Hide Article Text (OCR)
NANTICOKE’S EPIDEMIC.Conditions Encouraging and Generally Satisfactory.Three New Cases and One Death Reported Yesterday—Total Cases toDate 237—Dmrtwn Nurses at Work—State Health Commls-sloner l)lxlt;m IssuesStatement.There was little or no material change in the epidemic situation at Nantlcoke yesterday, the records showing an increase of only three cases. The general feeling is that the condition has improved. The town is daily canvassed by the nurses and many baths are given each day. The sanitary officers are at work abating the many nuisances which have been reported. Everything possible is being done to take care of the sick. Dr. Bennett, of Nantlcoke, has been assigned to night duty at the emergency hospital in the town building. There are sixteen nurses at work in the hospital and in district work. A donation of a car load of mineral water from the Tuckahoc Mineral Water Co., at Northumberland, Pa., was received to-day, being transported by the Penna. It. it. Co. free of charge. The Nantlcoke board of health has In employment nine nurses at $20 per week and $0 per week board, and the State has live nurses in the town to whom he local health board pays $t a week board. The situation up to date Is as follows: a NanlicokCases previously reported.Reported yesterday.......Deaths previously reportd.. Reported yesterday . . .In Nantlcoke and vicinity• • •• • • • •2033131237141threeCases previously reported...Reported yesterday .........Deaths previously reported...Reported yesterday .........This indicates an Increase of cases and one death.Dr. Samuel (J. Dixon, the state health commissioner, was at Nantlcoke Monday and Tuesday inspecting the emergency hospital and consulting the state authorities who have charge of the situation. Before returning to Harrisburg, he gave out the following statement:“At the outset you might say that local boards of healty are supposed to take care of the health of the community in which they* exist, whereas townships outside* arc absolutely dependent on the state department forrelief.“Nantlcoke being a borough with a-r?—t—board of health was supposed to be looking after its own condition until the state commissioner of hefalth learned from a newspaper clipping that there was an epidemic of typhoid fever In Nantlcoke that was alarming. The county medical Inspector, Dr. Knapp, was requested to make an investigation as to the cause and extent of the trouble.“The size of the epidemic as stated in the newspapers was confirmed by the report of the doctor, though the cause or original source of the Infection was not then discovered. The state commissioner, not wishing to lose any time, ordered Dr. Johnson, then in Harrisburg, to leave immediately for Harrisburg.“This was followed imnfediately by sending Chief Sanitary Engineer Snow of the department to the scene and Inside of 24 hours came back the report that a case of typhoid fever had been discovered along the watershed from which the town Is supplied wi4h M tnrce of Infectionwas immediately sterilized.• As the patient was going about still carrying the poison in his system, a vigilant watch was continuedabout the premises to insure -that nofurther poison reached the water supply from that source. A survey of the water sheds and the streams included was made, showing that pollution existed in Belock’s Creek andthere was no other sourco of infection except at Harvey’s Dake, the sewerage of which had been washed Into the lake. The overflow from the lake is very slight, therefore the probability of an outbreak of typhoid fever, such as Nantlcoke has experienced, is not to bo attributed to that source.Nantlcoke, like hundreds of other localities in the state, is without acomprehensive sewerage system, a small portion only being sewered, the conduits of which empty into an old canal. The rest of the town contains surface privies, these being very dangerous, for contagion Is readily communicated from the excreta therein.“The state department of health i s not only working to save the lives of the sick, but to prevent spread ofthe contagion and at the same time set the engineers to work to recommend to the municipality plans for the future health of its citizens.“I am very much pleased with the work that has been done as far as sanitary conditions are concerned. It Is a fact that you rarely in case of •mergency pick up as efficient, hard working and unselfish nurses, as those in Nantlcoke, who are working for the single purpose ahead of them, iml in their work are grc»atly assisted by having comfortable and cleanly headquarters supplied by Mrs. Joseph Sehappert. Dr. Johnson and the commissioner while here were offered the freedom of a lovely home by John Smoulter, who offered the commissioner a key to his house that the official might come and go at his pleasure while in Nantlcoke.**
Newspaper Details
Pittston Gazette
Pittston, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Sep 20, 1905
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA, USA 23 May 2022
Other Publications Near Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston Evening Gazette
Pittston Gazette
