Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-18
INVESTIGATION BEGUN TO
DISCOVER TYPHOID SOURCE
Eight Cases in City-Water and Milk
Both Suggested as Causes.

The cropping out of several cases
or typhoid fever just now in the city
has attracted attention to this disease
and in view the effort to make every
possible effort to trace a source of in
nection DR.. N. B. Lewis, the health
oneer, has sent samples of the city
water from both Stony Brook reser-
votr and Fairview reservoir direct from
the reservoirs near the gates to the
state chemist to be examined. Re-
ports on the condition of the water
are expected this week.
In view of the poor taste and color
that the water has had lately, it was
thought advisable to have the city wa
ter tested.
There are eight cases of typhoid
fever in all. some on the West Side,
some in GreeneviIle, one on Fo5a hill
and others elsewhere A Green$viile
man, wife and 11-months' -oId NURSING
baby are confined in the hosbitaI,
where they are receiving treatment.
One possible explanation of these
numerous cases of typhoid just at this
time is in the fact that SO many peo-
pie have recently abandoned city water
and have taken to using water from
springs or wells in their neighborhood
or water supplied from outside the
city. 1t is very possible that in this
way water infected with typhoid germs
may have come into use where it was
not used before.
The city health officer has also
made the suggestion that the typhoid
may have come from milk. He stated
that recently there were several per
sons in hotel affected because of the
milk used and that the family being
treated at the hospital used milk from
the same dairyman. 1t looks probable
to the officer that milk is responsible
for the disease now affecting Norwich
residents.
Milk Inspectors Views.
The statement regarding the kos-
sible infection from milk brought lit a
reJo1nder Thursday evening from Dr.
D. j. Shahan, the milk inspector.
DR.. Shahan said:
In tracing the source of typhoid in
lection, there is a lack of system,
method, and concerted action, among
the health protectors, official and otn-
erwise of this city. When such a dis
ease exists here. and the health Off
Ger is notified to that effect, 1 believe
the milk inspector should be notified
and that both get into immediate
touch with the producers and their
which they rinse or wash their cams,
examined at once. It is of no conse-
qGence to assert that our milkmen are
the probable spreaders of the disease,
and then forthwith hasten to examine
the brand of our city reservoir IN
SNCOo VI Tie suspected 1dII1S. beIOIG
making any haphaZard assertion that
certain milkman is the probable
cause of this trouble. 'twere much
preferable and more charitable, to first
analyze the water he uses in his bus
mess. 'Tis true that this man referred
to on Thursday, was supplying
the hotel concerned. with milk.
But, the guests of that establishment
had not been living on milk alone, bpt
on other canned goods too. In fact,
the only individual there that was
living on milk alone, supplied by this
same peddler, was a baby, who was
not affected at all. However, to settle
the question on May 18th (ult.) the
hotel people sent the milk inspector
a bottle of the suspected poison. and
on the following morning samples were
taken from four different cans of the
same milkman, and, after proper pre-
cautions, expressed to the state bac
THEOLOGICAL laboratory, for immediate
analysis. This is the reply received
concerning them:
Such examination as we have been
able to make has not been of a, char
samples, although sample No. was
not a very satisfactory one
Milk possibly is a great germ car
rier and many milkrnen are not over
intelligent or discriminate in handling
it. Yet, 1 do not think that we should
pronounce against anyone specifically
until we have solid grounds to stand
on. You may suspect any man of all
most anything. nowadays, but you'd
better, first, in the words of DavS
Crockett, be sure you're right. and
then go ahead For the benefit OF
the public at large, would advise
all to pasteurize their milk before US
ing it as drink, or as a food for
bottle-fed babies. Milk is practically
pasteurlzed by bringing it to a boil.
ing point"
DR.. Shahan further said that he had
been in communication Thursday ev
ening with the mill1man referred to as
supplying both the hotel and the
Greeneville family with milk and the
nai!l1man stated that he did not de-
iver milk any farther than Oakridge
street while the family affected WITH
typhoid lives a number of streets
above that in Greeneville. The milk,
man was asked by DR.. Shahan if any
of the families along his route had
typhoid fever and was told that there
were none.