The Washington herald., 1907-01-31
TYPHOID IN WASHINGTON.
Maryland Medical Journal Defends
New Filtration system.


In the February issue Of the Maryland
Medical Journal, an editorial on Wash
ing's Typhoid Experience an Enigma. "
contains many figures concerning the dis
ease and the attempt to eradicate It by
building the new filtration plant there.
The editorial says, IN part:
Down 10 1902 the typhoid mortality Of
Washington was remarkable for its ex-
travagance and its INCONSISTENCY. Since 1902
the annual tide Of typhoid has kept re-
markably uniform stages, and the mean
level remaining as low as in the most
favorable years Of the cIty's previous his
tory. This novel phase Of Washington's
typhoid history becomes more striking II
one adds 10 the typhoid mortality the re-
ported mortality from malaria If to the
typhoid figures we add the malarial and
typho-malarial figures we shall represent
the actual conditions more truly, and we
shall find that for twenty years before
1902 medical diagnosis, typhoid fever and
Potomac waters all led wild careers Of in
sobriety. In 1903 period Of calm ensued,
signifying that District doctors and Po-
tomac waters have definitely abandoned
evil ways. while typhoid gives promise %
amendment.
Since the operation Of the filters in 1871
did not disturb the mean level main
tanned by typhoid mortality In the preced-
ing three years the question arises
whether a typhoid rate Of A. per 10000
represents the residual typhoid which
Washington may expect after eliminating
the influence Of Potomac water.
Let as learn, If possible, what the ty-
DhOid expectancy Of Washington is. ap-
proXmately. Ii was shown some years
ag1 that urban typhoid is iuversely re-
lated to population. The great cities
New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago
furnish q combined typhoid rate of about
= per 10000. Cities OF between 1000
and SJ90g furnish combined rate OF
about - per 10000 Washington is in this
class. with seven other cities. Situation
( is another factor IN the typhoid expect
/ ancy Eleven nearby cities. having 2037.
/ 49, persons in 1890. lost 667 persons with
typhoid. the rate being Alb per 10000
These cities are Philadelphia, Wilmington
Baltimore, Annapolis. Frederick, AIexan
/ dria, Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg
Lynchburg. and Raleigh. Typhoid Is more
prevalent in the South. The combined ~
phoid rate for Baltimore. Louisville
/ Whee:.rg, Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg
( LynChburg. Wilmington. y. c.. Atlanta
/ Charleston, and Savannah in 1900 was 3
I per 10000 If these figures indicate nor
mails, Washington has realized her ~
phoid expectancy in 1893 and since. If, in
/ deed, her experience has not exceeded rea
sOnable expectation.
1T is well known (oT ought 10 be- tina
/ typhoid fever is a rural disease. progress
/ ing in general from the country 70 th'
/ town rather than from town 10 country
I The typhoid rate OF Maryland. exclusive
/ Of Baltimore. IS often two and q hal
/ times as E4s-,.t as that Of Baltimore Pc
/ tomac waters are polluted by the people
/ of Maryland, Virginia and West Vir
ginia. IN 1906 these States had an aggre
gate population Of 400. OPS. and 201G per
sons died OF typhoid fever. The rate wa
+ 592 per 10000
The mortality statistics show that viii
/ "a typhoid rate as low as = per 100qt
/ Washington IS not bearing her fun shar'
/ Of the losses falling on this part Of TIT
country. The reasonable expectancy indi
Gated by the history Of typhoid in tn
/ vicinity is considerably above A. To tn
/ expectancy indicated by her situation
+ Washington should add something on &c
count OF the special susccptibilities Of he
living population as revealed by the pOpU
latiou statistics The Capital City shout,
( have expected. under all the circum
/ stances. an average annual tax Of a
/ least % lives in each 10000 With puri6
cation OF the water supply other condi
tons being unchanged. Washington shoul'
+ be satisfied IL the typhoid rate is 20 pei
IW.U0, and delighted if it falls To 50.