Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
BEWARE or YOUR COOKS"
WARNING By SPEAKER BEFORE
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Views Of DR.. George A. Soper Of New
York in Reference to
Typhoid Fever.


sons has proven to be more prominent as
germ carriers. especially the typhoid fever
germ, than the men and women who pre-
| pare food for table use. Housekeepers
should use considerable care in employing
cooks, and. If possible, should investigate
their past history"
The foregoing declara tons and warnings
| We're made by Dr. George A. Soper. ty-
phoid expert Of New York, in an address
before the Biological Society at the Cosmos
Club. last night. His theme was Typhoid
Fever" House flies. he stated, are also
typhoid fever carriers. He strongly urged
cleanliness, and the frequent washing OF
| hands stating that the American custom
of shaking hands is looked upon by ex-
perts admirable way Of spreading
disease and distributing germs. The speaker
advanced the theory that has been men
toned by local experts, that the water
supply at dairy farms is worthy of OBJ
servation.
DIR. soper is considered one OF the best
authorities in the United States upon ty-
phoid fever, and his remarks last evening
were not only of Importance scientifically.
| but were intensely interesting. He based
his discussion of the question upon an
| investigation he recently completed of
slight epidemic Of the disease at the sum-
mer home of prominent New. York bank
er at Oyster Bay. N. Y. The investiga ton
was In progress six months. and from his
account Oh IL no more thorough lnVeSIlSd-
ton has ever been conducted In this coun-
try.
Mention of an Epidemic.
The epidemic in question broke out last
July. An eighteen-year-old daughter of
the household was the first to be taken
ILL., Two days later the gardener fell
victim, and in the next three weeks a
cha mbermaid, the wife of the banker, an
other daughter and another servant were
taken sick. Investigation disclosed that
the water supply was free from any blame;
the plumbing and sewage was in excellent
sanitary condition, and DR.. Soper and his
assistants were about to give up in despair
when they finally suspected an Irish cook
who had been employed for the summer
and who left few days after the first
case of the disease was finally diagnosed.
Little was known about the woman, but a
careful search developed that she had sue
cessfully recovered from an attack of ty-
of persons who had enjoyed her cooking at
various houses prior to her Oyster Bay
engagement had become victims of the
dreadful fever
This cook is what we call a chronic ty-
phoid fever germ distributor" DR. Soper
said. Now that we have her and are salts
| fled on that point, it is problem what we
| can do with her. My Investigations have
| not scrupulously clean. particularly in the
| handling of the food for the table. and
am satisfied that the majority of cooks are
| lacking in Cleanliness fault which is. 1
am satisfied, responsible for much disease
spreading.
II will admit that housewives have much
trouble in obtaining cooks and servants, but
at any rate they should be more particular
| In selecting them. They should inquire more
| into their past histories and habits. Per-
| sonal habits have considerable bearing upon
| typhoid fever Infection
Discussion of Subject
DIR. Soper was rewarded with applause
and complimentary remarks by the MEM
| bers of the society present.
Following DR.. Soper's remarks others ia
| miliar with typhoid fever and who have
| figured In the fight against the disease here
advanced theories and ideas. DIR. William
c. Woodward. health officer of the District.
was extremely anxious to learn approx
mately what such thorough and long in
vestigation OF a comparatively small cpl
demic cost. in order that he might deter
| mine If such an investigation could be given
trial by his department. DR.. Soper was
unable to estimate the cost, but he informed
| the local health officer that it would be too
much for him to try here, with his limited
means and force Of inspectors
DR.. NJ. J. Rosenau Of the marine hospital
service. who assisted in investigating the
recent high prevalence of typhoid in the
District, was the next speaker. He stated
| that typhoid has proven to be purely sum-
mer disease in Washington, and he strongly
advanced the idea OF heaithy persons DelnS
carriers of the typhoid fever germ. and the
| theory of the house fly as transmitter of
| the disease.
Blow at House Fly.
The house fly received severe blow at
the hands of DR.. Leland o. Howard of the
Department of Agriculture. He declared
| that the fly is not only IAN internal null
sance," but is deadly a distributor OF
diseases such as typhoid and diphtheria. He
| believes that if the insect should be exter-
| minated both of the diseases mentioned
would decrease. DR.. Howard said he Is of
the opinion that every house should be care
fully screened, and that stables should use
| the greatest amount of care in dlsposing
OF manure.
DR.. Alexander Graham Bell remarked
| that in his opinion the discussion was one
of the ablest and most valuable he had
ever heard, and jokingly ventured the sug-
.gestion that DR.. Soper's illusions to cooks
will necessitate housewives going to the
| local health officer for references for ap-
| pncants for positions cooks in the
| future.
| Others who spoke were DIR. G.. Lloyd
Magruder who considers the water supply
on the dairy farms being principally
responsible for the high prevalence of ty-
phoid in Washington; DR.. c. w. Stiles of
| the public health and marine hospital serv-
ice and DIR. Wellerman.