Evening star., 1918-07-09
TYPHOID EXPERTS
!. Y At ALEXANDRIA
-
State Board of Health Begins
4 Inquiry In Sanitary
Conditions.
ADVISE AGAINST ALARM

AbEhAISbIs4As July ~ 3" l1C odh-
itary conditions in Alexandria are a
menace to public health. they are
purely local and not SO serious as to
cause much alarm among the people
of the city.
We shall begin this week a thor
. ough investigation into the sources Of
infection which have caused typhoid
fever and in two weeks we shall have
arrested the causes. In two months
the sanitary conditions. Of the city
shall be in perfect condition"
These statements were made this
morning by DR.. William NJ. Smith.
chairman of the state board of health
OF Virginia. In outlining the plan OF
campaign the board will follow In
cleaning up" Alexandria.
Mass Meeting Informed.
The board made known its intention
of taking hand in the situation Sum-
day afternoon at a large mass meet
ing of citizens. under the auspices Of
the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
TO consider the typhoid fever situa-
tion, which was said to be spreading.
DR.. e. g. Williams OF the state board
of health announced at the meeting
that the state board would take ac-
tion.
First arrival on the scene In the
.scleanfng-up" campaign from the
state board Of health was A. g. Hol-
way. acting chief engineer Of the
board. who appeared today. Later in
the day 1t is expected that Surgeon
l. l. Lumsden OF the United States
public health service will toin Mr.
Holway and assume complete charge
:of the work. with the state board of
health acting in a supervisory ca
pacity.
STAFF Of Experts to Act.
. DR.. Smith said today that Surgeon
1umsden will have under his direc-
tion a competent stan Of sanitary
men. probably obtained from cities
outside of Alexandria.
The efforts of the health authori-
ties will be directed first to the water
supply. Daily analyses will be taen
to learn the condition OF the water
While analyses of the city water sup
ply have shown no typhoid germs,
the water is said not to be free from
pollution.
Following Investigation of the
water supply there will be examina-
lions Of dairies and tests of milk to
ascertain the degree of safety in the
milk furnished Alexandrians. Where
ansanftary conditions are found rem
ooieS VIII De forthcoming.
Cleanup" to Follow.
Then there will be general clean
streets and other places where flies
are prevalent Mosquitoes will also
be given attention. The marshes and
other low lands close to Alexandria
VIII be drained and literally coated
with oil to eliminate this nuisance.
DR.. Smith received To-day from DR..
Nv: c. Fowler. health officer Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. the copy of letter
ne sent to DR.: Williams Of the state
board Of health The letter, which is
sef,expianatory. says:
The health department Is in receipt
OF Information which leads it to believe
that typhoid fever is prevailing to an
unusual extent in the city Of Alexan-
drta, Va Owing to the close prox-
unity Of Alexandria to the District Of
Columbia. I am writing to ask II you
VIII kindly advise me as to the exact
situation at this time. 50 that this de-
partment may take action II the con-
ditions seem to warrant to protect the
citisens of the District of Columbia
Dr; Smith said that he would write
the District health officer that the con-
dftion is purely local and Washington
has no need to be alarmed
State Boards Action Approved.
Business men and the general public
OF Alexandria are elated over the
!, summary action Of the state board of
neaitn oncials In taking charge of the
I sanitary situation with a view to car
rying on two Cleanup" campaigns to
better the health of the city
Opinion Is general In Alexandria
that because Of state Intervention con-
ditions will improve. but they depre-
cate the fact that 1t was necessary
for the state government to step In
TO eliminate conditions which are the
obltgations of city officials.
Business men particularly point out
that the publicity given the sanitary
conditions. followed by state inter-
Ventton, was unfortunate, since Alex
andrta never in her history expert
enced such industrial ana general bus
But they admit that insanitary con-
ditions existed and the action of the
state board Of health, in lieu of ac-
e tfon by city officials, was imperative.
Started by Commerce Chamber.
The chamber of commerce is credit
+; ed with having brought about the
] issued on Saturday last by Lieut.. Col.
Park of Camp Humphreys, that the
! soldiers at the camp do no trading in
Alexandria. contributed. The chamber
\ Of commerce claims to have prepared
on Friday of last week the notices of
the mass meeting OF citizens held the
following Sunday to consider general
sanitary conditions OF the city because
Of the cases Of typhoid fever.
It was at this mass meeting that
Maj I. W. Brewer of Camp Humph-
rsys appeared and in explanation Of
the order issued to men in the camp
said that it was . precautionary
measure. He made no allegations
that foodstuffs and soft drinks in
Alexandria stores were not At to eat
or drink. but said that the men Of
the camp must be protected in view
Of the cases Of typhoid fever in Alex
andria.
Bad Drinking Water Alleged.
Come persons asserted that the
Mrs. J. G. Cockey Of $40 King street
declared to q Star representative yes
terday that for the past few months
she has boifed all OF her drinking
/ water She said that there are many
other women to her knowledge who
4 do the same thing. She said that
4 sometimes when the water Is left in
. glass over night a sediment 10
found at the bottom in the morning.
experience she began to boil the
water last spring.
Mrs. Cockey also said that there are
q number Of families Of the city that
use q mineral water, which Is sold
by q concern in the city, in prefer
encs to that furnished by the Alex
andriA Water Company, which is the
main water distributing concern of
! the city.
Charge Il Disputed.