Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-29
Vvp,,oiLFe Fewer.

pheu Smith, NJ. D., contributes the following
paper to the independent;
Typhoid fever is the great autumnal scourgc
of our country. IL attacks the high and the
| low, the rich and the poor, the resident of the
country, village and city. The family of the
/ most humble and lowly seems no more liable to
| it than The family of the most exalted in wealth
! and rank. 1t has no more respect for the royal
! family of England than for the poorest peas
| ants household. Prince Albert fell a victim to
it, and to-day the heir apparent is Frustrated I'M
| der its remorseess grasp.
| We may gain some idea Of the vast harvest OF
| sickness and death, which this reaper annually
gathers from the following facts. ts estimated
that from 100000 to 10000 people annually sui-
| fer from this disease in England alone.
The causation of typhoid fever, though long
enveloped in obscurity, is now well known 1t
is one of the so called fifth diseases" of modern
sanitary writer's. Its most ordinary exciting
cause is air or drinking water belouled with cX-
cremental matters. 1t is also quite certain that
person suffering from this fever may himself
inject the air OF his room or the water which
receives his excreta with germs of the disease,
so as to transmit to others. A single case may
thus be the fruitful source Of a widespread
epidemic.
The facts illustrating the origin Of typhoidS
from eXcfemental matters in drinking water
are now very numerous and very instructive.
Every experienced physician can give striking
examples occurring under his own observation.
1t not unirequently happens that the actual
source OF the disease is very obscure, and can
only be discovered by the most persistent aud
intelligent inquiry; but the scientific student
is generally rewarded with complete success.
The following examples will Illustrate the meth
DDS OF communicating the fever;
In a small German settlement in the upper
part of the city there was a severe outbreak of
dysentery and typhoid fever. physician,
called TO attend some of the cases, set to work
TO Et,.l a.. Al.
water supply, he was directed to a spring on
low ground in the midst OF the settlement, so
situated 9S to receive the surface drainage. The
water was pure and sparkling TO the sight and
the taste, and was loudly praised by the owner
OF the spring. quantity put in bottle and
allowed to stand Il lew hours threw down thick
sediment Of most offensive matter. The people
ceased to use the water, and the epidemic ceased
at once.
In II neghboring village typhoid fever broke
out, and prevailed with great violence in given
locality. Search was made for the cause by the
attcudiug physician, but in vain. They appeal
ed for aid 10 The health authorities OF New York;
aud an expert officer examined the history Of
the outbreak and the locality, and predicted that
a certain hydraut, which supplied the victims
with drinking water, communicated at some
point with house drains or the street sewer The
water pipe was examined, and at distance from
the hydrant house drain was found leaking
into it at point where they traversed each
other. The repair OF these pipes was the cure
of fhe epidemic.
While visiting an interior township of this
state, famous for healthfulness and the beauty
OF Its scenery, became interested in the history
of family which was suffering from typhoid
fever. OF eight members five had persisted,
and one was then fatally sick. On visiting the
locality, the house was found situated on an ell
ovation, and all its surroundings admirably ar
ranged for health. One could readily believe
tha ,a,14e had ,c
sickness in the house for twelve years The fol-
lowing history of the presen sickness was given:
few weeks before the fever appeared the pump
in the well broke, and the farmer, being driven
with his work, neglected to have it repaired.
Meanwhile, the servant brought the water from
a spring at the foot of the hill, which soon be-
became low, owing to the drought. He then re-
sorted to a small brook aud from this source
the family were supplied for two or three weeks.
This stream, higher up, ran through several
farm yards and received the surface drainage.
The first symptoms OF poison by this water was
slight nausea and a mild diarrhea; after several
days typhoid fever in its worst form was ushered
in. OF the entire family but two escaped an at
tack, and they did not use the water, An eX-
animation oftAis water revealed a sediment of
eXcremental matters.
The death Of Prince Albert by typhoid fever
gave rise to much discussion as to the source of
the poison. Expert sanitarians contended that
he had been exposed to sewer gases, or their
equivalent. Court physicians denied that there
was any possibility of such exposure at Wind
sor castle, where he had spent several weeks
preceding the attack. A careful search was
made Of the drains, sewers, &c, of the castle,
but no leakage or possible escape of gases
could be discovered. AT length an old sewer
map oil the district was consulted, and it was
found that before the castle was built an old
sewer ran across the grounds, draining an ada.
cent settlement. This sewer was now explored
at a Iirpcf1t- fbn