Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-01-26
Typhoid Fever.

The health commissioner of New York,
Stephen Smith, N. D., contributes the fol
lowing paper to the lsdepmdnL II is very
interesting. and should be read by every one
who has any regard for his health
Typhoid fever is the great autumual
sc5urso of our country. I.attacks the high
and the low, the rich and the poor. !. has no
more respect for the royal family Of England
than Tor the poorest peasants household.
Prince Albert fell victim TO it and to-day
the heir apparent IS prostrated under its re-
morseless grasp.
We may gain some idea ol tho vast har-
vest of sickness and death, which this reaper
annually gathers from the following facts
Its estimated that from 100000 TO 10000
people annually suffer from this disease in
England alone.
The causation oftyph0id fever though long
enveloped in 0hscurity, is now well known.
Il is one Of the so-callcd '.flth diseases of
modern sanitary writer's. Its most ordinary
exciting cause Is air or drinking water be-
t0uied with ey ycremontal matters 1t is also
quite certain thar person suffering from this
fever may himself infect the air Of his room
OF the water which receives bis cxcreta with
germs Of the disease so as 70 transmit 20 OH
ers. 4 single case may thus be the fruitful
source Of a widespread epidemic. The facts
illustrating the origin of typhoils from cxcre-
mental matters in drinking water arc now
very numerous and very instructive. Every
experienced physician can give striking ex-
amplcs occurring under his own ohseryauon-
Ii not unrequently happens that the actual
source Of the disease Is very obscure, and can
only he discovered by the most persistent and
intelligent inquiry; but the scientific student
is generally rewarded with complete success
The following examples 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 the dysentery and typhoid fever. \ ply
/ sician called to attend TO some OF the cases,
set TO work to find out the cause. Or inqui-
/ ~ as To the water supply, he was directed to
a spring on low ground in the midst OF the
/ settlement, so situated as to receive the sur
| face drainage. The water was pure and
sparkling to the sight and the taste, and was
! loudly praised by the owner Of the spring. 4
/ quantity put into a bottle and allowed 10
| stand few hours, threw downa thick seGl-
ment of most offensive matter. The people
ceased to use the water and the epidemic
ceased at once.
In a neighbOring village typhoid fever
broke out aud prevailed with great violence
in given locality. Search was made for
the cause by the attending physician, but in
vain. They appealed for aid to the health
authorities of New York, and an expert Off
Ger examined the history of the outbreak and
locality, and predicted that certain by
drant.which supplied the victims with drink
ing water, communicated at some point with
house drains or the street sewer. The water
pipe was examined, and al a distance from
the hydrant house drain was found leaking
into it at point where they trayersed each
other. The repair Of these pipes was the cure
Of the epidemic.
While visiting an interior township OF this
State. famous for healthfulncss and the beau
~ of its scenery, became interested IN the