Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-28
WATER IS BLAMED
Council Is Informed Typhoid
Germs Lurk in Raw Sup
ply From River.
EXPERT TRACES SOURCE
Be ling Process Is Urged Until Such
Time as Filter Plant Is Work
ing Satisfactorily.

In a message 10 the city council last
evening Mayor G.. W. McCaskrln,
stated that the new filter is now in
readiness 10 start in operation for the
30-day test, according 10 the terms of
the contract. The mayor had confer
ence with the executive board of Au-
gustana college and the board asked
that a contract be entered into between
the city and the board. with Professor
Magnuson as agent for the college.
The board did not wish TO conduct a
test during the 30-day run. Arrange
ments were made whereby the college
would take up the tests after the run,
the pay for the services to be s125 per
month. The matter was referred TO
the wateTworks committee
The following letter was read and
referred TO the waterworks committee:
March 26, 1911.-Dr. Albert n. Muel-
Ter, Commissioner OF Health, Rock Is
land. Ill.-Dear Sir: AS result of the
recent outbreak of typhoid fever in
Rock Island, three things must be
done:
/. Prevent further primary infec-
ton.
>. Prevent further secondary infec-
ton.
s. Guard against future trouble and
insure a pure and satisfactory water
supply.
To prevent further primary infec
ton, continue to warn the people to
boil all water TO be used for drinking
purposes until bacterial tests show
q IN, iS
polluted water supply is undoubtedly
the cause of the outbreak. 1t followed
the bad condition of the water at the
time the ice went out, Feb. Is. While
the new filter was put in operation
Feb IS the reservoir and the mains
were filed with impure water. 1t took
several days or weeks to replace the
impure water with filtered water. The
water was shown to be good on March
-, but this was one month after the
filter started. AS it has been necessary
to stop the filters. which had been
started up before they were ready. the
reservoirs and mains are again filled
with polluted water. This water should
be boiled before using it for drinking
purposes. Additional proof of the cause
of the outbreak is seen in the fact that
the cases are widely distributed: that
80 of 81 cases, in which the water used
is reported, used city water, and that
the city of Moline. with a different
water supply but similar conditions,
otherwise had seven cases in January,
only two in February, and three in
March.
PREVENTING SECONDARY CASES.
To prevent secondary infection, that
is. cases caused by contact with pa
tents. see that each household has a
copy of the rules for care of patients.
etc Apparently not more than 10 per
cent Of the cases thus far are second 4
airy cases. and with proper care these
can be reduced 10 minimum.
To guard against future trouble and
insure a satisfactory water supply, the I.
new filter plant should be placed under
the responsible control of a competent f.
man who is a water chemist and bac-
-eriologist. It should be his duty to
make. daily. the necessary chemical
tests TO determine the treatment for
he day. He must also make daily bac-
tests to determine whether
he treatment has been effective and
he water made pure. A competent
nan should be engaged for the 30-day
efficiency trial and in that period ar
angements made for the regular con.
roll
| would have been glad to attend the
council meeting Monday night. but
'ould not remain at this time. If IT /
hould be desired I will arrange to
meet them or a committee at some fu-
ure date. Please keep me posted as
o the progress of the epidemic and let
ne know If can be of further service.
'ery truly yours.
EDWARD BARLOW. I
Director State Water Survey. Special
Representative Illinois State Board !
( Health
aQid In MaGSachusatrS tho opnrO