New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-12
ANOTHER TYPHOID CASE
ACTIVITY At K4TONAH.
Water Department Trying to Find
Origin of Disease.

That the Water Department is much con-
cerned over the typhoid fever outbreak in Ka-
tonah forty-tvo miles from this city. in the
Croton water shed, shown yesterday in the
unwonttd activity in the PARK Row Building
Offices where the chief engineer. l. II. De Va
roma, was receiving reports from the district
ana giving instructions for extraordinary pre-
cautions TO prevent pollution Of the water sup
ply. One new case had been reported, and
other was placed under observation. This made
four cases in full swing and a possible fifth,
with everybody at sea regarding the source Of
Infection 1t could not be the water supply OF
the village for that had been found TO be pure.
nor the spring water used by the school chill
dren as that also had stood the severest tests.
The milk used in the village was examined and
not found wanting in any particular. There
only remained oysters, of which the family Of
OF the patients was very fond. and lettuce,
which seemed TO be sort Of common staple in
the place. and the source of supply of which
seems TO be matter CT uncertainty.
Although Commissioner OBrien first learned
of the prevalence Of typhoid at Katonah from
The Tribune on Sunday Chief Engineer De
Varona to show that the department has been
using every means 10 safeguard the health of
this city, made public this report yesterday,
addressed TO the Commissioner:
On SUNDAY. March 3 received report of a case
OF typhoid al katonah- On Monday. March J. |
made an examination of location and condition OF
this case and found It located in the village Of
katonah, about seventy ty-hve feet from small
conditions as described by Dr. j F. Chapman in
MS certificate which is copied herein:
This IS TO certify that I in attendance on
George Fenwellin l residing upon The Terrace
observed in regard TO all eXcrcta, efficient dsln-
posed of by cesspool located on south side Of
and and beyond any possible means Of communicating
also received on March Z by Daniels. ore of
new cases Of typhoid at Ratonah toni on The morning
OF March met Messrs. Cuyler and Harris and
conditions. conditions. and procured samples Of water for
resid 10 Is LOCATED on The IerraSe' 9 near me
Case No. is located az least 500 feet from any
stream and DR. Chapman informs me that the
patient is properly attended to. Cases Nos. and
Mr., jackson, the principal chemist in charge or
t o ia reports to me thar me analysis US OF
from pollution l have directed Mr. Jackson to
ard 20 take the necessary measures to prevent IT,
and have also instructed l.. w. Sowin TO make
ditons and submit report soon as completed.
Assistant Engineer John Mckay said yester-
day that the whole watershed was under cor
st2nt inspection, and that threatening source
OF contagion was permitted in the 800 square
miles embraced In the Croton watershed. Be
fore the discovery of typhoid fever at Kato-
nah analysis Of water from reservoirs. rivers
and brooks made twice a week. In the
Katonah district the water I'm the brooks is
now being examined daily The milk used in
the village had been traced directly to its
source, the COWS and dairies examined and the
milk analyzed. Everything at the dairy farms
was found to be in good condition. and an anay-
sis OF the milk showed II TO be pure.
Three Of the patients are children who attend
the small district school. which has water
supply. The children drink water from two
springs near by An analysis of the spring
water showed that il was pure. The children
not related. They do not live in con-
tiguous houses They live far apart. well away
from the brook. The local water supply is
pure. the milk used is pure and the spring water
is free from disease germs.
The fourth patient and the ono who first
stricken and whose case was first reported is
painter oF houses who lives near Katonah
Brook He did not conine his activities to Ka-
tonah Wherever a building had 10 be painted
this man was likely TO be called. whether
mile or many away from his home. 1t is con-
ceivable to the Water Department that he may
have drunk water sTom a contaminated well.
and as soon as he has recovered an effort will
he made TO trace the contagion i'm his case.
Precautions are being taken 10 prevent con-
termination Of the brook from the cesspool near
this patient's home 1t is a cement. trap cess
pool. so that the contents cannot seep away
The cesspoois near the homes OF the other pa
tIents are far removed from the brook, but all
excrata in each case will be treated with dlsin-
fectants.
In Katonah there is much distress over the
typhoid visitation reporter for The Tribune