The Washington herald., 1912-09-20
.0YsTERsPOLLUTED,
EXPERTS REPORT.
All Beds Above Blackstone Islands
Dumping Grounds for
Sewage Of Cities.
PUBLIC WARNED BY
GOVERNMENT CHEMISTS
Drs. r. E. Doolittle and G. w. Stiles
Make Investigation and
Report Is Issued.

Practically all oyster beds in the Poto-
mac River. above Blackstone Island, are
polluted. and the bivalves from them are
unfit for human consumption. according
to conclusions reached by officials Of the
Department of Agriculture and made
public yesterday Afternoon. after q thor
ough Investigation Of conditions.
Numerous cases Of typhoid fever in the
District have been traced by agents OF
the department TO the eating of raw
oysters from the beds OF the Potomac.
The waterway Is seriously polluted by
sewage from Harper's Ferry. w. Va.
Washington, and Alexandria, as far
down the Wicomico River. OF Blacki-
stone Island, a locality from which
many oysters are taken and sent TO the
Washington markets.
The public is warned against eating
oysters from questionable sources, un-
less thoroughly cooked. II has been rec
commended TO remove matured oysters
from the polluted beds of the Potomac
and plant them temporarily in nom
polluted waited farther down the river.
from which they may be harvested after
they have cleansed themselves of typhoid
and other disease bacteria. The cost of
this process would be but small.
Suggests Quarantine.
1t is suggested by the department that
every typhoid patient be quarantined and
all excreta and contaminated clothing
disinfected with a view to avoiding the
infection OF the sewage.
A detailed report OF the investigation
OF conditions made. by the Bureau OF
Chemistry under the direction of DR.. r.
f. DoollttIe and DR.. c. w. Stiles was
issued yesterday afternoon by Willet NJ.
IJatv r.Nr ~ evil
1t is stated that during the past two
years food inspectors had time and again
obtained samples OF oysters at the Elev-
enth Street wharves. which upon analysis
were found TO be grossly polluted and
unfit for food. For the purpose Of in
vestigating the oyster beds and analyzins
the quality of water two trips were made
by department eXperts-one in March and
one in May.
A supplemental investigation OF condi-
tions will be commenced in a short time.
Every effort will be made by the depart
ment to remedy conditions and to pre-
vent the sale Of polluted oysters in
Washington.
Expcrts' Report.
The river carries a very considerable
load Of organic pollution from communi-
ties above Washington" reads the re-
creased by the sewage OF both Washing
ton and Alexandria. which is emptied
into the river. Both chemical and bac-
THEOLOGICAL tests show conclusvely that
this pollution travels apparently with but
slight change, for long distances down
the river. The results of the two in
vestigations show that the self-purifica-
ton OF the stream. which is relied upon
TO take care of sewage and other pol
luting matters. does not occur to any
thing like the extent to which some
persons have contended II does. The
river is shown to be seriously polluted
as far as the upper section OF the Po-
tomac oyster grounds. considerable pol
luton existing. indeed. as far the
wicomico River, or OF Blackstone Is
land, a locality from which many oys-
tiers are taken and sent to the Wash
inston markets. Samples of oysters in
the Wicomico River. near Blackstone
Island, and from Nomini Bay and above
these points were examined, and some
samples-although not all of them-were
found to be polluted to such an extent
that they would he condemned as unfit
for food.
The pollution OF the water extends
much farther down the river in the fall
OF the year. at the beginning OF the
oyster season. when the oysters at the
local wharves have been found to be
much worse than at any other time dur
ing the season. OF course the only
surety we have that the oysters found
polluted actually have come from the
locations from which they are purported
to come, is the statement of the owners
and captains of boats engaged in the
oyster industry"