Evening journal., 1905-08-09
EPIDEMIC OF TYPHOID
is NOT IMPROBABL
Dr.. ROBIN WARNS CONSUMERS OF WATER
REGARDING THE DRINKING OF "DILUT-
ed SEWAGE" - PENNSYLVANIA
TOWNS RESPONSIBLE
SOLICITOR WILL ACT

warded bv the health officers to the
Water Department. AS soon as a re-
lport is received, a circular viii be sent
lby the Water Department to the ply
sician in charge Of the case, giving fun
directions as to the proper method of
ldisDosing of the fecal discharges. The
physician will be asked TO place these
directions in the hands Of tho attend
ants and see to it that they are car
ried out.
1t is thus evident that the first and
most important step in carrying out
the plan as outlined above is the faith
ful and expedient notification Of cases
of typhoid fever, and we earnestly ap-
peal to you individually to cooperate
with us in this important undertaking.
The city of Wilmington. with a pop
lulation of over $4,000 people. depends
for its water supply on the Brandy
wine creek which, as you no doubt
know, is exposed to contamination all
along its watershed Of over 20 miles.
The recent said experience of Butler.
Pa. where, to uotc an authoritative re-
port, impure water and lax sanitary
administration" resulted in a typhoid
epidemic of about 1900 cases with 60
deaths. and a similar epidemic in Ith-
laca. n. Y. Of 1900 cases and 73 deaths,
not to mention several other typhoid
lepidemics in this country point to the
danger TO which Wilmington. similarly
Situated. is exposed. Moreover the
Experience Of Plymouth. Pa. in 1855
shows that the pollution Of the drink
ing water with the fecal discharges
from just one typhoid patient was suf-
hcient to precipitate an epidemic OF
, i1104 cases and ia deaths.
This danger, which is by no means
exaggerated, can be largely removed
by the active cooperation of the ply
, sicians with the health authorities in
securing the strict observance Of such
, sanitary precautions as will prevent
I the contamination of the drinking
water with living typhoid germs The
measures now proposed by the Water
4, Department for the protection of iti
, own watershed WILL we believe, secure
+ the desired immunity, provided. how
+ ever. the atcive cooperation of th'
physicians can be obtained.
\ You now realize the responsibilit,
Z we place upon you, and we feel conf
dent that YOU. as a, physician and fel
! low citizen. viii respond to our re
: quest and notify your health officer O
= mild. occurring in your practice with
Z in the district bordering on the Bran
dywine or its tributar' s.
= Respectfully.
A. Robin. NJ. D..
!, Bacteriologis
! BY order Of the Board of Water Com
Inissioners.
Peter ]. Ford, Pres.
P. S. All communications on tn
4. subject should be addressed to Dr.
= Robin. Water Department. Whining
- ton. Del.
- Upon receiving a reply DR.. Robi
- forwards the following
- Dear Doctor:
We received from ............. tn
information that you have under you
charge a case of typhoid fever in tn
- home Of .. e.. ..........-.........
- In pursuance of our plan outlined /
a previous communication, we ask yo
to place the inclosed circular into I'll
hands Of the nurse or attendants an
Of use your influence in persuading thel
s. to carry out the Instructions
Is Should you experience any difficult
#. in the matter by reason of indifference
re on the part of the people. or shoul
to the family be too poor to purchase II
y necessary disinfectants, you will grea
ly oblige us by communicating the IA
f to the undersigned
ar In endeavoring to prevent the poll'
er tion of our drinking water we ful
to realize the difficulties which we W
st encounter and which we win be unab
on to overcome unless we are favored
r your hearty support and cooperate
sh May we suggest that you make the di
nd infection Of the excreta a subject
'ir inquiry at your regular visits. so tn
he the attendants may see that you a
n taking a personal interest I'm the ma
er ter and thus become more fully CO.
I'D vinced of its Importance.
ng The circular referred to above r
its iates to the methods that should
r. used to prevent a spread of disease.