Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-15
TYPHOID ON INCREASE.
Twenty-Five New Cases Re-
ported in Georgetown.
HEALTH OFFICE PROBING
Dairy Farms Inspected to Trace
Source of Infection.
HIGHER DEATH RATE IN CITY
Mortality for Past Week Shows an
Increase Over Corresponding
Week Last Year.
HEALTH OFFICE PROBING
HIGHER DEATH RATE IN CITY

Since last Thursday twenty-five cases OF
TYPHOID have developed in Georg town,
and the health department is considerably
uiarmed.
The ma jority of the victims of the dis
ease are children. and Health Officer
Woodward. assisted by physicians Of the
United States public health and marine
hospital service. is enga ged in endeavor-
ing 20 ascertain the source of the infec-
ton While the circumstances generally
have pointed strongly to injected milk as
being the possible cause of the outbreak.
the health officer has been unable thus
far to discover any typhoid fever cases in
any dairy or on any dairy farm from
which the milk supply has been received.
Regardl SIS Of this fact. twenty-one OF
The typhoid patients are known to have
consumed milk from one OF the other OF
two particular dairies that have routes N
Georgetown and these two dair!eS nave
been receiving a large part of their milk
from IL single dairy farm. Since the dis
covery OF this fact, which Is considered
significant by the health officer. one Of the
inspectors OF the health department visit
cd this dairy form but did not succeed in
rinding any source of infection, either
pas or present
Health Officer Woodward, accompanied
by DIR. l.. l.. Lumslen Of the public
Sonally inspected the farm in question and
they discovered nothing that would indi-
cate that The dairy farm is Infected.
Specimens for laboratory examination
have been collected from all Of the per-
sons living and working on the farm TO
determine whether any Of them are what
is known as bacillus carriers.
Other Possible Sources.
In connection with the outbreak in
Georgetown various other sources OF pos
sfbie infection have been advanced by in
terested persons. Among the suggested
sources are the old Georgetown reservoir.
the stream of water running through the
valley north of r street. the condition OF
the public sewers and the condition of the
nearby water mains. None Of these sug-
.-estions is regarded by those who have
investigated the situation as likely TO be
responsible for the sudden high preva-
Ience Of the disease.
Dr.. LunisGen, one of the commission
appointed by the surgeon general of the
public health and marine hospital service,
70 investigate the causes OF typhoid fever
in the District. and the health officer are
giving the matter their personal atten-
ton.
The first case of this outbreak was re-
ported to the health department thurs
day last Five cases were reported the
following day. Since then and up to noon
today nineteen additional cases have
Weekly Death Rate Rises.
According to the weekly health and NOR
tality report submitted to the Commits
sioners today by the health officer there
were 1O5 deaths in the District during the
week ended Saturday last. which was an
increase Of twenty-five over the preceding
week and an increase of twelve over the
corresponding week of last year. OF the
deaths last week sixty were white per-
sons and forty-f1ve colored. making the
general death rate for the District during
tire week 1871 per 1850.
The following causes of mortality during
the week were follows: Pulmonary
tuberculosis. twelve deaths: diseases OF
the heart. twelve deaths: malignant
crowths. ten deaths; diseases OF the kid
ney. seven deaths: pneumonia. seven
deaths. and typhoid fever. six deaths
Al the close of last week there were 1870
cases of typhoid fever under treatment in
the District. of which number thirtyfour
We're new cases reported during the week
At the close of the corresponding week last
year there were 10 cases OF this disease
on hand.
The records show that Is: cases OF
tuberculosis ware reported during the
week. and that physicians reported 100
deaths from this dis 'asA. These deaths
cover period o. possibly four months
and their registration was delayed by
physicians. Measles cases ware reduced
Chicken-poX shows but three cases on
hand. There are two cases OF epidemic
cerebro spinal meningitis under treat
Tent-
Ten new cases of diphtheria were re-
ported and nine reported as cured. leav-
ing twenty under treatment. Scarlet
lever was increased from thirteen to fif-
teen cases by the repor: of five new cases
and the discharge Of only three cases.
One wild case of smallpox was discovered
during the week and Is not In quarantine
This IS the only case in the District to
the knowledge OF the health officials
Whooping cough was reduced from 100
cases 10 eighty-nine.