The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-04

Itmes washington Buredt. No. 704
NefvopoIitaR Bank ButldinO.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 4.-The ire
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
aud 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 Il IL 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
summer 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 OF 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
xxyv It'll
which will prohibit the furnishing OF
polluted water TO employees Of both
steamship and railway lines, and this
provision Il 10 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
rs q fairly low average Of the loss of
time for each man who 10 attacked
and $3.50 az 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 II based
rolely upon the time OF q seaman's III
ness from typhoid. No calculation Il
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 In working toward
q point where all shin owners will be
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 investira-
tion OF DR.. Hugh de Vain or the Unit
LED States public health service last
year showed that many OF the shin
lanes on routes on the Great Lakes
passed through water badly contain.
frafed because OF frequent service
maintained by the steamship lines. On
some % the lanes a ship passed an
other every seven minutes.
Special methods of treating the
water to purify II have been advised
by the service. and IN most cases
where the danger from typhotd has
been shown the public health service