The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-04
RAYNoND W. PULLMAN.
Times Washtn0ton BnreaG. No.
Hsf~onoISf~s p~oL uslIHx~u

Ttmes Washington Bnred0. No. 7et
MctropoIitew Bsnk BuSldinC.
WASHINGTON. Aug. THE fire.
Quency OF outbreaks Of typhoid fever
which have been
Drinking Water traced to the serv.
on Steamships. 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 a
closer watch than ever on the water
supply OF all such boats. Before the
present season has closed Il Is ex.
pected that the, water supply not only
OF American vessels. but railways as
well. will be>more efficiently 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
srmmer a 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
prevent typhoid will be a regulation
which will prohibit the furnishing Of
polluted water to employees Of both
steamship and railway lines, and this
provision II Is thought will absolutely
center on the transportation COM
panies the responsibility for obtaining
a 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
uhu Si.ou as dScthSc wage VI each
man, there was an economic loss
amounting To 80 years or actual work.
Ing time. or $4,000 In the mems
wages. This economic loss is based
rolely upon the time of seaman's III
ness from typhoid. No calculation is
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.
The government Ia working toward
a point where all ship owners will he
prevented from getting their water
supply from any source which Is ex.
posed to city sewage, or which is con.
taminated In eny wav. The investiga.
! tion Of Or. Hugh de valin OF the Unit.
ed States public health service last
wear showed that mnny Of the shin
lanes on routes on the Great Lakes
Dassed through water badly contain.
frafed because OF frequent service
maintained by the steamship lines. On
some % the lanes a shin passed an,
other every seven minutes.
. Special methods OF treating the
water TO purify y have been advised
bv the service. and in most cases
where the danger from typhoid has
been shown the public health service