The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-09-18
70 TYPHOID CASES
NOW IN BELLEVUE
Outbreak Has Developed In a
Month in One East Side
District.
THE WORST IN so YEARS
Believed to Be Due to Careless
Dipping Of Milk by Small
Dealers.

There is a serious outbreak OF typhoid
fever on the East Side. II has come
suddenly in q year that has been particu-
larry free from the disease. and extraordi-
nary measures are being taken by the
health authorities to get at the causes
Of II and stamp Il out. Not in half a
from this disease at Bellevue Hospital
not since Bellevue was the place to which
victims of contagious diseases from every
part Of the city were taken.
The affected district lies to the east OF
Third avenue and between Third and
Thirty-third streets. 10 was little
more than a month ago that the physi-
clans at Bellevue. In the heart Of this
section. commented on the decrease In
the number Of typhoid fever cases and
congratulated the Department Of Health
on its campaign for the Improvement OF
conditions under which foodstufYs. and
particularly milk. are sold.
Then the cases began to develop. Vic
Tins were brought to the hospital daily.
sometimes one or two sometimes as
many as seven In a day. Since the first
day of the month seventy sufferers have
been brought to the hospital. Five were
added to the list yesterday.
IWvestigating Carefully.
Dr. Mark l.. Fleming. acting superin-
tendent at Bellevue. brought the subject
to the attention Of the Department Of
Health. Under ordinary circumstances
every case Of typhoid fever or other con-
tagious disease is investigated by in
spectors in the employ Of the division OF
infectious diseases. DIR. Billings. in charge
of the division. set the routine machinery
was seen that the outbreak might become
alarming special investigators were as
signed to make inquiries.
As usual. first consideration was given
to the milk supply In the affected district.
1t was learned that the dairies supplying
the milk are those Of established reputa-
ton for carefulness In the handling Of
milk for the market. but that there are In
the neighborhood \ great number Of milk
stations and grocory stores where milk Is
sold In small quantities and over which
II Ia very difficult to maintain strict super
vision. There Is no ordinance against
dipping milk. and where people buy In
small quantities the milk Is dipped from
cans and carried home In every con-
ceivable kind Of receptacle.
There are a great many Of these grocery
stores in Seventh street. From that
thoroughfare Bellevue got a father and
two children from one house and another
child from the house next door. 1t was
reported to the hospital authorities that a
driver OF "a milk wagon that serves the
street Is III OF typhoid at st. Luke s
Hospital There was also a story of a
druggist who had died In First avenue
from typhoid. This case did not come
to the knowledge Of the hospital physl-
clans.
Twesty ChiIdren Victi'ns.
OF the seventy victims at the hospital
twenty are children. The other cases are
about equally divided between men and
women. Last Monday was the only day
taken to the hospital.
Investigation 10 not confined to the milk
supply II was said at the Department OF
Health yesterday that the Division OF
Food Inspection Is also looking into the
sources OF other foodstuffs and that
especial attention Is being given to the
vegetables served In the district and the
methods OF the dealers In handling them.
Health Commissioner Lederle said last
night that while there Is no ordinance
against dipping milk. the department has
recently put into operation certain very
strict regulations respecting the handling
Of milk In places where It Is sold in small
quantities. These regulations are looked
to for the accomplishment of better con-
ditions, but 1t will take time to get the
system working throughout the city.
-Four or Ave months ago." said DR..
Lederie, I'VE put out some tentative regu-
lations respecting the handling Of milk
with the object Of restricting the sale to
certain stations and taking the business
away from the great number of cheap
groceries. Immediately we were petitioned
on all sides against the regulations. One
of them had nearly 10000 names. They
represented that the enforcement Of the
proposed regulations would drive thou
sands Of small grocers out Of business and
eventually result in the increase Of the
price Of milk.
Rules Made More Stringent.
1T was suggested that we revise the
regulations. and promises Of assistance
In enforcing stringent rules for the han
ding Of milk were made. A month ago
we put out these regulations. but there
are from $4,000 to $4,000 places In the
city where milk ID sold and II will be
some time before we can impose the
strict rules upon all Of them.
II haven't been over the reports from
tho inspectors who have been going
through the East Side since the present
outbreak began. l shall probably know
tomorrow what tho cause Of It 10. In
the last few years such outbreaks have
been traced to the milk supply That IL
why We have made more stringent the
regulations respecting the pasteurisiug Of
milk. We now require that milk for
cooking purposes shall be warmed. We
have learned that the ignorant are unable
to distinguish the various grades. and We
believe that to treat all of them Ia the
only safe thing to do. We are gradually
Retting people to do this.
New York city has never been 30 free
s.nvv, tvuhOid fAvAr an thin vaar Not