Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17

semination of typhoid fever in Washington
we have the following:
Typhoid fever may diffuse itself broad
cast throughout a community using water
free from suspicion.
The great majority of the population OF
Washington drink unboiled tap water
which may be considered as diminishing
the value of the suggestion that the tar
water is common factor.
The colon bacillus is not the typhoid
bacillus and the sanitary significance OF
the presence of the colon bacilli In
amounts less than one cubic centimeter In
a river water has perhaps been exagger-
ated. 1t must be borne in mind that many
colon bacilli in a surface water, such as
the Potomac, derive their origin from the
intestinal tracts of animals other than
man.
1.-The filtered river waters of Lawrence,
Albany Philadelphia and other places also
contain a few colon baclli, and the total
number of basteria here compare favorably
with those found in effiuents of the above
mentioned cities. Sand liberation of the
above river waters, giving somewhat
similar bacterial eff1uent as judged by the
total number of bacteria and the colon
bacilli has been followed by a reduction in
the typhoid death rate.
Mainly a Summer Disease.
Typhoid fever in Washington is mainly
a summer disease. There is a great and
sudden increase in the number of cases
with the advent Of hot weather. This sea-
sonal prevalence repeats itself year after
year with great regularity. II the bulk of
the infection were water borne it would
seem that we would have more marked
irregularities of the curve from year to
year, as is seen in other communities where
much of the disease Is plainly due to highly
infected water.
1.-THE seasonal prevalence of typhoid in
Washington corresponds to Boston, New
York, Baltimore and other cities in which
the water Is believed not to play much
part.
'If we attribute the bulk of infection to
contacts and milk, then it would not be
necessary to consider that some unknown
agent or agents causing the dissemina-
ton of the disease must be peculiarly ac-
tive in Washington"
Boards Conclusions.
The board concluded its report by saying
'In view Of the foregoing 1t is evident
that at the present time 1t is not possible to
present satisfactory proof as to the part
spread of typhoid fever in the District OF
Columbia. Therefore, the board reserves
final decision on this subject until investi-
cations now in progress at the hygienic
laboratory have been completed.
although views may differ concerning
the relative part played by water, milk
contacts and other factors in the spread
of typhoid fever, there is general agree
ment that the successful control of the
disease lies in destroying the infection as
it leaves the body; that is, we must try
to prevent the infection Of our food and
drink and our environment.
Finally, 1t must be borne in mind that
the typhoid problem in Washington does
not differ radically from that of many other
communities. It is part of world wide
problem. The disease is epidemic through
out the length and breadth of our large
country. and prevails to greater or less
extent in almost every civilized commun-
ity. There Is constant interchange OF in
lection through social and commercial in
tercourse. The situation in Washington has
therefore been considered not only with
regard to local conditions, out also In rela-
ton to studies that have been made upon
the disease in other. cities and in other
countries"
Health Officers Comments.
After reading the report Health Officer
Woodward made the following statement
by way Of comment upon the findings:
1.-THE conclusion reached by the commit
tee appointed by the surgeon general Of the
public health and marine hospital service
as to the cause for the undue prevalence
Of typhoid fever in the District of Column