The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-17
Not One Case on Health
Department Chart
at City Hall.
REGARD RECORD
AS MARVELLOUS.
Pure Milk and Pure Water From
Settling Basins Looked Upon
as Causes Which Bring
About Remarkable SAM
tary Conditions-Dr.
Levy Speaks.

For the 1rst time since accurate
records havo been kept, and in all
probability for the first time since this
town emerged from a village TO
township a century ago. Richmond was
yesterday without single case of ty-
phoid fever.
The big chart on the wallis OF the
Health Department at the City Hail..
showing loca tlon OF typhoid cases. was
wiped clean. Chief Health Officer Z. c.
Levy said that II was py far the most
remarkable record ever obtained by
the Health Departmcnt-one that was
simply marvellous In view OF cond!-
tons elsewhere and of conditions In
Richmond In recent ycara. While
winter typhoid Is believed TO be spread
mainly through the medium OF water
or milk. II is the belief of the authors
ties that summer typhoid Is mainly
spread from case to case. by unclcan-
ness or lack Of careful nursing result
Ing III spreading the Infection 10 those
about tho patient. lH
Slate Wiped Glenn.
Without single case in the city
from which to breed such contagion,
DR.. Levy expresses the hope that the
summer typhoid may be reduced to a
minimum, although from time TO time
cases may be brought into the city for
hospital treatment Such cases are al
ways under adequate supervision. and
seldom result in any spread OF dis
ease Ell
.fhe full Significance OF the si;ua-
ton, said Dr. Levy. can only be ap-
preciated by those who realize the
enormous toll in lives and Illness
which typhoid fever has exncted I'M
the past since the reorsanizau on or
the Health Department., in June. 1905
q ;.sndS IMPROVEMENT has been brought
about The figures for the year prior
- 1906, In 50 fay. as they relate to the
actual number Of cases OF typhoid in
the city are not reliable"
InbuInted Statement.
IN order 10 show the contrast be
tween tho typhoid situation this yenr
ana Tor the same period OF the past
four years the following tabulated
sE%%ment was prepared by Health De-
H1rtment officials yesterday
Typhoid cases reported go -
,, ,er hrs' four months. 60 70 {. Il IL.
G 6 a!,,s on hand Nay ~. q % |. . d
\ May l....... ........... Ii ii I'LL
T :inno deaths TO- 4
FIRST four and half months OF
1911 II cases: cases on hand May 1s
none; deaths TO May j. .; deaths 10
May l6. 2,
DR.. Levy. statement.
ihis statement explained DR.. Levy
gives the number OF cases and the
number OF deaths from typhoid fever
only since 1907 Beginning with the
year 1907 there was a most marked
lowering OF the record from previous
years, and In viewing the present stu
alton as regards typhoid fever in Rich
mond. tho fact must be taken into ac-
count that even the first four of the
above years were far better than any
previous years on record.
While we are exceedingly gratiled
atlthe showing made by these com
PARSONS. and believe II has been
brought about directly by the activi-
ties OF lthe Health Department., IL
would be wrong for citizens to gain
the Idea that typhoid has been CON
qucred. onlyitb by following out the
policies adopted with even groater
viEor than in tho past will the city be
able to maintain its record, and in
this effort every citizen must do his
part. The Health Department assumes
immediate supervision over every re-
ported case of typhoid, and givos full
instructions TO prevent the spreading
of tho disease to others We, there.
fore, look to physicians to report
every case Immediately, and we look
to the people to carry out the instruc-
lions given by the department for their
eaAFts. IL THESE tHlHBS are done, We
have every reason to hope that when
the end Of 1911 Games. typhoid figures
for the entire period Will again lower
all previous records, In spite of tho
fact that we have SO many times In
the past five years broken all previ-
Gus records in this direction"
Great Advertisement for CITY.
Other city officials expressed the
view that there could be no greater
advertisement for the city than tho
announcement that there was not to-
day single case OF TYPHOID fever
within its limits.
The result Is probably due TO a num-
Der OF causes rather than TO any one
cause, though primarily the activity
of the Health Department in inspecting
every case reported and watching vigil
lantly to see that proper precautions
are taken to prevent spread of infec-
tlon. has had first place. The move
ment to lower the typhoid rate may be
said to have begun with the milk cam
paigns of several years ago which
have continued with undated vigil
ance. until Richmond day has what
the Health Department proclaims to he
the purest milk supply in this country.
The second contributing cause was the
completion of the settling basins Civ
Ing to the city continuous supply Of
clear and pure water, drawn from the
river many miles above the city. and
scientifically cleared OF all impurities.
and furnished at all times In abund-
5hnce. Still another contributing cause
to the good health of the city has been
tho liberal policy Of the Council in
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