New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-30
MORE TYPHOID
SIX CASES CONCEALED.
Victims Were Among Italians gan
Contractors Camp.

she Italians employed by the contractor now en-
gaeed in the construction Of the Cross River
Oau. which is to occupy most picturesque
saction Of the country out Of Kafonah on the
way 10 Brewster and to add TO this citys supply
NJ water from the CrOton watersaeo Five OF
these cases were sent TO hospitals in this city,
one according 10 report, to the New YORK
Hospital and four 10 Flower HospTtaA. Inc
other case was sent away 10 be treated, and II
,- understood will not prove fatal. These are in
addition 10 the FIVE cases among the residents
NJ Katonah. reported in The Tribune, two OF
which have proved fatal. The water ana
Health department officials were in ignorance
Of the prevalence of typhoid among the en-
ployes of the contractor.
AT the New York Hospital yesterday II was
denied that any case or cases OF the disease hau
been received there. The superintendent ao-
,7i++ed that cases of some kind of disease had
been received from Katonah. but he said that
This was several months ago, and he could not
tell from the records whether they had been
typhoid or not.
Al The Flower Hospital it was said that four
or FIVE cases of typhoid had been received from
among the Italians ct Katonah, and that the
last case had been discharged on Thursday
N-ona Of the cases had been serious. and IL is
said that the patients have gone back TO work
for the contractor for the Cross River Dam
This makes 4 kQlal OF eIeNtli NeA%s~S "a NSfA-'
N the Katonah district. six among the en-
,lovas Of the contractor and five among the
children and adult residents Of the village There
have been two deaths among the latter wnli"
fbe Italian patients have all recovered Fur
tber1nore. the local authorities have expressed
doubt a. 10 the source of contagion- X was sa4d
that among the children the disease probably
originated in the spring from which the schooI
children drank during recess and after schooi
hours. as there was no regular supply Tor the
.cbool The cause Of The cases among the
adults II was said, shrouded in mystery
Some among the authorities said that the dis
ease must have been caused through contamina-
tion Of the food eaten by the patients in some
nearby place Others attributed contagion 10
the milk supply. But the analyses Of the milk
supply and Of the village water supply each
showed freedom from the typhoid bacilli.
According to a physician seen yesterday. the
fact that the last case among the Italians was
discharged Thursday would argue that the dis
ease had been contracted in the italian camp
long before the cases among the Katonah resi-
dents were reported. Incubation requires sew
eral weeks, six, according 10 some authorities.
The conditions in the camps OF the Italians are
none of the best. When a Tribune reporter Wis
tied Katonah he was assured that there was
regular incineration OF the night soil in the
camps. He was also told that the most severe
llness among the Italians was grip. and that
there had been one case Of pneumonia resulting
from grip Otherwise the camps. It was said,
were in the most hyglenic condition. But all OF
these camps drain directly into brooks supplying
the Croton watershed Furthermore. the time
for incubation Of the disease would make 1t pos
sible for the Katonah water supply TO have be-
come infected without showing the least evi-
dence OF contamination al the time Of its exami-
nation.
Katonah is not an old settlement It is new
IN every sense Of the word. There are no old.
germ breeding places in it, There has been no
time for their establishment through neglect or
carelessness on the part OF the authorities. But
according TO the evidence OF physicians from
Scranton and Pittsburg. Penn. and other places
which have made a special investigation Of the
disease, the greatest source of contamination for
any community is a colony OF foreigners. who.
with their unregulated and primitive ideas OF
hygiene, are breeders OF every one OF the most
dangerous diseases that affect communities
Or. Darlington went over the whole Croton
watershed district recently and was assured at
that time that the health OF the Italian en-
ployes al the Cross River dam was perfect. He
told reporter for The Tribune several days
ago that he was not az all satisfied with his in
vestigations. and that he intended 10 go up soon
esain with materials at hand with which he
could make the kind Of examination that would
set al doubts at rest He said last evening that
he was having Investigations made among the
residents of the whole Katonah district which
would give him some definite data upon which
70 base action by his department. He had not
been informed of the illness among the Italians.
II was reported from Katonah last night that
the cases Of typhoid still there were making most
favorable probress. No further fatalities were ex-
pected. DR.. Chapman, at Katonah. said that he
learned only yesterday OF the cases among tho
Italians. He had heard, he said. that they had
Deen sent down 10 this city. He was most pro-
Ioundly in doubt about the origin OF the cases
under his care.
When DR.. Carpenter was seen yesterday af-
ternoon by Tribune reporter about the cases IN
Lhe italian camp he said that he knew Of five
cases OF typhoid that had been sent 10 this city
Dul mat from what he knew at present there
Neie no new cases among the employees He
eaLd mat ne was hearing rumors of new cases
every day, but that unless authenticated he paid
Io eutention 20 them. The cases still under his
Care were doing we'll he said, and he expected
no further fatalities.
Commissioner O'Brien OF the Water Depart
-lSn said last night that he knew nothing
ellalcFer or the cases Of typhoid among the
-ualan laDorers at the Cross River Dam but
salu mar the water supply Of this city could not
1ossloiy De affected by disease IN the Croton
naSSessneo- AT all events he said, his assistants
una tne Board OF Health would look after the in
tesssts OF the city in that district.
me contract made by the Water Department
sta sl nose who are building dams In the water
-.Sl mas special provision demanding hygienic
Sylluiuons ! In the camps OF the laborers. This
L-oeL4lon can, OF course. be enforced upon ade-
Hua'e PROOF that II Is not compiled with.