The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-03-01
WILMINGTON, n. c.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1st, 1907.
THE TYPHOID FEVER QESTION.

. people that there is no cause for alarm
over the number of typhoid fever cas-
es here. Were there cause they would
be the first to give the people timely
warning and our people should have
confidence in their statements. There
is no doubt, however, that there is
cases of that disease which have oc-
Cured here of late. This should be
board of health should at once ard
without sparing pains or money, make
a thorough investigation of all Sis
pected sources.
Many think the disease is caused by
use of water for drinking purposes
from the pump on the city hall lot;
that this water has become contami-
mated with typhoid germs. The tact
cannot be denied that many Of the
persons stricken with this disease nave
been constant users OF the water
from that pump.
We do not say it is the source of
the germs, but we think no time should
be lost in having the question settled
beyond any doubt. This can be done
by a archaeological analysis; that is,
an analysis of the water for ascertain
ing whether it contains typhoid fe ver
producing germs. If it does contain
them the people should know 4 at
once. On the other hand, if the water
is free of them this should be known so
that it's use can be continued, fer in
other respects it is a fine potable water,
free from deleterious mineral substan-
ces as has been proven by analysis.
II it is found that the water of the
city hall pump is contaminated with
typhoid germs then the next step should
be to discover how they have gotten
into the water. Several theories--of
what value we do not know-have bsen
advanced On this point, all assuming
Jacobs run to be the source Of contain
ination. One theory is thai the pip
ing of the pumps has leaks in it anG
that seepage from the Jacobs run
and surface water get into it. An
other. which is merely a conjecture.
is that the stratum of rock through
which the pump was bored may rot
extend as far as the sewer OR may have
breaks in it which would admit water
from the run to the lower opening Of
supply of Jacobs run and for the pump
may be he same and the contamina-
ton originate there. Another theory is
that though the water in the pump pipe
may be uncontaminated, the supply
carried to people who use it may III
many cases become germ impregnated
in some way after taken from the pump
or that water from other sources may
be substituted by those making the de-
livery without the knowledge Of the
users.
If IN one of the above conditions
exists, except the contamination o. the
original source of supply or the seeDace
from Jacobs run under the rock STRAIT
UNI, the evil can be remedied; but if
either of the latter proves to be the
cause then the use of the water for
drinking purposes should be prohibited.
1t would be impossible to make posi-
tive demonstration that the contamina-
either of the two causes mentioned in
the above exception, but if investiga-
the others. then the conclusion would
be that it was from one or the other of |
them. IN the meantime. it strikes us |
that it would be we'll for our people to /
stop using that water or be very care
ful as to the vessels in which 1t is
brought and be certain that the per-
sons supplying them do not get it from
a more questionable source.
Water from this pump was analvzed
bacteriologically six months or more
ago and was found to contain a xsry
low percentage of bacteria, but as the
chemist did not classify the bacteria
found that does not show by any means