New-York tribune., 1907-04-05
GUARDING AGAINST TYPHOID.

1t was with the reluctance which is naturally
felt at the publication of unpleasant and per-
haps disQuieting news, but with a sense of
public duty superior to other considerations.
that The Tribune revealed the facts concerning
the prevalence of typhoid fever in the CrOton
valley and the negligent If not criminal condi-
tons there which cause actual defilement and
might easily cause infection of this city's sup
ply Of potable water. 1t is In the same spirit
hat we have now felt constrained to call at
tentlOn to the marked and exceptional increase
IN the number Of cases OF typhoid fever occur
ring in this city. A few sporadic cases Of that
nalady are usually 10 be found here, chiefly,
we believe, contracted elsewhere and merely
developed here, or brought hither for treatment
at the hospitals which have made New York
he Mecca OF the aillng from all over the land.
But when they increase as they have done in
the last three months, or since the outbreak
in the CrotOn valley, and appear largely in
parts of the city to which the theory of i'm
portation does not well apply, 1t is difficult
20 avoid the suspicion that they are of local
origin, and that some local condition is ac-
lively morbifc.
Nothing could be further from our wish and
aim than 10 provoke uncalled-for alarm or un-
due agitation, and we hasten TO express our
belief that there is at present no reason for
anything remotely resembling a panic. We do
not expect an epidemic of typhoid in New
York. But when the number of cases of that
disease rises to 125 in February, and then to
100 in March, or three times as many as in
that month OF any recent year. q situation Is
presented which demands the most serious
thought Of those who are charged with guar
dianship Of the public health 1t may be that
there will be no further increase but instead
a speedy subsidence of the disease. We trust
41..g
satisfactory assurance Of it, while. on the other
hand. there is a positive menace of continued
increase. Obviously If the recent ratio of in
crease should be continued for a few months
more, the city would be suffering a devastat-
ing epidemic, and IL would be impossible not
TO suspect that either the water or the milk
supply had become fatally contaminated OF
course, with the positive knowledge that typhoid
has prevailed for some weeks or months in the
closest possible proximity to the sources OF
the water supply, it would be natural to sus-
peet the water first, as, indeed, some are al
ready inclined to do, to account for the two hun
dred cases which occurred last month
Present conditions, then, while not neces-
sarily alarming. are certainly such as should
strongly suggest the immediate taking Of the
most efficient steps known to sanitary science
for the safeguarding of this city against typhoid
and for securing the utmost practicable purity
of its water supply. There can we think, be
no doubt that that will ultimately, and proba-
bly, should Immediately, involve universal sys-
tenn Of filtration. There are other steps which
might, and We believe should also be taken
One is thorough and competent system Of in
specuon and policing of the CrOton region and
another is comprehensive local sewerage sys.
tenn there The one could be established in as
few hours as 1t would take months to build a
filtration plant, and the other would cost only
one-tenth as much as filtration. But these
would not be sufficient TO give that complete
assurance of purity which this city needs and
demands for it's water supply. and which 6l
rauon would give and alone would be able TO
give. The city is now spending very large
sum for the increase of its water supply. and it
Is doing so wisely, for that increase is neces-
sary 1t will be at least equally wise for it
to undertake forthwith the equally necessary
work, though at a vastly less cost, Of assur-
ing the purity Of its present and prospectlye
supply by the means which the consensus Of
the best expert opinion holds TO he the most
efficient