The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1912-08-14
Civic League Column
EDITED BY PRESS COMMITTEE.
Meetings Second Friday of Each Month.

'uuo oy Dr. freeman, Assis-
tant Health Commissioners Of
Virginia, who recently came to
Big Stone Gap in response tn
the request of the Civic League
to inspect the Health conditions
here:
The Honorable, The Boar! of Health
Big Stone Gap, Va,
Gentlemen
AT your request have made a carr.
full investigation of the typhoid fever sit.
nation in Big Stone Gap, and beg leave
to submit the following report and
recommendations
There have been reported in the town
since July 18th, six cases of typhoid fever
Three of these We're in white and three in
colored patients. One occurred on the
18th, one ON the 18th. two on the 18th.
one on the 2end and one on the 18th.
The first case was in negro who had
been out of town for several days and
four or five days after his return began
to be sick, taken to his bed about ten
days after his return am euclined to
think that he contracted the disease on
his trip and that he was the Original
source of the infection.
Careful inquiry into all the circumstan-
ces failed To show any common cause for
the cases While all had drank the city
water except one, the disease is confined
to one section of the town, the rest of the
town being absolutely free from the di-
sease. do not think the public water
supply was responsible for the disease.
Milk could not have caused the eni
demic. Each of the infected houses had
different milk supply, most of them
keeping a COW on the place. There was
no evidence that would show that other
foods than water or milk could be re-
sponsible for the cases. No other food
supplies were common to the cases
None of the cases had been in direct
personal contact with any OF the other
cases While most of the cases had at
tended the 18th of July celebration, the
date was too far in advance of the out
break tn warrant the assumption that the
disease was contracted there. The dis
tribution of the cases is also against this
assumption
Bearing these facts in mind, particural-
ly the distribution of the cases and the
general sanitary conditions surrounding
the first case, am of opinion that the
disease has been spread by lilies and other
mechanical means from the first case.
This case was sick for several days be-
fore consultinga physician, aud during
that time no precaution whatever Were
taken. The house was swarming with
flies, the priyy, in common with most OF
those in the neighborhoOd was also swarm
ing with flies. and the infection could
have been readily transferred ia this way.
IL should De borne in mind, that evil
dencc of this kind is of necessity negative
in character and that further cases may
offer evidence leadsng to different conclu.
sions. Should other cases develop
among users of the city water in other
parts Of the the town, suspicion wOnld at
once attach TO the city water. Bacterial
ogical examination of = specimen of the
city water shows some evidence of organ.
ic contamination, colon bacilli being
present in one ounce of water This may
be due to cattle or other animals grazing
on the water shed or to human pollution
Recommendation
The first and most important step ne.
cessary to control the disease is the dis,
infection Of all infectious matter a; III,
houses Of the patients While this is be-
ing done in all cases, it should be born,
III mind that two of. the infected familie.
are Of colored persons To these disin
fectantS SHOULD be furnished literally
free of cost, and the cases should D,
carefully watched to see that they ar,
properly used This screening of the case.
should also he carefully supervised, Il,
paper being furnished TO those unable IL
buy it.
Equally important is the protection o
the privies OF the neighborhood and o
the town at large Every privy Shout,
be screened against lilies and CAREFUL,
cleaned and..disiniected with large amoun
of chloride of lime These priyies mus
be frequently reInspected aud kept il
proper order
The enforcement of the existing Law
regarding the screening of dies necessi
tates two officials, an inspector to ylsi
the priyies frequently and TO call promp