The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-17
TYPHOID ONLY PARTLY
DUE TO WATER AND MILK

Continued from First Page)
used for drinking purposes from the
deep and shallow wells il he city, vas
responsible for the spread Of the con-
tag.ga.
Those detailed TO make the investiga-
ton Were Passed Assistant Surgeons
John r. Anderson. ". ". King, Joseph
Goldberg, Bayl.s II. Earle. Assistant
Surgeon Arthur NJ. SJimson, Surgeon
Norman Roberts. and Chief Wardell
. Stiles, PHI D. During the past summer
almost the entire force Of the hyglen.c
laboratory concentrated its energies
upon the problem. Those having the
work directly in charge were NJ J.
Rosenau, director Of the hygienic lab
oratory; L. /. Lumsden, passed assist
ant surgeon, and Joseph H KastIe.
chief division of chemistry, recorder.
Review Of Potomac Watershed.
The report takes up systematically
and discusses in detail. a sanitary re-
view Of the Potomac watershed. an OK
haustive archaeological study of the S65
cases Of the disease occurring IN the
District between June and October 81.
1905; daily chemical and meteorological
examinations of water supply. a special
study Of pumps. wells. and springs in
the District. and also of the bottled
waters sold i'm Washington; an inspec-
ton of the diaries. with labOrat tory ex-
aminations of the milk supply: an in
specion of the ice factories. chemical
and bacteriol0glcal examinations Of a
number OF samples of ice. as well
as water from which the ice is made;
the making Of blood cultures, diazo and
windal reactions for practical physi-
clans, and the question Of shellfsh.
salads, fruits and other raw food prod
ucts. in relation TO the disease
Special attention was directed TO the
communicability OF the disease from
person 10 person, by direct or indirect
contact, the relation of sewers to wells
was investigated and the question Of
contamination by flies and other in
sects as carriers Of infection were close
" looked into. The bathing beach and
public markets received much consid-
Grafton.
Il is shown in the report that the
death rate from this disease is much
greater among The colOr5d race than
among the white. but no satisfactory
explanation is given for this. The aver
age death rate from typhoid for the last
twelve years. from 1898 tc 1876. inclusive.
IS shown 20 De $3.50 per 10000, Of which
the average was for white, 49,. and
cOl0rcd, y..2G. About Eltcen OF the re-
ported cases are traceabie TO Infection
outside of the District. The death rate
among males IS relatively higher than
among females.
Wealthy Class Suffered Most.
It Is shown in the report that the
widespread and uniform distribution
suggests some common factor as one of
the principal means Of disseminating the
Infection, IN no instance was anything
approaching a local focus shown. there
being no unusual grouping OF cases
about wells In crowded or insanltary
courts. II IS concluslvely shown that
the disease did not prevail TO any un-
usual extent among persons living under
poor sanitary conditions, but, on the
contrary. that it was more prevalent
among those living in residences of the
better class and in sections of the city
where the sanitary conditions were ap-
parently the best known to modern sci
ence. One Of the strange features OF
the reports findings is that of all the
cases investigated, only three dairymen
were victims Of the disease.
Whea Il came to the consideration of
milk as a medium OF conveying the