Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-21
SHOWS DECREASE IN CASES
Reduction in Death Rate Through
Water and Milk Regulations.
INDoRSEs SC0RE-CARD SYSTEM
Address Today in General Sympo-
sium Under Auspices of American
Association of Scientists.

That typhoid fever is prevalent In the
District and that the death rate here
from that disease is alar1mngly high. as
recently asserted. was positively denied
by DR.. G. Lloyd Masruder of this city
last night at the general typhoid sympo-
stun Of the American Public Health AS
sociation.
DR.. Magruder submitted statistics which
showed that the typhoid fever death rate
has been steadily decreasing in Wash
fngton for q number OF years, as the re-
suit Of the measures wirich have been
taken to safeguard the water and milk
supply. In 1911 the death rate from the
disease was 209 per 10000 population.
Since January /, figures of the District
health office show. he said. that there
have been but 3l2 cases of typhoid fever
and thirty deaths.
DIR. Magruder traced the combined ty-
phoid and malarial death rate from lSaO.
when it amounted to 1864. At that time.
he said. the dairymen did not under
stand the handling of milk. BY 1894 the
typhoid death rate had dropped from 99.S
to 19.1. At that time a committee OF
the District Medical Society submitted a
report on the typhoid question that re-
suited In the enactment of laws provid-
ing the Issuance of permits for the sale
of milk and the inspection of dairy farms
and milk depots. This law became ef-
fective, March 2, 1895.
Decrease in Death Rate.
From that time on the death rate
from typhoid fever began to decrease.
he said. In 1898 ii was 67.2 per 100000
population. In 1906 the Con. missioners
requested the public health service to
investigate the typhoid fever question
in the District. with a view of bringing
about still greater reductions in the
death rate. In that year the rate was
1876
Information gathered by the public
health service and by the Department
of Agriculture showed that conditions
on the dairy farms were bad, said DIR.
Magruder. More careful examination
Of milk and inspection of the dairy
farms were recommended.
Following this inquiry. made by the
Department of Agriculture, pamphlet
on the production of sanitary milk was
Of the bureau of animal industry. This
little booklet has had wide circula-
tion and has been the basis of milk
legislation throughout this country
and abroad. It represented the great
est stride that had been made in the
milk question in the history OF the
world.
"The good results of this work be-
the typhoid fever death rate dropped
to 365 In 1910 the rate had dropped
to 232 The next year found the
rate down to 20.9.
Malaria Also Diminishes.
mot only was the typhoid death rate
lowered, but the deaths from malaria have
also decreased as the results Of safe
guarding the water and milk supply of
the District In 1880 this rate was 25.S
In 1894 1t was 18.9 Four years later 1t
had dropped three points. In 1905 1t was
SO. During the fall Of that year the
filtration plant was put into operation.
The following year the malarial death
rate had dropped to 81. In 1910 1t was
26. The following year there were no
deaths from that disease"
DR.. Magruder spoke at length on the
score card method of milk standardiza-
ton. which was first created by DR.. w.
c. Woodward. the District health officer.
This method is now In use in about 100
municipalities. he said. He brought out
the fact that the requirements in cities
differ, and that much good would re-
suit II they were standardized. He ex-
planned that many large dairy farms ship
milk to as many as six or eight cities
each Of which has different milk produc-
ton rules and requirements. 1t Is nee
essary that such farms be inspected by
cities In question before a permit can be
issued. BY having a universal standard,
Dr. Magruder explained, but one inspec-
ton would be necessary.
Resolution Adopted.
DR.. Magruder offered the following
resolution. which was adopted:
Whereas il has been shown that
valuable results have been obtained
from the requirement for proper in
spection Of dairy depots and dairy
farms before granting a permit for the
production and distribution of milk,
and that the score card has been OF
great utility in recording the observa-
tions made at such Inspections:
BE II resolved. That efforts be made
to secure uniform standards for IN
spection and methods of recording the
same"