Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-11
C[TYS HEALTH RECORD
Misleading Impressions That
Should Be Corrected
AS TO CASES OF TYPHOID
Large Percentage of Them Brought
From Elsewhere.
RESULTS OF MANY OUTINGS
Reports Regarding the Races Are Not
Differentiated by Outsiders
Views Of a Physician.

Upon my return from trip in the
north" said a well-known northwest physi-
clan to Star reporter, II noticed an item
| In The Star referring to the receipt Of let
ter from a correspondent in the south re-
garding the alleged unhealthfulness of this
city and of the prevalence Of typhoid.
THE refutation of this false and mis-
leading statement will no doubt be made
officially, as the letter has been placed in
the hands Of the Commissioners, and it
should be at once and broadly contradicted,
for the reason that no such condition as is
alleged exists or has existed in the Dis
trict, but was surprised to be asked the
question myself while on my trip, and also
to notice such a statement in a different
form in one or two northern papers.
Il was at the time at loss, as I am
still. to understand the origin of such a
misleading impression, and 1 expressed my
self in vigorous terms to my interrogators
to this effect. for Washington is very far
from being unhealthful. and the usual nor
NAL conditions obtaining in any large city
as to the general prevalence of disease
may be found here as elsewhere.
LAS regards typhoid fever, however, there
Is one very important fact concerning this
complaint which is generally overlooked at
proper that it should now be emphasized.
Brought From Elsewhere.
There is always large increase in this
class of cases in thckly populated centers
each year beginning in August and con-
tinuing through the fall, and most of these
instances are what we term imported
cases. having had their origin elsewhere
and brought here by the subjects. Persons
Of 10 Uhi thpfr
tons at various points over the country,
especially at the seashore and inland re-
Sorts where the drainage and water is often
very bad. In some cases the patients re-
turn with the disease in its incipient stages,
while in other instances the initial symp-
toms develop upon their return, but In
either case, of course. the attending ply
sician reports the true nature Of the dis
ease, and 1t appears as another case of
typhoid in the Washington monthly health
reports, whereas Washington Is not at all
responsible for its origin.
Where Imported Cases Originate.
Another reason why there is an increase
of such cases in this city. and it should be
brought to public notice in justice to the
city at large, Is because we have such a
very large population of government en-
ployes who almost to unit each summer
leave the city on vacation. All of these
people have annual leave, and one or more
or all, of the members of their families go
away with them. This rule does not hold
true in other cities to the extent that it
does here, and this, in my opinion as
physician. is one Of the main reasons why
we have SO many of these imported cases
of typhoid here.
Our people go by the thousands to re-
sorts where they have surface and shallow
drainage, and l know of many places,
though it is not necessary to particularize
them at this time. where conditions favor
the contraction Of typhoid and similar
fevers, in fact, farm houses and in small
villages. imperfect drainage and the alb
sence of sewerage directly contribute to the
result under discussion.
City's Health is Normal.
1.-The health conditions in this, city are
normal, and this fact should be made very
plain at once. There is no way we can es-
cape being charged with these imported
cases of typhoid, although do not know
that we have any desire to avoid them, as
they are incidental to city population but
am satisfied that in the end the official
investigation Of the matter will demon
strate the truth of the comment I have to
make on the situation.
ut should be made clear to the public at
large, at home and abroad that the bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination of the filtered
water which we use here shows the elm
ination Of SO per cent Of the bacteria, and I
approximates the official analysis. Purer
water than this for city purposes could not
be desired In any large community. The
origin Of each case Of typhoid is traced
both by the attending physician and the
health office as accurately as possible, and
it Is a matter of personal understanding
upon my part, and believe that my state
the ficial report, that many cases of this
disease occur In families where imported
Whitewater brought into the city in bot
ties or demijohns from outside sour ces of
cyo nf oil LIT H.
dicinal or otherwise-is exclusively used for
drinking purposes. I have personally treat
ed number Of these cases.
Two Glasses Of Population.
Another fact which is not generally
known to outsiders, which has an important
bearing upon this question, since this mis-
leading report as to the city's health refers
to the death rate, is that the larger propor-
ton of the sickness and mortality is to be
found in the heavy percentage Of negro pop
ulation. The percentage of disease and the
this city is not above the normal, accord
ing to the population of this class, but it is
the aggregate mortality and percentage of
diseases of the two races which, at first
sight, would cause a person Unfamiliar with
the subject to consider our mortality higher
than the normal
'It is manifestly unfair. therefore, either
as a matter Of statistics. newspaper com
ment or comparison of any kind, to compare
the aggregate mortality of the two races to
the mortality of a similar sized population
center composed of whites In the northern
or western sections of the country, though
this is constantly done, which presents a
necessarily unfavorable and unfair aspect
to Washington as a city.
Physicians Differentiate.
physicians, as rule, are very particu-
lar to differentiate as to the sickness among
and the mortality of the two races, and
were laymen to do the same, though do
not know that they may be expected to
have such a specific knowledge upon the
subject, these misleading and unfair re-
ports would not be circulated.
IT make the suggestion in view Of the
fact that we suddenly find ourselves