The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-06

that in all cases the number Of bacteria
was below the danger point, except when
the cultures were grown in agar Of
beef" at a temperature Of twenty-four de-
grees. centigrade The figures presented
in the tables disproves that the typhoid
bacteria exist IN the bends and joints Of
the water mains, and contaminate the
water after it leaves the filtration plant
In many cases the number Of bacteria
was found 10 be less far from the filtra-
ton plant than at the gates where the
water passes into the distributing system
The data disproye the conclusion that
typhoid fever arises chiefly from Potomac
water
Or. Magruder devoted a portion Of his
interview TO the pollution Of the milk
supply IN his Investigations in this field
he was aided by the psychologists Of the
Department Of Agriculture He gives a
summary Of the work pursued during the
fall months Of f0rty-four dairy farms in
Maryland. Virginia. and the District Of
/ Columbia.
Diaries Are blamed.
Investigations" says DR. Magruder.
/ during the past summer into the influ-
ence Of the milk supply upon typhoid
fever have shown that twenty-five cases
were traced to one dairy, ten to another,
and four 10 "A third.
4 zone Of the bacteriologists Of the Agri-
cultural Department gives a report Of his
examinations Of the water supply Of a
certain dairyman, who found four cases
Of typhoid fever in the families whom
he supplied with milk lie had a little
farm outside Of the District, and being
quite anxious about il, he engaged this
/ baCteriolOgist 10 examine the spring sup
plying water for his farm. Almost 4,cC(
bacteria per C. C. were found. and most
/ Of these were Of sewage character. The
vessels containing the milk were i'm
mersed in the spring, some Of the water
got mixed with the milk, and the pa
/ tents had been poisoned by IT,
/ DT Magruders contention. as 70 the
/ Washington condition. IN that the milk Is
really a much larger factor than has beer
admitted by either the health officer o.
by many writer's on the condition Of th'
I citys health. His reason for saying thi.
is also strengthened by the health OH
GERS reports. There are 900 farms sup
plying milk to Washington. The healtl
officer has about FIVE officials for the in
/ spectiOn Of these dairy farms, and Will
/ this force il is impossible TO perform
/ the proper service. Samples IF the waite
supply are brought IA, when the inspector
thinks it is bad, and then IL is only OK
/ amiHed chemically. During 1903 and 80
il was found that f0rty-six farms had sus
piciOus water, Samples were brought q
town and examined; twenty-six showed
by chemical analysis that they We're un
ft for use. and they were condemned. Tn
others were considered good In tina
case. out of forty-six, more than 30 Pc
cent was condemned as unfit for use.
Report VIII he Exhaustive.
DIT. Magruder makes reference to tn
report expected through Surgeon Genera
Wyman from the commission appointe,
1y -lre to. investigate the causes Of y
phold fever at the instigation Of the Dis
trict Commissioners last summer, whicl
viii be published during the presen
month This report, DIT. MagrUder says
will cover the analyses Of every puml
in Washington. every public pump. tn
fdaiIy tests OF the tap water from the lab
Oratory there, and tests Ct the tap wate
at each case of typhoid fever. The com
mission has examined SO cases Of typhoid
and in each case the milk supply has beel
tested. and also the water supply. whethe
from d public pump, a private pump, O
from the Potomac River The commits
sion has also examined the fruit, tn
market vegetables, and things OF tina
nature. and the report will be very ex
haustive"
Wymnn Completes Report.
The report of Surgeon General Wyman
of the Public Health and Marine Hos
pltaI Service on his Investigation Of In
supply Of drinking water of the city an,
its relation to the recent alarming preva
lence Of typhoid has been completed ant
will be submitted 10 the Commissioner
some time this week A similar examina
ton has been conducted by Secretar.
Wilson, Of the Agricultural Department
a report of which is now in the hands o
the Commissioners. In each instance baC
THEOLOGICAL analysis of the water Wa
made by specialists Secretary Wilson
report viii not be made public until tina
of Surgeon General Wymsn has been re
ceiyed, both being published together.