Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
BOILING STILL NECESSARY
Measure Recommended for Prevention
Of Typhoid Fever.
GIsT OF REPORT BY EXPERTS
Local Health Department Aided by
United States, Marine Hospital
Service-Results Expected.

Several weeks ago the marine hospital
service was requested by the Commission
ers to make an examination into the causes
of the increased spread of typhoid fever In
the District. This investigation has been
In progress since and, 1t is stated, that the
experts of the hospital service have made
their research thorough, and that some I'M
portant developments may be expected.
The full report will undoubtedly be an
elaborate affair, but it is said that partial
report will be made to the Commissioners
very soon. So far as can be learned. the
gist of the partial report will be '"boil the
water" as it is learned on authority that
the experts have found, in spite of the
filtration plant, the water of the District
still contains the germs of the dread fever.
Every Effort Made.
Since the beginning Of the crusade against
typhoid fever by the local health depart
ment and the United States public health
and marine hospital service the authori-
ties feel that everything that is possible in
fighting the malady in the national capital
Is being done. The enlistment Of the ex-
perts OF the marine hospital service in the
cause occurred about two months ago. when
Commissioner H B. F. Mcfarland wrote
to Surgeon Gen. Walter Wyman and asked
If the service, with it's comprehensive facili-
ties. could aid the District in securing a
simultaneous examination Of the waters
from all public wells In the District and
otherwise cooperate in the search for the
cause Of such wide prevalence Of typhoid
in the city.
The promises were frequently made last
year that the filtration Of the eltire water
supply of the city, which followed the CON-
pletion of the filtration plant III September.
would mean the practical elimination of
typhoid from the city-for the outbreak o.
a md Of 0tH,
almost entirely blamed upon the water sup
ply as carrier Of the germs. When the
FEVER this year attacked even more people
than it did during the corresponding, time
last year. and when 1t seemed certain that
an outbreak of alarming proportions was
imminent. the District health authorities
admitted their inability to cope with 1t, and
acknowledged that they were unable to as
sign any one cause as that responsible for
the spread Of the disease. /. was In this
emergency that the Commissioners ap-
pealed to the public health and marine hos
pital service.
Experts Designated.
When he announced that his department
would give any assistance in it's power
Surgeon General Wyman also designated
the men who would undertake the work.
They were: DR.. M. J. Rosenau. director Of
the hygienic laboratory: DR.. J. H Kastie,
chief of the division Of chemistry, hygienic
they bear the title committee for investi-
cation of the cause Of the prevalence of ty-
phoid fever in the District of Columbia
Their active work was begun on July 2,
and since that date the day-to-day develop
ment of typhoid fever in the city has been
reported to them. The names and addresses
of all sufferers from the disease have been
copied from the health Office records, and
special inspections of the surroundings in
all cases has been made by special assist
ants for the committee. In several cases,
where the environment of the patient was
such that there was thought to be danger
to other members of the family or to peo-
pie in the neighborhood. reports were made
to the health department, so that immediate
steps to correct the condition could be
taken.
1t is understood the three experts on the
committee, in their Investigations, have at
their command the entire resources of the
public health and marine hospital service,
and valuable results are expected from any
suggestions they make