The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-20
Government Finds BIZ
valves Unfit for HUI
man Food.
TYPHOID CAUSED
BY INFECTION
Public Health Demands Full Pub
! Lefty. in Opinion of Depart
ment Of Agrieulture-Pollu-
ton Comes From Washing
ton Sewerage, Extending
To Blackstone Island.

Oysters taken At any point In tho
Potomac River be; "een Washington
and Blackstone Island are. according
to an oficial statement issued yesier-
day by the National Department OF
Agriculture. likely to be polluted ana
in such condition a. to be considered
for human consumption Sewage from
washington and Alexandra does
most Of the mischief
This sweeping indictment OF the
condition of the waters OF the fotomac
will be startling indeed to those en-
gagged in the oyster business In that
section. II 10 also stated by Acting
Secretary Of Agriculture Wiliet ID.
Hays that THE results Of these In
vest!sations emphasize the need OF
refusing to eat oysters from ques-
tionable sources unless very thor
euRhly cooked" Inspection is urged.
q. is preventive methods against tf-
photd fever. Public health. II is
argued. demands publicity.
Go Mostly to Washington.
OF course. this condition OF affairs
In the Potomac IN no wise affects the
purity of oysters taken from other
parts OF the Virginia field. Potomac
oysters mostly go to Washington. and
u.
Ike, until the field can be cleaned out.
The Virginia Dairy and Food Depart
rnent has as stated a few days ago
.n The Times-Dispatch. closed 70
oyster dealers all those parts OF the
Elizabeth River and Hampton creek
which may be infected from the cities
Of Norfolk. Newport News and Hamp-
ton With the Potomac cleaned up.
there can he no sewage infection IN
Virginia oysters.
Blackstone Island Sc in the river
opposite Nomini Bay. n Westmoreiand
County. The result OF the department
bulIetin 10 to practically condemn all
the oysters In the potomac above the
centre OF westmoreland County.
Unat for Food.
The bulletin SAYS in part:
The Departments CT Agriculture has
completed a preliminary investigation
of the sanitary condition OF the water
of the Potomac River In its relation
20 the sheIlhsh industry. During the
las: two years food inspectors OF the
department, have time and again OBJ
. tanned samples Of oysters at the Elev-
en;h Street wharves, and from local
dealers in Washington. which. upon
examination. were found to be grossly
polluted AMI unfit for food, resulting
in seizure and condemnation OF the
product Tne agents OF the department
also investigated numerous cases OF
typhoid fever. some OF which could be
traced to the eating of raw oysters
obtained from the supply furnished
from local markets. a supply which is
obtained largely from the oyster beds
OF the Potomac River. This led the
department TO direct that a thorough
and comprehensive Investigation OF the
character of tn. water o. the Potonac
River be made. and that conditions
along the river which might be con-
sidered as contributing TO pollution be
inquired into. Accordingly trips OF
investigation were made. samples OF
the water were obtained from approx
mately every ave-mile section OF the
river from washington TO Point Look
OUT 1t its mouth.
In addition. samples Of oysters were
obtained directly from the oyster
grounds. and other samples OF ootn
water and oysters were obtained from
many o: the tributaries. especially
those from which oysters are largely
taken for market purposes
what Cheoieai Tests show.
The river carries a very considerable
load Of organic pollution from commu-
mites above Washington, and this IS
very seriously increased by the sew
axe Oh OJSu " oShAuStVH
d-ia. which Is emptied into the river
Both chemical and meteorological
tests show conclusiveIy that this pol
luton travels apparently without but
slight change for long distances down
the river. The results OF the TWO in
vestiGations show that the self-pEr-
i.cation Of the stream. which is relied
upcn to take care o. sewage and other
pollut!ng matters, does not occur 10
anything like the extent to which some
persons have contended IL does. The
river il shown 70 be seriously polluted
as far as the upper section of the Po-
tomac oyster grounds. considerable
pollution existing indeed as far as the
wicomico River or on Blackstone
Island. a locality from whicn MANY
oysters are taken and sent TO the
Washington markets. Samples OF oys-
eers IL the wiconico River. near Blak-
istone Island. and from Somiai Bay
ard above these points were examined
and same samples. although not all Of
them. were found TO be polluted 70
such an extent trait they would be con-
Avnned as UNIT for food.
nay ExseDa Fsssbes.
The water from that portion OF the
river below Blackstone Island was
found to be Of better character than
the water above this point This 10 IN
harmony with the observations which
have been made upon polluted oysters
from the river during previous yesra.
o Greae proportion Of the samples OF
such polluted oysters found st the
Wharves Of wasAington being reputsd
% have come from points above Baak-
1ssopo Island. with the exception Of a
sew samples from Ragged Point and
Gcmiui Bay. In view Of the fact that
che water IN the rvser below B'aktssoue
1slaaA would be passed ~ fairly salts
escsroy from both Meteorological and
OAs0sca1 Nssa Soeaspsa on the tive 1n-
VuUe3ODe1ng tyav0. q WOu5o eee@ 70 ~
CC0os1sUSl - oSesUG reG&,