The Washington herald., 1909-08-13

Approving a recommendation OF Dr.
William c. Woodward, health officer
for the District. made at a conference
yesterday. Commissioner Macfarland an
nounced the purpose of the Commission
ers 10 establish an up-to-date modern
archaeological laboratory in connection
with the contagious disease service. to
investigate the causes OF the prevalence
of typhoid fever In the District.
The operations and Investigations Of
the new laboratory viii add much 10
the general knowledge Of the health de-
partment and the medical men generally
in their efforts TO stamp out the dis
ease.
The results Of the Investigations made
by the United States Public Health and
Marine Hospital Service. at the request
Of Commissioner Macfarland. have not
so far determined the cause or causes
OF the prevalence OF typhoid fever. and
the reasons there are still an undue
number of cases OF the fever I'm the Dis
trict at tlis time.
While there are more cases Of the dis
ease in the District than the health au-
thorities think there should be. con-
ditiOns are nothing like they were I'M
1906, when the national health officers
were called IN TO aid iu the investiga-
ton. 10 find out what causes produced
typhoid fever 70 such an alarming ex-
tent
Total Number Of Cases.
From January to August 9. 1905. there
was total number Of cases Of fever in
the District Of 374 while during the same
period OF 1909 there were 393 cases: the
number Of deaths for the first six
months Of 1908 was "a. while IN the same
period Of 1909 the death list from this
cause ran up 20 45.
Surgeon General Wyman. Of the Public
Health Service. has made several valu-
able reports Of the Investigations con-
Quoted by the experts Of his department
As a result Of one Of those reports the
milk commission was appointed by Com
missioner Macfarlaud. making "a long
and thorough investigation into the
milk supply Of Washington. particularly
as 10 its carrying typhoid fever germs in
the spread Of the disease The last re-
port Of the Public Health Service rec
ommends that laboratory facilities be es-
ment providing free facilities 10 all phy-
sicians In the early investigation Of fever
cases and also 10 determine when typhoid
fever patients may be discharged and are
not a menace to the public health in the
spread Of the contagion.
The new archaeological laboratory,
while not provided FOR by an appropria-
tion by Congress. Notwithstanding that
the Commissioners have from year 10
year asked for the money 20 establish
such a department VIII be provided for
out Of the funds OF the contagious disease
service until such time as Congress may
make the necessary appropriation.
AIr. MaCfarland said yesterday: "The
mystery of the undue prevalence Of ~
phoid fever in the District Of Columbia
must be cleared up. The Public Health
and Marine Hospital Service is doing ITS
best to that end the health department
has been, Cf course. doing everything IN
its power originally and In cooperation
with the Public Health and Marine Hos
pital Service. and now at the suggestion
Of the latter service the health depart
ment ought 10 have the facilities for
archaeological work IN this matter. to
say nothing OF having such general facili-
ties for other work. which we should
continue TO ask Of Congress. What Is
now recommended does not require spe-
cifc authority from Congress but IS
covered by the contagious diseases act a"