Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-26
CAUSES or rl.s'HOsD FRv.ER

An instructive and timely article on Ty-
phod Fever appeared in the New York In
dependent of last week, from the pen of
stephen Smith, NJ. d., one of tho Health
Commissioners of the city of New York.
The writer says that from 100000 to 100000
people annually suffer from this dangerous
disease in En- land alone. He styles it the
great autumnal scourge of our country"
lie declares IL to be one of the "filth diseas-
es Of modern sanitary writer's" Its excit-
ing cause, ordinarily, is air, or drinking
water befouled with cXcremenal matters.
Tho air of the room affected by the eXcreta
of a patient afflicted with the disease may
communicate ii to others. A single case
sometimes originates wide spread cpl
demic. DIR. Smith illustrates his views by
the following examples;
In small German settlement in the up
per part of the city there was n severe out
break ofdysentcry and typhoid fever. A
physician called to attend some of the cases,
set TO work TO find out the cause. On in
quiry as to the water supply, he was di-
rectcd TO u spring on low ground in the
midst of the settlement, so situated as to re-
ceivo the surface drainage. The water was
pure and sparkling to the sight ard taste,
and was loudly praised by the owner ofthe
spring. a quantity put in a bottle and al
lowed to stand few hours threw down a
thick sediment of most offensive matter,
which, on being tested was found to be rs
pHrcly excrement rs if it had been taken
from Il privy. The people ceased TO use
this water, and the epidemic ceased at once.
In neighboring village typhoid fever
broke out and prevailed with great vio-
leuce in a given locality. Search was
made for the cause by the attending physi-
clan, but in vain. They appealed for aid
to the health authorities of New York
and an cXpcr; officer examined the history
Of the outbreak and the locality, and pre-
dictcd that a certain hydrant, which sup
piled the victims with water, comnunica-
ted at some point with house drains or the
street sewer. The water pipe was examin-
ed and Il short distance from the hydrant
house drain was found leaking into it mt
a point whore they traverscd each other.
The repair Of these pipes was the cure OF
the epidemic.
While visiting in an interior township of
this State famous for healthfuncss and the
beauty f its scenery, | became interested
in the history Of n family which was suffer-
ing from typhoid fever. of eight mem
bers five had persisted, and one was then
fatally sick. On visiting the locality, the
house was found situated on an elevation,
and all its surroundings were admirably
arranged for health. One could very read
lily believe the statement that there had
not been Il case of sickness in the house for
nearly twenty years. The following his
tory of the present sickness was given: a
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. Meantime, the servant
brought the water from spring at the foot
of the hill. which soon became low, owing
to the drought. lie then rcsorted to a
| small brook. and from this source the fam
| lily were supplied for two or three weeks.
This stream higher up, ran through several
farm yards and received tile surface drain
ing. The first symptoms of poison by this
water were slight nausea and mild diarr-
! hua; after several days typhoid fever in its
worst form was ushcred in. OF the entire
family but two escaped an attack, and they
| did not use the water. An examination
| of this water revealed Il sediment of excre-
mental matters.