The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-05
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
Times iWdshtn0ton Bureau. No.
METROPOLITAN Bonk building.


Metropolitan Bomk Bu5ldthO.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 4--The fire.
quency OF outbreaks OF typhoid fever
which have been
Drinking Water traced to the serv.
on Steamships.I ing OF contaminat.
ed water for drink
Ing and cooking purposes on passenger
and excursion vessels has stimulated
officers OF the United States public
health service this summer to keep q
closer watch than ever on the water
supply Of all such boats. Before the
present season has closed 1t n ex-
pected that the water supply not only
OF American vessels. but railways as
well. will be more efiiciently protected
than those OF any other country In the
world.
Following the Investigations made
last year OF drinking water served
aboard vessels operating on lakes and
rivers OF this country, the government.
through the United States public
health service. began Immediately to
prepare regulations looking toward
the protection Of the health Of the
travelling public. Early In the present
sEmmer regulation was issued pro-
hibiting the furnishing Of water for
drinking and cooking purposes which
had been taken from any harbor OF
the United States or from any other
place where II has been or may have
been contaminated by sewage. Pro.
visions were already In force protect.
ing the water supply OF railway lines.
The next step which will be made to
IL -
which will prohibit the furnishing OF
polluted water to employees Of both
steamship and railway lines. and this
provision II 10 thought will absolutely
center on the transportation com
panies the responsibility for obtaining
pure supply of water. Surgeon-Gen
eral Rupert Blue Of the public health
service has called attention Of ship
owners frequently to the excessive
number of typhoid fever cases among
seamen employed aboard merchant
vessels Of the United States. The pub
lie health service discovered that
there were nearly 400 cases Of typhoid
fever among seamen last year, and
that, taking two and one-half months
as fairly low average OF the loss OF
time for each man who is attacked
and 1.50 as the average wage Of each
man, there was an economic loss
amounting to 80 years Of actual work
ing time. or $4,000 In the mems
wages. This economic loss Il based
rolely upon the time OF seaman's III
ness from typhoid. No calculation n
made upon the lessened efficiency OF
the man for many months and perhaps
years after the attack. or for any
permanent weaknesses which the sick
ness may leave with him.
4 The government Is working toward
point where all shin owners will be
prevented from getting their waite,
supply from any source which Is ex
posed to city sewage. or which Is con
taminated In snv wav. The investiea
J ton Of DR.. Hugh DE Vain OF the Unit
ed States public health service las,
wear showed that MANY of the shir
lanes on routes on the Great Lakes
nassed through water badly cnptam
irated because OF frequent service
maintained by the steamship lines. Or
Some % the lanes = shin passed an
other every seven minutes.
Special methods OF treating ths
water to uurify II have been advised
by the service. and IN most case,
where the danger from tynhoid hal
been shown the public health service