South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-16
u. S. CALLED TO AID
IN TYPHOID FIGHT
CcoNTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)

to Camp Taylor at Knoxville would
De folly as the danger OF further in
lection would be present and some
OF the same fatal experiences with
typhoid characteristic OF the Span
ish-American war might be repeat
ed. If any infected men or "ty-
phoid carriers" are sent 10 conscrip-
ton camps, TIE danger Of an cpl
demic OF wide proportions in the
ranks OF that section OF Uncle Sam
new armies would be considerable
The unparalleled rapdity Of the
spread OF the disease in South Bend
in the last two weeks has set the
board OF health 20 working inces-
sanity 20 find the source of the in
lection There seems TO be no ques-
tion that il is the water supply. but
farther than this local health Off
cials have been una bic 20 go The
big question in their minds is What
has infected the water supply. when,
apparently every possible precaution
has been used 10 prevent such in
fiction by accident"
IL is the answer 10 this question
that must be found before the cpl
demic can be stopped. With an ex-
pert epidemolOgist from the state
board Of health and am army sur
geOn. it is believed that the source
Of the infection can be ferreted out
and the spread Of the disease
stopped.
Would Isolate All Cases
If the epidemic is due solely TO
the city water supply. as the health
board believes, then the one mode
OF prevention is 10 boil all water.
one physician gave il as his opinion
last night that not only should all
drinking water he boiled, but all
typhoid cases should be isolated.
Every one Of them should be in
a hospital" ne said, for if they are
not in a hospital the danger of
spreading the disease 10y contact al
ways is present"
All public drinking fountains in
South Bend were shut off yesterday.
II IS believed that most of the peo-
pie in the city are boiling their wa
ter. The danger for future infection
l
water in public dining and lunch
rooms where the water has not been
| boiled The health department has
not sufficient authority. on the re-
suit Of its present Investigations. to
compel hotels and restaurants 10
| boil the water they serve their
patrons, but il is believed that most
of them will do so without compul-
sion.
The telegram sent to the surgeon
general shows the situation to date.
While mention is made of so cases
in 10 days, il is possible that more
than this are present in the city. It
was said last night by physician,
that some cases of typhoid fever
have not been reported and may
never be reported 70 the board Of
health unless death results. II is
rot compulsory to report the cases.
The decision to importune the
United States government 20 help
was made after a conference by
members of the board of health
and others in touch with the situa-
ton last night. A reply is expected
Monday. In the mean time, DIT
Hurry is expected to send DIR. w.
+. King. one of the best known
psychologists in the country, TO the
city DR. King is an expert on cpl
denies and will be able 70 delve
deeper into the situation than local
physicians have thus far been able
TO go.
Source Still Bit of Mystery.
The source Of the pollution Of the
water remains a mystery. South
Bend. always has been proud OF the
pure water supply that the city has
enjoyed. The precautions taken in
building and operating the pumping
stations and distribution system for
the element have been unusual.
Sealed wells and covered reservoirs,
with all the latest and most improv-
ed machinery is in use. Yet South
Bends water contains typhoid
germs. according to findings Of the
health department, and the source
is a mystery
Whether the local conscripted
men are sent to the concentration
camp on schedule time depends on
the action taken by the surgeon
general in reply to last nights tele-
gram.
Ii is believed that the situation
will be cleared up within the next
few days by the local board and the
experts whose assistance has been
called for.