Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-20
WATER SHOULD BE BOILED
Preliminary Report Made to Surgeon
General Wyman.
SUGGESTS SANITARY MEASURES
Final Report Of Conditions to Be Sub
mitted After Investigation
-. il Concluded.

a report sCOnCeTuiL& the re-
suits so far accomplished by the experts OF
the public health and marine hospital serv-
ice in their search for the cause Of the
wide prevalence OF typhoid fever in the
District Of Columbia this summer, was re-
ceived this morning by Commissioner Mac
farland from Surgeon General Walter Wy
man. and the text was at once given pub
Icity. All three members Of the committee
who are conducting the investigation unite
in advising the boiling of all Potomac water
used for drinking purposes for. as was ex-
clusively stated in the Star week ago,
their finding is to the effect that the prin-
cipai source of typhoid infection is the
water supply Of the District.
This advice of the committee was supple
mented in the letter Of Surgeon General
Wyman transmitting their report, the chief
OF the Marine Hospital SERVICE who said
that he strongly Endorsed the sanitary
committee.
The surgeon generals letter transmitting
the report was dated August 10 and was
addressed to Commissioner mcfarland.
Surgeon Generals Letter.
, 1t reads as follows:
Referring to your letter of June 81, re-
Questing the assistance of the public health
and marine hospital service in determining
the cause of the general prevalence of ty-
phoid fever>tn the District. and requesting
suggestions OF any additional measures
to safeguard the health Of the community
in this relation have the honor to in
close herewith a communication from the
board OF experts appointed with the ap-
:proval Of the Secretary Of the Treasury to
make the investigation.
81 This board has had all the advantages
or the hygienic laboratory and a number of
assistants specially detailed for this duty,
and has taken note Of and acted upon every
suggested cause for the prevalence Of this
disease.
LAS the work involves numerous scientific
examinations. necessarily requiring con-
siderable period of time for completion IL
Is impossible to state when the complete
report will be received. The facts already
developed; however, point so directly to
the Potomac river water as the principal
source Of infection that have felt war
ranted In requesting a statement from the
board.
Il transmit it herewith. and indorse the
recommendations made regarding sanitary
measures in connection with existing cases
and that the general water supply used for
drinking purposes in the District meaning
thereby the Potomac river water, be boiled
before being so used.
Respectfully.
(Signed) Walter Wyman.
Surgeon General"
.e- The Committees Report.
The report Of the. committee addressed to
10, and just given out. was, as follows:
Z The aboard OF Officers detailed by you for
tbe sttfdy4 ofsthe1 origin and prevalence of
typhoid fever in fhe District Of Columbia
has. the honor, to submit the following for
your consideration: u y.
s;.Ehe record of previous years has shown
shat typhoid fever in the District of Column
bia reaches a maximum during the months
OF August and September. We have, there
fore, had the opportunity of studying the
present outbreak only in its initial phases.
and hence we have not yet arrived at final
conclusions.
We feel, however, that it is only inst to
the citizens Of the District to state that.
while a certain number of the cases doubt
less resulted from either direct or indirect
contact with previously infected persons
the evidence SO far obtained by us strongly
indicates that the principal source of infec
tionl is the water supply OF the District We
therefore recommend the boiling of the
water used :, for, drinking purposes and
proper care in 1.-The handling OF existing
cases as the best safeguards against the
further spread. of the disease Respectfully
(Signed)
m. ]. Rosenau
Director Hygiene Laboratory.
Il. L..LULMSDEN,
Passed Assistant Surgeon
JOSEPH H. KASTrE
"Chief Division Of Chemistry.