The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-13

Potomac water as delivered 70 homes
OF WashingtOnians today is OF a high
STANDARD OF purity, and is not q factor
IN the conveyance Of typhoid fever, the
numerous cases Of which are nov
alarming the health Authorities.
Milk consumed in the District OF Co
lumoia is a prime factor IN the dis
semination Of the disease
These emphatic statements vvere. made
yesterday By a board Of the highest
medical authorities in the United
States after two years careful invests-
CATION
They bring 10 a head the fight that
has been made for fourteen years by
Dr. G. Lloyd Magruder and cher
members Of the Medical Society Of the
District Of Columbia, for more ad-
vanCed sanitary measures in the Dis
trict. and a strict supervision Of tie
milk supply
The report reflects all OF Dr- Ma
gruder's WV and upholds his conten-
tions on the water and milk questions
These statements are contained IN a
published report Of the Public Health
and Marine Hospital Service. made BY
DR.. " J. 2osenau, director OF the Hy-
gienlc laboratory in this city. chair
man. Passed Assistant Surgeon L L
Lumsden, and Dr- Joseph H KastIe.
chief OF he division o. chemistry Of the
Public Health and Iarine Hospital
Service. a commission appc:-te~- 10 in
vestiga-e ard report upon he origin
and prevalence OF typhoid fever in the
District Of Columbia
Report Indorsed.
The IMPORT is supported and indorsed
by the advisory board consisting Of
Major Walter D. McCaw, surgeon. U.
). A; Surgeon John F. Uric. L. s. N:
DR.. A D. Melvin, chief Of the United
States bureau Of Animal Industry OF
the Agriculture Department; Prof. VII
liam II. Welch. Johns Hopkins Uni
versity. baltimore. Prof Simon Flex-
ner. Rockefeller Institute for Medical
Research. New York; Prof. Victor c.
Vaughn. University OF Michigan; Prof
William T, Sedgwick, massachusetts
Institute Of Technology, and Prol.
Frank + WestbroOk. University OF
Minnesota
For two years careful research has
been made and three different boards
have made simultaneous examinations
Of Potomac water. and in every one OF
these It was proven that the water as
it came from the filtration plant and
from the spigot was Of remarkable
purity. in no instance. even when II
vas flushed through the sedimentary
reservoirs. did the per cent of bacteria
run over oI near the purity mark OF 100
Covers Year 1907
Tho report covers the year 1907, the
invesugaticns Of the year 1906 having
been col,tsdned IN a previous report
The studies for 1907. says the report.
included archaeological Investigations
of the disease during the typhoid fever
season, daily meteorological and chem
icaI examinations Of many hundreds Of
samples oI the washington milk sup
DIV. laboratory tests 10 assist in the
diagnosis Of the disease, and examina-
tions Of specimens in a search for
baciIlus-carriers.
Thus far our studies indicate that
typhoid fever viii cease to be a prob
lem IN any community having clean
water. an uninfected milk supply, and
in which cases OF the disease are treated
as dangerous and contagious"
The introduction recites the improve
ments made IN 1917, such as the closing
Of shallow wells. the operation Of the
filtration plant, and completion OF The
sewerage system ana says Inc case
and death rates for typhoid fever III
the District or Columbia. ~ 1871, we're
lower than recorded for any previous
year.
The Improvement Of the typhoid fever
situation within certain limits should
go on from year 10 year The price q
such Improvement, however. viii be well
directed. and unceaslng efforts on the
part Of the local authorities. with the
cO-opeIai7n OF the medical profession
The wata- must remain Of good quality.
the mark milk must be improved. and
(Cor .iaued on Sixth PageJ