The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-08-07
TYPHOID FEVER
ON AN INCREASE
August Cases Are Above
the Average.
DR.. Wo0DWARD's OPINIONS
He Believes Disease Due to Impure
Milk and Water and Not
TO Flies.

Eleven new cases of typhoid fever
were reported to the Health Office this
morning. making IFS cases reported since
July !. The eleven cases reported this
morning make forty-six cases for this
month. which is a little above the aver
age for August.
When asked this morning if he be-
ueved in the fiy theory of spreading the
typhoid fever germ, DR.. Woodward said
he was not an enthusiast concerning
that theory. Although, he declared, 1t
had been demonstrated that in army
camps the flies had carried the germs OF
the fever and spread it among the sol
diers, he did not think files could be
the cause of the prevalence Of the fe-
Yer in the cities where there is a sani-
tary plumbing law in force.
DR.. Woodward called attention to the
fact that the typhoid fever cases re-
ported to the Health Office were not
confined to any one section OF the city.
but We're scattered generally among all
classes of people. This emphasizes the
fact, he says. that fever is due to i'm
pure drinking water and milk. as in
summer the people drink more water
and milk than in the winter time. and
IN cold weather there is a marked de-
crease in the disease.
systematic investigation.
DR.. Woodward also said:
Ever since the enactment on, Feb
ruary 4, 1902. of the law requiring cases
OF typhoid fever to be reported TO the
Health Department. every case reported
has been investigated by the depart
ment. These Investigations, since the
autumn OF 1902, have been Systematically
conducted and a card prepared for each
case showing whether the patient had
been absent from the city and II so. the
place and duration of absence: whether
the premises on which the case occurred
was or was not connected with the pub
lie sewer and with the public water
service; and whether the house was CT
was not well screened against flies.
The card shows also the character
and the source of the drinking water
used by the patient. whether from the
Potomac river or elsewhere, and wheth-
er boiled or filtered; the source or
sources OF the milk used previous 10 and
the milk used after the onset of the
illness; and whether the patient had
been accustomed TO eat raw oysters or
raw vegetables.
THE relation of the case under inves-
tiEation to other cases, if any, from
which the disease may have been con-
tracted was also fully covered in the in
vestigaton. and the results duly re-
corded A summary of these InYestiga-
tons is published annually as a part of
the report OF the Health Department
and the cards are available for further
analysis al any time that il may be
deemed necessary
Milk Supply Restriction.
IN view of the relation existing be-
tween typhoid fever and the milk sup
ply every case OF typhoid fever reported
in which the patient resided in the Dis
trict at the time OF the onset of the dis
ease is charged on a record card against
the dealer from whom the patient re-
ceived milk prior 10 being taken sick.
separate card being provided for each
dealer. AS entries are made from day
TO day on these record cards, they are
scrutinized 10 determine whether the
number OF cases reported against any IL
ofVldual dealer is exceSsiYe-that is,
whether the number Is out of proper
ton 10 the size OF the business which
such dealer conducts, the department
being reasonably we'll advised as to the
amount of business done by the various
dalrymen by reason OF its milk inspec-
ton service. As soon as II appears that
anv given dealer IS being charged with
more than his share of typhoid fever
cases within = limited period investi-
cation IS instituted. not only at his es-
adjustment and among his employees in
this city. but at the various farms from
which his milk supply Is derived.
Sale Promptly Forbidden.
'If there is reason TO believe that the
disease has been conveyed through the
milk from any particular source the
sale of such milk within the District Is
promptly forbidden.
Milk dealers who are serving milk az
houses In which there is typhoid fever
are promptly notified to discontinue
serving milk in bottles at the premises.
owing 10 the possibility of such bottles
being carried into the sickroOm and
serving as carriers OF infection TO other
houses.