Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-01-18
Typhoid Fever.

scouTge OF our country. 1t 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 poor
est peasants household. Prince Albert
fell victim to it, and to-day the heir APP
parent is Frustrated under its remorseless
grasp.
We may gain some idea of the vast
harvest Of sickness and death which this
reaper annually gathers from the follow
ing facts. 1t is estimated that from l00,-
600 to $50, 600 people annually suffer 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 filth
diseases" of modern sanitary writers. It's
most ordinary exciting cause is air or
drinking water befouled with eycremental
matters. 1t is also quite certain that
person suffering from this fever may him
self infect the air of his room or the wa
ter which receives his eXcrcta with germs
of the disease, SO as to transmit it to
others. A single case may thus be the
fruitful source of a widespread epidemic.
The facts illustrating the origin of ty-
phoids from eXcremental matters in drink
ing water are now very numerous and
very instructive. Every experienced
physician can give striking examples oc-
curing under his own observation. 1t
not unfrequently happens that the actual
source of the disease is very obscure, and
can only be discovered by the most per
sistent and intelligent inquiry but the
scientific student is generally rewarded
with complete success. The following
example will illustrate the methods OF
communicating the fever:
In small German settlement in the
upper part of the city there was a severe
outbreak of dysentery and typhoid fever
A physician, called to attend some of the
cases, set to word to find out the cause
On inquiry as to the water supply, he was
directed to spring on low ground in the
midst of the settlement, SO situated as to
receive the surface drainage. The water
was pure and sparkling to the sight and
taste, and was loudly praised by the own
er of the spring. \ quantity put in bot
tie and allowed to stand "a few hours
threw down thick sediment OF most
offensive matter, which, on being tested,
if it had been taken from IA priyy. The
people ceased to use this water, and the
epidemic ceased at once.
In a ncighboring village typhoid fever
broke out, and prevailed with great VIC
| lence in a given locality, Search was
made for the cause by the attending ply
sician; but in vain They appealed for
aid to the health authorities of New lork;
and an expert officer examined the history
of the outbreak and the locality, and pre-
dicted that a certain hydrant, which sup
piled the victims with drinking water
communicated at some point with house
drains or the street sewer. The water
pipe was examined, and at Il distance
from the hydrant a house-drain was found
leaking into it at point where they
traversed each other The repair OF these
pipes was the cure of the epidemic
While visiting in 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 lever.
Of eight members, five had persisted, and
one was then fatally sick. On visiting
the locality, the house was found situated
on an elevation, and all the surroundings
were admirably arranged for health. one
could readily believe the statement That
there had not been case OF sickness III
the house for twelve years. Inc folo"-
ing history of the present Sickness was
given: A few weeks before the FEVER APP
peared the pump in the well broke, ana me
farmer, being driven with his work, neg
lected 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 re-
sorted TO small brook, and from TINS
source the family were supplied LOT TWO
or three weeks This stream, higher up,
ran through several farm-yards ana re-
ceived the surface drainage The frst
symptoms of poison by water was sllghl
nausea and mild diarrhea; after several
DAYS typhoid fever in its worst form
was ushered in. OF the entire family Dut
two escaped an attack, and they dld hCt
use the water. An examination oi inns
water revealed a sediment OF cAcremenlai
matter.
The death of Prince Albert by typhoid
I fever gave rise to much discussion "a 10
the source of the poison. Expert santa.
/ rians contended that he had been exposed
tn sewer gases, or its equivalent. Court
| nbvsicians denied that there was any pos
| sibility of such exposure at windsor Gas
! tie where he had spent several weeks
preceding the attack A careful search
| was made of the drains, sewers, etc, OF
the Castle: but no leakage or possible
escape of gases could be discovered. At
| length, an old sewer man OF the district
was consulted, and il was found that
before the Castle was built an old sewer
ran across the grounds, draining an ad-
iacent settlement. This sewer was now
explored, and at point directly under
the library, where the Prince spent so
much of his time, there was break, az
lowing the escape of sewer-gases directly
| into the library.
One of the most important lessons lor
households to learn is that excrementai
matters polluting the air they breathe or
the water they drink will cause typhoid
fever. 1t should be called excitement
| fever" so that when the name Is spoken
every one is reminded of its cause. far
too little attention is given to tins most
fruitful source of sickness ana death IN
cities towns, villages, and by country
residents. EXcremental matter should DC
at once disposed OF, SO thai IL cannoe
by any possibility faint the air we ofea ,!1',
or tbc water we drink. This may readily
| he effected by disinfertants, oil Whlcn tne