system costin
l1ousands Of dollars has been installe
ut even this does not relieve the vi
al necessity Of a sand filtration plan
ere.
"An epidemic is not like the approac
a storm" said DR.. Robin. 1T
lot heralded abroad and warning of it
oming is rarely given. 1t is on us al
host before we are aware OF it."
The daily analysis of the drinkn
,ater shows its condition to be bas
nd although the water is allowed {
M attle in the reservoirs this fact alon
toes not eliminate the possibility {
% erms of disease being transmitted I
hose who consume it,
In view Of the above facts City So
citor Townsend expects to begin pre-
49, aedings IN the United States Coui
nortly to compel Pennsylvania towr
stop polluting the Brandywine.
CIRCULARS SENT OUT.
IN view of the present state
ffairs the Board of Water Commi.
foners is using every effort in i
over to check a spread of the feve
through DR.. Robin the directors al
ending out the following circulars
hysicians throughout the district I,
lg along the Brandywine:
Pending the introduction of an e
cient system of publication of OF
ater supply. the Board of Wat
# commissioners is making an effort
rotect the Brandywine creek again
& ollution. and more especially polluti,
rith discharges from persons suffe
lg from typhoid fever. To accomplii
his. the Board has asked the city al
tate Boards of Health. through the
aspective secretaries. to request q
hysicians practicing along the Bra
ywine watershed to notify the prop
ealth officers of all cases Of typho
ever occurring in their practice aloi
he Brandywine creek or any Of
obituaries; these reports to be 10