The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-06
Declares Water Not Re-
SponSible For Epidemic
In the District.
Results Obtained After
Thorough Investigation
of Both Supplies.
Statements Supported by
Tests Made by Depart
ment of Agriculture.

That the epidemic of typhoid
fever which swept over the city
last summer and fall was sGe 10
impure milk rather than the water
supply is the firm belief Of DIR.
e. Lloyd Magruder, one of Wash
ingtOn's foremost physicians and
bacteriOlOgists, who has been iden-
titled with Investigations along this
line since 1894, when, together with
DIR. William Johnston and DIR. c.
VI. Hammett, he was appointed 20
make a report ON Potomac river
water.
Cooperating with DR.. Magruder
in this work and supporting him
in this statement Is the Department
of Agriculture, which has made ex-
teuslEe tests which seem TO dis
prove the theory that the filtered
water now in use eausC typhoid.
The tests so far made b. the de-
pariment have developed the fact
that the water was practically pure,
while on the other hand pure milk
is found 20 be an exception rather
ian the rule.
Report on Milk Supply.
Surgeon General Wyman is now
Il work upon a report which il ex-
pected to be ready by January Is,
dealing with the milk supply, and
it is said by those familiar with
its scope that this report viii be d
most astounding One-neeessitating
and resulting in a pure milt agita-
ton such as Washington has never
before known.
Dr. Magruder has made public a letter
and statistics addressed to him by the
Secretary OF Agriculture under date Of
December "A. relative 10 the tesgs made
at the filtration plant, and also at dif-
fsrent taps in the city to determine the
purity Of the water. This double check
- a5em was used by the Department 20
meet the argument advanced that, al
though the water might be free of bac-
teria az tpe nlIratiOn plant Ba-teIia
might lurk in the mains and the Watsr
become contaminated in its route 10 the
city.
Letter Of Secretary Wilson.
Secretary Wilson'S letter 10 Dr. Ma
gruder deals with this subject in the fol-
lowing language;
During The latter part Of September
We undertook cooperative or compAFa-
tive meteorological work with the OH
cIals In charge OF the filtration plant
tabulated results OF this work that are
almost self-eXplan
our own results and the results oh
tanned at the filtration plant are almost
identical when the same medium is
used and the samples are incubated at
the same temperature and for the same
length Of time, This is shown very
cle9rly in the FIRST table which gives the
results obtained at the filtration plant
using our culture media as we'll as
theirs. and tho results obtained by us
using their culture media as well as
ours. Generally speaking our figures
show a slightly larger number Of bac-
terra 10 the cubic centimeter than do
the figures from the bacteriologist OF
the nItratlon plant; in our own routine
work where aqua is used and incubated
az a higher temperature a much larger
number OF bacteria 10 the cubic cent?
NiClri la IEIutLcu. As the American
Public Health Association has recon-
mundUd the use OF gelatin at The lower
temperature Tor routine work. the
counts obtained upon gelatin should re-
celVe the greater consideration, and
therefore our results substantiaJe those
obtained al the hiIatiOn plant"
Results Of Water Test.
Secretary Wilson appends several ia
bles showing the comparative results
of his water tests taken at the Ultra
uOn plant and al over forty taps in
different portions OF the city on diner-
ent dates. results indicative OF the gen
eral ratio being as follows;
Number OF colonies per cubic cent?
meter;