The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-21

I'VE believe that in order to cause fur
Their and marked reduction IN the preva-
lence Of typhoid fever in Washington II
will be necessary to carr out measures
to prevent the conveyance OF infection
by milk and by personal contact. Our
studies Indicate that IL the market milk
supplied the city were pasteurized under
Official supervision and an efficient cam
paign made 10 diminish contact infection.
there would result a great diminution in
the amount Of typhoid fever in the Dis
trict Of Columbia"
This Is the conclusion reached after a
three years study Of typhoid fever I'm
Washington by the experts OF the Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service In
their report to the District Commission
ers yesterday. This board consists OF
NJ. 2. RosenaU, director of the hygienic
laboratory; J. L. Lumsden. past assist
ant surgeon. and Joseph II. II. Castle.
chief OF the Lewiston OF chemistry.
Rate Considered High.
For a city with no water-borne infec-
ton. and In consideration Of tho climatic
and general sanitary conditions, the
typhoid fever rate is stin comparatively
high, according to the report.
That typhoid fever is peculiar 20 the
city and that It's reduction depends upon
steps taken to insure a safe milk supply
and 70 prevent the spread of the disease
by personal contact, Is the finding made.
/ The summary of the Investigation fol-
lows:
During the warm season the disease
prevails proportionally among white and
colored. In cold weather. however, the
| disease prevails prOportiondtely more
heavily among the whites.
THE disease Is somewhat more preva-
/ lent among males. especially among those
! between the ages Of fifteen and thirty
/ four years.
THE disease In 1908 was specially
prevalent among children. suggesting that
milk and contact are responsible for more
cases thar can be definitely traced TO
these factors.
( THE majority Of cases occur among
persons who have not been out Of Wash
ington within the thirty days previous 10
the onset OF the illness. and, moreover,
among those who have lived in Washing
! ton all their lives showing that Washing
ton IS a true endemic center.
Seasons Were Early.
|
and the summer season were both early
In 1907 there was cool spring and a
late summer. showing the correlation be-
tween the beginning Of the summer
weather and the increased prevalence OF
the disease.
During the three years there has beer
a general and fairly uniform distribution
Of cases throughout the city.
-Nar NTu1 d frrgr n
now is. flies would not be expected tC
play much OF a part, and the lack Of
correlation between the seasonal curve o.
fly abundance and that OF typhoid fever
seems to corroborate the view.
1.-THE majority Of the cases occur II
households without servants. There Il
no evidence to support the suppositior
that day servants frequently convey In
lection to the households OF their en-
ployers. our studies show that contac
is one OF the major factors in the spreaC
of the disease.
Infected MIX Blamed.
About 10 per cent Of the actual cases
in 1908. as in 1906 and 1907. were definitely
attributed to infected milk. In the 1896
outbreak the milk was infected by {
bacillus carrier Our studies for the three
years indicate that II all the market mill
OF Washington was pasteurized unde
official supervision, the amount Of ~
phoid fever would be materially de
creased.
According to the accepted bacterioiog
zeal standards the filtered Potomac Rive
water during the typhoid season Of 100
and 1908 was % good sanitary quality
and II does not seem possible such waite
could have been directly responsible 70
. | much IL anv of the infection