New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11
TYPHOID AT KATONAH.
AUTHORITIES IGNORANT.
Health Department VII Start In
restigation of Watershed.

For some days cases OF typhoid fever have
been treated by physicians at Katonah. n. 7.
Kate nah Is in the Croton watershed. An epi-
demic Of typhoid there would be OF vital inn
portance To the citizens of Manhattan and The
Bronx. who receive their water supply through
the mains from CrotOn Lake.
Dr. Chapman, Of Katonah. has three cases of
typhoid under his care at present. He said yes
terday that the fever was not epidemic
His patients are George ILeweIlyn Welien.
who has ben i'll with the fever for four weeks.
but now is said to be convaIescent; a young sis
ter Of George H. Covey. one of the school COM
missiOners. and another case which the doctor
says is under suspicion.
DR.. Chapman said that a short time ago
Charles Clark. the division superintendent OF tho
aqueduct was az Katonan investigating.
An attempt was made by The Tribune yester-
day to see what action. if any. was being taken
ny the city authorities 10 guard against possible
danger from this disease at the source OF tho
city water supply.
John Fl. O'Brien. Commissioner OF Water Sup
ply, when Informed by a Tribune reporter Of the
presence OF eases of typhoid fever at Katonah
last night, said that il the first he had heard
Of IT. but that if it was his engineer wouldl
inform him the first thing this morning. when
immediate action would be taken in the matter
When a Tribune reporter asked DR.. Thomas
Darlington. Health Commissioner. last night!
about the typhoid at KatOnah. he said he hadt
known nothing of it. but he thanked The Trib-
une for having called his attention TO II. and3
said that he would start an investigation atl
once.
The danger IN such cases" said DR.. Darling
ton lis the attempt at concea1rnent by the rela-
tives OF the patients. We have had such cases,
before, and they are the hardest 20 contend
with Where the patients are known there Ia
little trouble in taking proper care OF the case.
for we send inspectors up there at once to watch
everything II Is the business OF the Water
Department to keep track Of this matter. also.
They notify the State Health Board. who COM
municate with the local board. We are charged.
under the charter. with these matters. but they
are really out of our jurisdiction. All we can
do is TO send our inspectors. and that we do
promptly There is no doubt that the Water
Department can take care Of it. as they have
done before"
Speaking OF the remedy. DR.. Darlington said:
FILTRATION is the only thing that can give US
pure water. as The Tribune has advocated time
and time again. 1t has got to be done to insure
the safety Of the people. Sand filters out 991s
per cent Of the bacteria from water. Water
purffes itself chemically while running a few
miles but ft will not purify itself OF bacteria
in that way"
II 1t was found that the fever has become
epidemic In Katonah. DR.. Darlington said. every
precautiou would be taken at once to safeguard
the public and prevent the spread OF the dis
ease. The worst cases will be isolated and those
that are in the early stages. or that are con-
valescent. viii be closely watched