The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-13
BOIL CITY WATER
Advice to TOpekans to Prevent
Spread of "Winter Cholera"
Malady, First Reported in Okla
homa Prevalent. Here.
CAUSE is STILL A MYSTERY
Not Known That Water Has
Anything To Do With 1t.
Thousand Cases in Topeka
900 Out of School Today.
CAUSE is STILL A MYSTERY

Boil city water.
If you have symptoms of dysentery,
get prompt medical treatment.
These are the suggestions of Dr.
Earle G. Brown, city health officer,
and DR.. c. H. Lerrigo, of the state
board of health, for combating the
epidemic of acute dysentery or win
ter cholera" that is widely prevalent
in Topeka.
The peculiar epidemic, similar to
those reported in other cities, has hit
Topeka. The number of persons hay
ing the malady mounted steadily to-
day, numbering well, over a thousand
now. Nine hundred students were re-
ported absent from the city schools at
noon today, most of them suffering
from the disease. Several large busi-
ness houses were reported hard hit,
many of their employees being confined
to their homes with dysentery.
I'VE are not able to tell yet just
what the cause of the epidemic isl
said Doctor Brown. With the ap-
pearance Of so great number of cases
! so spontaneously, the first thing that
| the medical authorities could think of
as responsible for the outbreak was
the possible contamination of food or
water. The food cause has been prac-
tically eliminated from the reckoning
| because of the fact that the persons
taken sick have not taken milk from
any single dairy, or ice cream from
any single plant and the same is true
of other foods. So naturally. it comes
down to question of water. Tests
so far have proved theScity water free
from contamination, but it will be we'll
for the people to boil their water.
Bacteriologists ut Work.
The authorities expect to arrive at
the cause of the epidemic soon. The
city and state psychologists are work
ing on the case. and, in addition, DIR.
Edith Twiss, Washburn college bac-
teriologist, is making tests and DR.. N.
P. Sherwood, of Kansas University,
has been asked to aid in the investi-
cation.
The disease attacks the stomach and
bowels and the victim suffers from
nausea, vomiting. headache, diarrhoea
and cramps, Doctor Brown said.
There have been no deaths from the
epidemic in Topeka, and the disease,
so far as is known, is not conta gious-
If the patient gets treatment at
once, he usually RECEIVERS in "a or SO
hours, said Doctor Brown. but if he
permits the case to run along without
medical attention, he develops a back
ache and will feel miserable generally.
None of the cases SO far reported in
Topeka have been serious.
The doctors, including the state and
city medical officers. do not know the
cause of the epidemic.
I'VE are working on the theory that
the disease is water borne" said Doc
tor Lerrigo. 'but that is merely the
ory taken as a working basis, because
water is used by everybody. We do
not suspect the city water of being i'm
pure or doubt the city water depart
ments statements. but still we are
working from that angle as the only
| tangible one apparent now that might
| lead to the cause of the epidemic AT
city water. as precaution. Sewage
| or any offensive matter getting into
J the city water would cause intestinal
| trouble
Used To Be ''Winter Cholera
"a disease similar to the present
one has been noted in Topeka several
| winters and has been called winter
cholera The name winter cholera
merely means that the doctors have
been unable to learn anything definite
| about the cause of the disease. Five
years ago, I remember. the epidemic
of this winter cholera was very bad
Testing City Water.
Miss Annetta Nicoll, city bacteriofo-
| gist, reported this morning that she
is testing the city water for presence
! of foreign matter that might be re-
sponsible for the disease. So far she
has found none. but the test will not
| be completed until tomorrow. Botf
she and Doctor Brown discounted the
| theory that an excess of chlorine
! which is used to purify the city water
was to blame. They said that chlorine
was used in much greater quantities
in the army camps-so much so ir
fact that it could be tasted and smelleC
in the water-but that no such eff
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