The Washington herald., 1907-03-17

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As the result of months Of careful in
vestIgatiOn. the source Of infection of 26S
out of SEC typhoid fever cases in the Dis
trict of Columbia has been traced, leav-
ing the source OF 5sS cases. or IS per cent
of the disease, still In mystery
This work was done by a special board
selected by the Commissioners last June,
and composed of NJ. J. Rosenau. director
hygienic laboratory: L. L. LUmsden,
passed assistant surgeon; Joseph \.
Kastle, chief Division Of Chemistry. and
Surgeon General Wymau In its labors
the board had valuable assistance from
Or. W. c. Woodward. health officer: Dr.
". A. White. superintendent OF the Gov
ernment Asylum for the Insane; Capt.
Cosby, and Messrs. Hardy and Longley.
Of the filtration plant: NJ c. Leighton,
chief Of the Hydrographic Division Of the
United States Geological Survey, and
Horatio N. Parker.
although these experts found the cause
OF Infection IN but q per cent Of the cases,
their remarkably thorough sanitary sur
vey" has thrown much light on the situa-
ton that viii be Of service to future in
vestigatIous.
Possibility of Water Infection.
While eighty-fye cases were traced di-
rect 10 the milk supply Of the District. and
while the dairy business receives a severe
scoring. the possibility Of water infection
is not overlooked.
1t Is pointed out that although the
typhoid bacillus has never been isolated
from Potomac water, and although there
is practically no pollution of the stream
within nineteen miles of the intake. Yet
typhoid prevails TO a great extent at the
same season in Washington and over the
entire watershed. This. suggests the re-
port. indicates that the causes act
simultaneously along the entire river
course.
Bottles ImperfectIy Washed.
IN regard 70 the milk supply, the re-
port says.
our inspections have shown that de-
spite the regulations Of tho health de-
partment, many dairymen deliver milk in
bottles 90 houses in which there is typhoid
fever.
Returned bottles are not dislnfected
as they should be, either with steam or
boiling water The washing Of the bottles
Is frequently imperfect and after wash
Ing. they are exposed mouth upward TO
dust, flies, and other sources OF contamina-
tiOn. IL was found in most instances that
The cans and bottles were washed with
unboiled tap water.
a few of the dairies have excellent
machines for washing and scaIding bot
ties but sometimes neglect 80 heat the
water, thus reducing the efficiency and
one Of the objects Of the machines.
Typhoid Cases Traced 60 Milk.
"Eighty-hve of the S56 cases Of typhoid
fever studied during this time were at
tributed TO the use OF infected milk. The
source of the Infection was traced 10
cases Of the disease at the city dairy and
ut the dairy farm.
quite probably other cases contracted
their infection from milk. but the number
Of such cases must remain problematicaI.
In at least two instances employees NJ
the dairy lived in houses in which cases
Of typhoid were being treated and in
other ways the relation between the
disease, the Infection. and t-e milk was
found to be very close.
MIX Too Old, Dirty. and Warm.
Another soUrcs Of danger is the small
corner grocery where milk is retailed. Al
such places often as little as / or cents
worth Of milk Is sold at "a time from pint
or quart bottles.
The small retailers. while subject 10 /
are immune from the sanitary /
Of the health department
This state of affairs evidently needs Iegis- /
lative correction.
The milk supplied the citizens of the /
District is. for the most part too old, too (
dirty, and toe warm.
so far as the city dairies themselves 4
were concerned, many defects We're found. /
For instance;
The location Of many dairies is perni- !
-tOus in that they abut upon unkept al
eys and are I'm the neighborhood Of /
squaIid insanitary settlements
The stables in the rear Of practically
7ll the dairies visited provide breeding
places for swarms of flies, and are a
source OF foul odors
Find Flies Mixed with Milk.
Files are attracted by the milk. and
are abundant IN nearly all the dairies. In
some instances the wafer closets are too
near TO the milk Only one OF the dairies
visited was properly screened. In most
no intelligent warfare is waged
against the flies. At one dairy the milk
from various sources is mixed in a large
rat resembling a bathtub. This vat was
open at the time Of the inspection. and
rom ten to fifteen flies were being mixed
10 with the milk
AT most of the dairies the hands OF the
employees who come into contact with the
milk were dirty. and their clothing not |
changed or covered with a clean apron.
The milk passes through too many !
lands and is exposed too many times be-
ore it reaches the consumer. The general /
'ule with the milk business in the Dis
rict Of Columbia. appears to be that the
l. Il IL