Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-09-24

come contaminated with the germs. Some
of the more frequent ways are these; The
| discharges are thrown into the privy or up
| on the ground. whence they soak, some
times long distances, through the soil into
the family well. The soiled clothes Of the
patient are washed, and the water carried
by loose and lsaky drain which runs too
near the well. Some kinds of food and
drink are very absorptive Of disease germs.
and being kept too near the patient. be-
come contaminated through the air. Many
cases are known where milkmen, with fever
at their own homes, haze caused serious
outbreaks of the disease among their
customers, by keeping the milk before it
was distributed too near the sick ,
by diluting it with contaminated water,
or even by rinsing the cans with the impure
water
PREVENTION.
What has already been said abou, the de-
velopment of the typhoid fever germ and
the ways it is taken into the system.
pretty plainly indicates the line OF our en-
deavor in preventing it.
1t is to be borne in mind
/. That filth, if it is not the direct
cause, is at least the niius (nest)
in which the cause, or germ. may be de-
veloped.
.. That the poison is principally given
off from the bowels
3. That it is usually received in
to the system in the food and drink.
At all times, as well in the absence.
as during the presence of typhoid fever, let
rs Try to keep our premises and their sur
roundings as pure and clean as possible.
OF all forms of filth none others are so dan
gerous TO our homes as that of the ''hole in
the ground" privy and that in and abou,
our sink drains. The former should never
be tolerated. nor the latter, either. in It's
usual forms.
Filth IN its sanitary signifcation, in-
oludes not only the grosser forms but also
the less tangible and more respectable kinds
which are too often ignored. THE impalpa-
be but not nodorous Kind in the air Of un-
ventilated bedrooms is disgusting and dan
cerous the sewer-alr which leaks from
faulty water-cloSets or defective drain pipes
IN the homes of the wealthy oonsigns many
10 the tomb the emanatIons from rotting
chips, or sawdust, the exhaarlons from de-
caslng vegetables in the celiar.-all these
may dangerously pollute the air, and should
be avoided
All discharges from the fever patien,
should be received in a vessel containing
enough Of disinfec;ant No ). No. 6, or No.
=, 10 cover them. They should be kept Is
or 20 minutes and then buried in the earth
"hrre they cannot BY any possibility find
Their way into wells, spring, 81 brooks. They
should never be allowed to mingIe
with any kind Of filth, in privy or else
where.
The clothing, both Of bed and patient.
should be disinfected by dropping /, into a
tub containing several gallons Of dis.nfrct-
ant No. 1 or No. ), and atterwari boiled in
,hi, solution. Afler death or recovery
di-lnfec' the room with dsinfcc,anr
No /.
As far as concerns the personal
hygiene Of nurses and attendants. il may be
SAID that, II the foregoing preventive
measures are carefully carried out. there il
hardly possibility of their taking the dis
ease; in fact, under slch conditions. cases
IN which the attendants have taken the dis
ease from the patient are almost Il mt quite
unknown Typhoid fever goes through
families because all have been exposed 70
the disease producing cause or the first
cases contamlnate the water supply, or
seed down the privy vault and
the house Surroundings with the disease
germs.
Nurses and others in the fami, should
ent nothing IN the room where the patient
i. nor anything which has been there The
food for the attendants aud family should be
prepared and kept as far from he sIck room
possible. thorough boiling will Kill all
disease germs so, while the fever Is IN the
house, i, is safer TO boll oil water and milk
llst before Il IS usel