The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-08
DEArH-DEALING TYpHoln FEVER.
1t is Pre-Eminently Filthy Disease and
the Result of Specific Poison.

DEATH H-DEALING TYPHOID FEVER.
1t is Pre-Eminently Filthy Disease and
the Result of Specific Poison.
d. ". Patterson, III. d., IN New England
Farmer.
The remark made by a medical ger.
tlemen short time since, that he had
chad more cases of typhoid fever in a
country town in New Hampshire during
one season, than he had had since he
came to the city," has suggested this sub
! iect for consideration. That the remark
was not random shot," it may be stated
that his practice extended over thirty.
FIVE years in the country and twelve in
the city, and that the season he referred
to, he attended sixty-five cases of dis.
ease. Conversation and inquiry among
physicians who have practiced both in
the country and city, confirm in sub
stance this remark. The question natu.
rally arises, why is it that typhoid exists
more generally in the country than in
the city? Considering the natural con-
ditions and advantages of the country,
one would suppose that this would be
reversed.
Our highest medical authorities now
generally agree that typhoid fever origna.
tes from a specific poison, or in other
words it is now classed among the germ
diseases. That this disease is infectious,
is now clearly established. In regard to
the age when persons are most liable to
take the disease, it may be stated that
as a rule, the majority of cases occur
under thirty years of age, from eighteen
to thirty is the most common. No age,
however, is exempt, and it may occur in
children as young as five. 1t is not
thought that sex makes any noticeable
difference, as statistics show about an
equal division. It attacks the strong
man as readily and often with more fatal
result than it does the weak. To use a
common expression, it goes harder with
heshy person than it does with those
who are lean, probably on the principle
that there is more substance for the fever
to feed upon.
But it is the manner of the convey.
ance of this germ poison, that we wish
particularly to speak. The two most
important elements by which this germ
is carried are water and air. Water is
considered the most serious Of the two,
for by it the poison is taken directly into
the stomach and thus absorbed at once
into the system. 1t is not yet definitely
established just how this germ originates,
although the idea generally adopted at
the present time is, that it is product of
decomposed vegetable and animal matter.
If this be t. lie, here comes in the i'm.
portant part which water sustains in the
communication of this poison. 1t has
been demonstrated that q well is liable
to drain cone of earth, the diameter of
the base of which, at the surface of the
earth, is three times the depth of the
we'll. Now for convenience, the well is
situated near the house, barn, pigsty, and
other buildings, and it will be seen at
once how easy it is for the well to drain
the surface of the earth, including all of
these buildings. Ifnot too much trouble,
look where the sink pipe empties at the
rear of the kitchen window, and measure
from its outlet to the curb of the well.
In too many of the farm houses the
drain water from the sink is allowed to
flow out upon the surface of the ground
by the back door; there it is allowed to
gather until the ground is soaked with
water, in which cabbage, beans, pork,
and nearly every article of food has been
cooked. Certainly no more favorable
condition could be devised to propagate
germs of poison. Before leaving the
subject of water as source of .commu-
nicating this disease, one word may ap-
propriately be said in regard to milk.
The peculiar and susceptible powers of
absorption which milk possesses have
been considered in 4 previous paper.
But especially is this true in this con.
nection. If milk is kept in the cellar it
should not be allowed to stand in open
pans neer dccaying vegetables, but it
should be kept in an apartment by itself.
This also applies equally true when we
say that the buttery or dairy window
should not open out in the direction of
the ground which is drained by the sink
water. Again, if there are cases Of
typhoid fever in the house, milk should
not be kept in the we'll, no matter how
tight the cans may be.
Right here affords good opportunity
to clearly state an important warning.
When typhoid fever occurs in family
it is important To know how it is con.
7eyed from one to another. In word,
it may be said that it is the passage from
the bowels that contain the germs of
poison. It is not disease communica.
ted, like scarlet fever or diphtheria, by
the skin or breath, therefore there is not
that danger in entering the room that
there is with these other diseases. But
scrupulous care must be used in the dis.
posing of the fecal matter. 1t should
not be deposited in the privy, as it is
liable to contaminate the air, and not
unfrequently finds its way into the we'll.
The vessel which is used should contain
all the time q disinfectant, and as soon
as used it should be covered tightly, aud
removed q long distance from the house,
and buried deep in the earth, some one
of the disinfectants such as carbolic acid,
solution of copperas or chloride Of lime
being used freely. This is of special
importance, AMI should not be forgotten
or neglected.
In regard to the communication of this
infection, unfortunately, we have not the
means of preventing so completely as we
could wish. We cannot at all times
govern the condition of distant swamp
or low marsh land. But this we can do,
and if it is faithfully carried out it will
largely diminish the danger of infection,
viz:
Carefully removing decomposing mat
ter of whatever kind which gathers
around the house and out-buildiugs will
help to prevent its invasion; this should
be done three or four times year either
by gathering it into large pile and
burning it, or by burying it in a large
excavation. The former is the best
method, as the ashes, purified of any
poison, are serviceable in many ways, or
can be added to compost heap for future
use as fertilizers. By attention to those
things the liability to the statement made
in the opening sentence Of this paper
might be largely obyiated.
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