The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-02-22
Tunhoid Fever.

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Owing to the appearance of typhoid
fever in Mount Holly, there has been
some uneasiness created and there is a
general inquiry into the cause of the out
break. DR.. Richard H. Parsons, Health
Officer of Northampton township, was in
terviewed on the subject and he says
there are five cases ia town. The first
one made its appearance just before
Christmas, the others coming since the
first of the year. There are other cases
of illness which are under inspection at
present, but they have not developed
sufficiently to state definitely that typhoid
Is the trouble.
Asked the possible cause for this
disease again visiting us, DR.. Parsons said
it was probably the water or milk supply.
The samples of water taken from the town
system in December, and which were re-
turned the first of January, showed there
was nothing In it to account for the out
break. The sample sent up to the State
Board of Health in January has not yet
been reported upon, but the return is ex-
pected daily. In the meantime the milk
supply is being carefully inspected. 1t is
always wise to take all precautions in
cases like the present, and it is advisable
to have all drinking water boiled. That
will settle all questions of germs being
taken into the system through that source.
As Health Officer. DR.. Parsons wrote to
the State Board of Health respecting the
condition of the sewage system at the
County Asylum, asking If anything had
been done to correct it. There is not now,
nor has there been, case of typhoid
fever at that institution, but the sewage
system there was condemned sometime
since lin order that there might not be
possible chance to put the blame for con-
tamination of water supply upon the de-
fective drainage there. In answer to his
letter Dr. Parsons received the following:
Trenton, February 81, 1910.
r. H. Parsons, NJ. D., Health Officer,
Mount Holly, N. ].
Dear DIR. Parsons:-Your letter of Feb
ruary IS, 1910, in reference to cases of tv-
phoid fever in Mount Holly. has been re-
ceived. In reply to your inquiry in re-
gard to the discharge of sewage from the
asylum at New Lisbon, would say that
plans for sewage disposal plant for this |
institution were approved by this Board |
on August 3, 1909, but as the county au-
failed to take further action for |
the construction of the plant, motion was
made and carried at a meeting of the |
Board held November 90, 1909, that the |
Attorney General be requested to take up |
this matter, and he was asked to at once |
begin prosecution of said authorities.
Very respectfully,
BRUCE s. KEAToR, Secretary. |
The above letter is about what was told |
DR.. Parsons at the meeting of the State |
Medical Society, at Lakewood, in Decem-
Der, yet up to date there has been nothing
done in the matter. The Board of Free
holders evidently does not think there is
any need of hurrying andlapparently does
not fear the prosecution. The State
Board of Health, haying passed motion
the Attorney-Ge to get
busy, seem to be In the position of having
lone all that was required of 1t, and
he latter officer has not acted, or if he
has, there is no visible evidence of the
act. Somebody Is either Indifferent or
careless. Who is it ? The State Board of |
Health is certainly cognizant of the state
If affairs at the asylum. for It has con-
lemned the sewage system there. has pre-
pared plans for new plant, and has ire
luested" the Attorney General to prose-
cute. Why don't the State Board of
Health see that its request" is taken
lotice of and push the matter If that is
lot within its province, what is 1t good
orr That the sewage from the asylum
must be so disposed of as to leave no
chance for it to reach the source of drink
ng water has been declared absolutely |
necessary, and is so apparent to the State
Board of Health that, at its meetings in |
asst November it deemed it advisable ere
quest" prosecution. And this is February.
with the same old system of sewage in
existence.