The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-17
Board of Health Probe Into
Typhoid Epidemic.
Plague Is Growing General
Over This City.
FOUR DEATHS THIS MONTH
City BacteriOIogist Is Flooded
With Vidal Tests.
DIR. I'll. L. Clark, Health Officer,
Puts o. X. on City Water.

An epidemic of typhoid fever,
spreading rapidly over Topeka, has
reached such dimensions that a meet
ing of the city board of health will be
held at the city hall this evening for
the purpose of tracing, if possible. the
cause and providing ways and means
to prevent further spread of the dis
ease. While the disease does not seem
confined to any particular locality its
fatalities this month have been in the
vicinity of Fifth and West streets.
During the month Fern Amelia Pol
lard, 4-year-old daughter of Mr..
and Mrs E. P Pollard, 514 West
street, died of typhoid fever while only
last Sunday. Logs E. Garwood, Is
years old, died at the home of his
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert F. Gar
wood, 613 Lincoln street. Two other
death have occurred in the city since
September. Arthur Thompson,
bridge carpenter. 511 Lamar street,
died in September. He came from
Iowa, where he had been working
Katy c. Magea. a resident of East Hill,
where an epidemic was prevalent, died
in September at Stormont hospital. At
=
disease.
Five Cases Monday.
Five cases were reported Monday to
DIR. H. L. Clark, city physician, and
during the last week, not including the
five cases of Monday, twelve cases
were reported. Practically all affect
ed attended the state fair, according
to Doctor Clark. A recent analysis of
the water at the well at the fair
grounds showed it to be in bad con-
dition.
Physicians in the city have fairly
flooded the office of the city bacter-
iologist in the last week with blood
specimens of persons they feared had
contracted the disease. Six out of
sixteen Vidal tests for typhoid taken
were positives showing that the
patient was suffering from typhoid
fever. Seven samples of well water
have been taken to the bacteriologist
and five tests have been made. Two
others will be completed tomorrow
One well was found to be in good
condition, two were ordered cleaned
and one condemned.
City Water All Right
81 don't believe the city water is
the cause" said DR.. Clark today. Nor
can l find that the disease is prevalent
in any one locality in the city. About
a half a dozen cases are on the east
side, half dozen on the west side
anu d Idll UOZen IN NCTln IODekd.
1.-TWO l2cs with the disease were
swimming in Shungungua creek, one
man drank Kaw river water while on
a hunting trip, another drank water
from an abandoned well near Berry
ton while a young woman afflicted,
Just returned from a trip in the noun
tains.
Screen the Windows
Every effort will be made to con-
troll the disease and prevent its fur
ther spread over the city Screens
must be put in in all homes where the
disease prevails, both to keep out the
flies and keep those in the house from
esca ping. Special care must be taken
in caring for garbage, sewage and
trash in the home wnere the disease
is prevalent"
In various neighborhoods where the
disease exists the residents are hurry
| ing to the doctors offices to undergo
typhoid vaccination. At the meeting
tonight plans will be made for a
sweeping campaign for the control of
the disease.
Members of the board of health are
DR.. o. P. Davis. president. DIR. H L.
Clark. secretary; DIR. ]. NJ. BeasIey
/ Commissioner W. l. Porter and Com
/