Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-12-04
TYPHOID FEVER.

be competent authority on the subject
delivered lecture at the University
Of the city Of New York. recently. upon
Typhoid Fever. He gave many facts
which viii be OF practical benefit to all.
This fever is the prevailing sickness in
this region, although modified by local.
ty. individual peculiarities and temper
aments. In its severe forms. il is justly
dreaded.
The onset Of typhoid fever is some
times sharp. and at times it assumes a
mild form aud the patient only needs a
wise aud careful nurse wLO will attend
strictly to cleanliness. ventilation Of the
room and to regular and proper food.
But-Prof. Loomis asks-whaE IS
the cause of typhoid fever? A disease
like this. which attacks only certain or
gans. in very uniform manner. runs .
regular and self limited course and is so
decided in all its symptoms. must have
q poison peculiar to itself like smallpox.
measles. yellow-fever and cholera.
We have learned in regard to all'Of
them that they cannot be cured or cut
short, but can be alleviated or altogeth-
er avoided. by stunning their poison
and BY the use of proper and effectual
preventive measures.
The typhoid poison is largely center
ed in the exerements of the patient, and
filth of sll kinds, which lies about many
houses. with sewer gases, viii not pro-
duce the fever, but afford a fruitful
soil to receive and hold the germs of
this disease. By adding to the cellar
and drain filth little Of this typhoid
poison we have fertile soil for its ready
propagation.
From the water we drink, contamina-
ted too often with poison from near
privy vaults, comes, very largely, ma
lignant typhoid fever. An epidemic Of
this fever, which run fatal course in q
neighborhood for more than two years,
was tracked directly back to single
patient whose fetid excavations had
poisoned well several feet distant from
the vault In some villages privies are
allowed to stand over the water of a
running stream, which-besides being
an offense to the sight-pOison the wa
ter that is always used to great extent
by families living near, and below.
This is also fruitful source of the
typhoid fever.
Wet. or damp cellars. and decaying
masses of garbage hold ana prVpaga,v
this fever. No wonder, then, that thi:
poison crops out now and then, and
lifts It's horrid head to af1ict and terrify
our families.
How. then, can we destroy this deatt
bearing influence. as care and prudence
much helped by science, have controlled
yellow-fever and cholera?
/ lst. The excrements of typhoid pa
tients should be taken to safe distanc'
and buried in the ground.
I'd. No decaying garbage should re
main in your cellar or anywhere on tn
premises.
Sd. Your we'll should be made so ia
from your family vault, and your neigh
bors' that it shall not, by any pOssibili
ty. be poisoned
4th. All sewers should be efectuall
guarded against leakage.
The occasional cases Of typhoid feve
occurring in large schools have bee
traced to one or the other of the source
named above. An epidemic fever wi
sweep through school. or through
flAldGCs us SVuASU VI N0OoC9 oAN NV 'h'
ible. and it is called, very likely, a
lawful and mysterious dispensatiOn {
Providence" In all probability th
cause is in the we'll, where the old fl
bic declared that all truth lay hidden.
A thorough course Of disinfeetant
and the digging of new well viii wor
, apparent miracles. In any one Of ou
readers has foetid "slop hole" or ol
vault. and if an odor of rotten wood {
garbage is perceptible. be has a richl
charged mine of typhoid fever. If i
fearful power is not impediately man
tested. it is there, nevertheless. and vi
evolve its poison when the favorab
moment comes. and a stricken househol
shall be the fearful result