Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-25
CAUSE NOT ASCERTAINED
Steps to Secure Services of a Govern
ment Expert.
SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOUSE FLY
Carelessness In the Sick Rooms Of
Patients-Insects Transport
the Bacteria.

In spite Of the fact that the city Is being
furnished with filtered water; that the
food and milk supply is subjected to thu
closest scrutiny. and that all other possi-
Bile known factors are receiving considera-
ton. the outbreak OF typhoid fever this
year Is daily attaining a more serious as
pect. A resume OF the situation when ty-
phoid first took an alarming turn some
weeks ago was printed In the Star at the
Tune. but since that date the disease has
spread more and more widely and the most
strenuous efforts of the health authorities
have not availed to determine upon the
agency responsible for the continued dis
semination of the fever. The records of the
health department show that 2o4 cases OF
typhoid fever have been reported since
January 1. as against 152 between January
L and June Is. 19O5-and the so-called "ty-
phoid season has not yet begun.
When the typhoid fever outbreak attained
alarming proportions last year the authorl-
ties turned anxious eyes toward the fltra-
ton plant, which was then approaching
completion. and under forced pressure the
filter beds were rushed ahead and put into
service one by one until the whole water
supply OF the District was subjected to
purlncation before being turned into the
mains. whether this agency contributed
toward the much-desired end could only
be surmised, but the fever did claim fewer
victims az the summer ended and il was
freely predicted that the city would be
comparatively free from the disease this
year. In fact. the health department stood
sponsor for the statement that, unless the
unexpected happened, there would be easily
w per cent less typhoid fever in Washing
ton In 1908 than in 1905.
Unexpected Happened.
That the unexpected did happen is EVIL
denced by the figures taken from the
records today. and the present situation "a
considered to be so serious by the authori-
ties that a proposition has been made to
secure. II possible, the services OF a
specialist from the United States govern
ment In an effort to determine the cause
for the continued spread Of typhoid infec-
ton.
Such a step has already been taken IN
connection with the examination of the
water of all public wells COMMISSIONS
mcfarland having been promised by Sur
geon General Wyman that the bacteriolo-
gists of tae United States public health and
marine hospital service will cooperate with
the District health department to the ex-
tent of making a simultaneous test of the
water from all public wells.
The typhoid outbreak last year as COM
pared with previous years, was not consid-
cred serious until after the middle of July,
but from that time until late in the fall
typhoid increased until at the end of the
year total of .125 cases had been report
the cause of the widespread Infection, but
the theory most freely accepted that
Potomac water was the distributing agency
for the bacteria.
House Fly Likely Agency.
Several Psychologists have been asked
for an opinion on the question as 1t is
being put into a new light this year, and
while some are as much puzzled as are
the local health authorities, one of the
strongest statements made was to the
effect that the common house-fy was one
of the most likely agencies in carrying
infection. In possible contradiction OF
this theory 1t was cited that box privies
in the District are being gradually elm
mated. so that the possibility of the flies
carrying bacteria from human excreta IS
less than ever beforehand 1t was also
shown that In previous typhoid outbreaks
there were no more cases proportionately
in sections where box privies are numer-
Gus than where there are none.
In spite Of this the expert who in giving
withheld. was positive in the declaration
that there was probably great carelessness
in the sick rooms OF typhoid patients with
reference to keeping out not only most of
the flies but absolutely every one Of the
insects. and that the files, jumping from
the patient In the sick room to the food OF
persons all over the surrounding neighbor-
hood. might easily carry sufficient bacteria
on their feet to infect multitude. The
health ONCE will conduct a careful investi-
cation OF all cases existing at the present
may be Of use In ascertaining the cause
NJ the Outhraak