Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-10

has been issued by the State Board of Health !.
Inere 10 pretty strong conviction in the
minos OF sanitarians and physicians, that
tvpboio fever is disease which has but little
Iight TO exist in q civilized community. Such
thoughts regarding things inevitable and nee
essary are neither reverential nor profitable;
out intelllgently directed efforts to diminish
the prevalence of typhoid fever have been
followed by so large a measure of success.
that we are justified in regarding it As one of
the unnecessary diseases.
The prevention of typhoid fever must rest
very intimately on a knowledge Of its cause.
or at least, on an acquaintance with the
known laws in accordance with which tina,
cause operates. the essential cause of the
disease is generally believed to be minute
organic germ which is given of BY the sick.
and may be transmitted to the we'll in several
ways.
The poisonous germ is not thrown of
through the breath, or in the exhalations
from the skin. as is the case in some other
infectious diseases; but in this disease it is
contained in the discharges from the bowels
and possibly also in that from the kidneys.
Hence the. proper disposal of the excreta is a
matter of the first and highest importance.
Another conclusion, which is generally sc-
/ leaves
the BODY, is not yet in a condition to be dan
gerous. but that 10 short time, through a
Preventative process, it acquires dangerous
character; therefore. the need of the disposal
Of all discharges from the patient without
delay.
Still another thing which experience seems
to teach, and which the public should bear in
mind, Is that this fever-germ may be not only
developed but multiplied outside the human
body. That the fever patient is in some wav
a factory for the time being, engaged in pro-
ducing and throwing of a poison dangerous
to other persons, is a matter of common be-
hef; but, of late years. there has come a set
tied conviction that this poison, or disease
germ, as we now call il, may be, and very
often Is, developed and multiplied TO dam
gerous extent, when il is once introduced into
places which present the tavoring conditions
of moisture, warmth and filth Hence the
vital necessity of care not to plant the dan
gerous seed in soil congenial to it. Such
dangerous localities about our homes are i'll
kept privies, water. closets, cess-pools, drains,
and earth which is saturated with uncleanli-
ness.
The poison oftyphoid fever may sometimes
be received into the system by breathing it
in but, in undoubtedly the great majority OF
intestinal canal bv means of the food and
drink. Reflection will show, and experience
teaches, that there are many ways in which
our food and drink may become contamin tied
with the germs Some Of the more frequent
ways are these: The discharges are thrown
into the privy or upon the ground, whence
they soak, sometimes long distances. through
the soil into the family we'll the soiled
clothes of the patient are washed, and the
water carried BY a loose and leaky drain
which runs too near the we'll Some kinds
of food and drink are very absorptive of dis
ease germs, and being kept too near the pa
tent become contaminated through the air
Many cases are known where mikmen, with
fever at their own homes, have caused seriou 9
outbreaks of the disease among their custom
ers, by keeping the milk before it was dis.
tributed, too near the sick by diluting it with
contaminated water, or even by rinsing the
cans with the impure water.
PREVENTION.
What has already b en- said about the dev olopm IN
Of the typhoi fever germ an the ways II is taken
into he ~ stem pretty paiuly indicates the line OF
our endeavor in prevent it.
1t is to be borne In mind:
lat That filth. if 1t is No the direct cause, il at
least the indus (nesD In which the cause. or germ,
may be dew, loped.
ID That the poison is principally given Off from
the bowels.
I'd. Tina it is usually received into the system in
the foo and drink.
l. At all times. as well in the absence. as during
the presence, of typhoid fever let try to keep our
premises and their surroundings as pure and clean
possible Of all forms of fifth none others
dai gerous to our homes that of the mole in the
ground privy. and that in and about sink drains
he former sould never be tolerated, the latter,
either, in its usual forms
"Flth," in its sanitary sgnication, includes not
only the gros forms but the less angble and
more respectable kinds which are too en- ignored
The impa pable but mt nodorous kind in air in the
air of unventiIated bedr IONS is disgusting and dan
gerous the air which leaks from faulty water.
closets defective drain pipes in the homes of the
veal thy eonsigns mauv TO the tomb, the emanations
from rotting chips or sawdust he xhalations from
decaying vegetables in the cellar,-ail these NAV
dangerously pollute the air, and should be avoided.
2. All discharges from the fevei patient should be
received in vessel containing enough of Disnfect
ant No. s. No g. or No. 2. to them they should
be kept thus Is or 20 minutes. and then buried in
the earth where they cannot by any possibility find
their way into wells. springs. or brooks. They
should never be allowed to minge with any kind of
tn, In priv, or elsewhere.
Tn clothing. both Of bed and patient, should be
disintected by dropping 1t into a tub containing
several gallons OF Disinfectant No or No. 5, aud
sf,erw ward boiled In this solution After death or
recovery disinfect the with Disinfectan No. l..
g. As TAR concerns the personal hygiene of
and attendants. Ii may be said that. ii the
out, there 10 hardly possibility Of their taking the
disease; in fact, under such conditions. cases In
which the attendants have taken the disease from
the patient almost il not quite unknown Typhoid
fever ''goes through" families because all have been
exposed to the disease producing cause; or the first
cases contamnate the water supply, or "seed down"
the privy vault and the house surroundings with the
disease germs
Nurses and others In the family should eat moth
ing In the where the patient is. nor anything
which has been there. The food for the attendants
and family should be prepared and kept As far
from the sick RI m as possible. Thorough boiling
will kill all disease germs; So while the fever Is in
the house, Is safer to boil all water and milk just
before ii Is used.
DIsINFECTANrS.
No L. Sulphur Fumioafion.-To use this efec-
lively, two pounds OF sulphur should be burned In
room feet square. Every opening into the room.
fues doors, windows. cracks and crevices, must be
osed, except the door by which the dtsinfector is
to escape. The sulphur is to be burned In an iron
kettle or other vessel set in tub containing little
water TO guard agant fire little alcohol or kero.
sene must b. poured upon the sulpher, by means of
which il may be ignited. Leave the room quickly
for the tunes highly poisonous when breathed,
closed twenty -four hours or more Then air
thoroughly for several days.
No 2. For the Discharges. -Suiphate OF Iron
(copperas,) pounds; warm water. l gallon, mix
This leaves rust spots ou clio hing.
No s. For Priries, Cess Pools, efc.-Sulphate OF
Iron, "a pounds; water, gallon; mix
No For Ciofhing.-,ulphate of Zine white
vtriol,) ounces: common salt, 2 ounces; water
gallon; mix.
No 5. Corrosire Sublipafe Solnffon.-Corro-
siye Sublmate, 60 grains; premanganate Of pofassa
grain water, gallon; mix.
Corrosive Sublimate is one Of the surest desroyers
"a, "A 500 So oerms known but its dangerously poison