New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-10
Public Health Council Re
ports After Study of Out
break in September.
DISEASE MILK BORNE
IN MOST CASES
ImmunizatiOn Recommended of
All in Infected Families and
Sanitary Precautions.

Sweeping regulations for stamping out
typhoid fever in this city are made in a
report by the Central council o. Public
Health Of the city OF New York in The
Medical Record out to-day. The report
follows a study If the typhoid outbreak
in this city in September. which the De-
partment Of Health attributed TO con-
taminated milk. and which opinion ~
cuncurred in 10y the committee. Allow
ances for insufficient means II the hands
OF the health authorities temper the cIiti-
cism of methods in the department IN the
handling Of the disease.
The council includes Dr. John II. Fin
ley, chairman: Bailey Il. Buriitt, LT
Charles LOOMS Dana, DR.. Livingston
Farrand, Homer Folks. Miss Pauline
Goldmark, Dr. John II. Huddleston,
James Jenkins. jr.. Or. Edward J.. Reyes.
jr.. Or. Philip Van lngen. Miss Lillian
u Wald. Professor G.. l.. \. Winslow and
Or. Lewinski-Corwip. The report was
prepared by Dr. Donald l.. Armstrong
and DR. +. H. Lewinski-Corwin. il is
pointed out that large percentage Of
typhoid outbreaks is milk borne and pre-
ventable. The report continues:
The recent serious outbreak IN Man
haitian had its origin in contaminated
milk This fact again emphasizes the
need for efficient pasteurization OF all IA"
and certified milk. The Department OF
Health of the City Of New York is not
equipped financially to control efficiently
the production and distribution OF the
milk sold in this city
II is further asserted that the depart
ment has used to good advantage lis
small force Of typhoid inspectors. An
other conclusion is that "a large proper
ton of cases of typhoid in this city seems
to nave originated through careless con-
tact with typhoid patients.
This. il is added, is probably the result
Of incomplete reporting OF typhoid cases
by physicians and hospitals and the
CONSEQUENT insufficient exercise of con-
troll by the Department OF Heaith' the
apparent lack of appreciation on the part
Of physicians and the public OF the con-
tagiousness of the disease, and the inaoe-
ouacy of the educational methods of the
Departrrfnt of Health concerning SAM
tarv precautions and the lack OF
follow-up visits by health inspectors to
ascertain whether instructions given nave
been carried out
The council recommends, among other
things. the immunization OF all Dersons III
an infected family and any person VINO
has been exposed to the disease. II calls
on the Department Of Health TO take
more rigorous action in enforcing the law
relative to the reporting Of the disease :
that the department be urged 20 enforce
vigorously its rules and regulations with
respect to sterilization of milk cans ana
milk bottles; that the department force
of inspectors both for typhoid and milk
inspection. be increased. and that the
medical and sanitary corps of the depart
ment be made more flexible, ana that III
the case of milk supervision speclal at
tention be given 10 the inspection oil miH
at receiving stations.
The Department of Health suspected a
certain milk supply as causing the serious
outbreak and ordered its supply pasteur
ized The council, how ever, says in TINS
connection
There * good evidence to show that
pasteurization was put in force lmihe-
diatelv. though our Investigators nave
discovered three instances of the sale Oh
raw milk from the source under suspi-
cion. without the knowledge or consent oil
the department, between the time "hei
pasteurization was ordered and the date
when the embargo was removed. rms Is
me of several indications of the inaollty
of the Health Department to Keep ciose
and constant supervision over the min
situation with its present inadequate ma
chinery for inspection.
I'm the course OF the investigation 1t
,ras shown that in fifty-seven stores IN a
moor section Of the city 7O.6 per cent OF
the milk sold was raw, while only VA pei
cent was pasteurized.