The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-06

DR. Levys statement Is as follows:
DIR. Leyys Statement.
"Since July 18th there has been a
decided increase In the number of
cases of typhoid fever In Richmond.
The State Health Department has
issued statement to the effect that
this Is going to be a typhoid year,
contrary to what appeared likely
earlier In the season. Typhoid fever
ia unusually prevalent all around, and
Richmond, In sute of her low record
for many years past, Is apparently
not escaping
$50 far as II has been possible to
determine UP To now, there is no gen.
eral cause for the cases of typhoid
fever now in Richmond. Some OF
them were III and brought here for
treatment Others developed the dis
ease so soon after arrival as to make
1t certain that 1t was contracted else
where. Still others. especially nurses
in attendance on cases, got the dis
ease from direct exposure. Finally.
other small groups can be attributed
to other special causes
but after all this Ia done there re-
mains a number of cases which can
not he explained with any degree of
certainty.
Urge Great Prccaution.
This being the case, we can only
urge that everyone take every precau-
ton possible for his own protection.
For several weeks I have urged,
through the daily press. the use of
antttyphoid vaccinations. Many have
reason to congratulate themselves
that they have followed this advice
They may now feel easv
THE following points are to be
borne especially in mind:
| Every case OF typhoid fever that
oven was is due to exactly ono
! cause and only one. namely, the
taking into ones stomach. in food or
drink, typhoid germs which have
| been discharged from another per-
son then suffering from tho disease
or from n person who. though him
self recovered Gin some instances
many years hefore), carries the germs
in his digestive tract and continues
! to discharge them. Such a person
| is known as a carrier
Though In the above sense there
Is only one cause Of typhoid fever,
| In another sense there In a great va :
riety OF causes. for the reason that
tho channels by which the germs dis
charged by one person may be swal-
lowed by another person are many
Water and milk have caused
more epidemics of typhoid fever
than any other single cause OF
course. neither water nor milk can
cause typhoid unless infected by the
discharges Of typhoid case or car
rier.
"our records show that. beyond
all question, none OF the cases Of ty-
phoid fever in Richmond at the pres
emit time have been caused by milk.
This IL easily established. MANY Of
the cases drank no milk before their
attack. while the other cases are dis
tributed among the customers Of the
various diaries. thus proving that no
one OF them was the cause OF III
ness.
H As to Water Supply.
TN the case Of our water supply.
II Is not 30 easy to speak with posi-
tive assurance. Nearly everyone In
Richmond drinks city water. hence
nearly every person who has typhoid
fever drank city water--1ust as did
nearly every person who has not got
typhoid fever.
| AS matter OF fact. we can Meth
er charge that water Is the cause
of much OF our typhoid fever at pres
ent. nor can we. right now, prove the
| contrary Analyses of our water made
by Mr.. Baldwin. director OF the set
| ting basins, show that the water as
ii leaves our publication plant has
been up to the usual standard OF
purity.
In order to neglect no precaution,
when the number of cases of typhoid
fever increased so rapidly. ! askd Mr..
! Baldwin, though not connected with
the Health Department. to increase
the amount of chlorine added to the
water. TIL plant is being run at its
highest degree OF efficiency.
Everything IL being done to make
our water as pure as possible. The
Administrative Board has given me
full authority to make whatever i'm
provements In the method OF treat
ment Of our water i deem desirable.
and this will be done Nevertheless,
until W have made further investiga-
ton Of the cases recently reported,
II IL we'll to advise the boiling of all
water used for drinking purposes.
Besides this there are other things
to do. II you live in an unsewered
house. see that the yard closet 10 in
good repair and fly proof as required
by our regulations.
Eat as little raw food as possible,
~ cooked food Which has been