The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-09-05
PREVENTION OF TYPHOID
FEVER.
Something Everybody Should
Read and Observe.

The following article has been
landed Us and we give it for
the benefit of our readers, as
there is considerable fever
throughout the country:
Typhoid fever is probably
the most preventable of all dis
eases, not excepting smallpox.
1t is now known that, like chol-
era and dysentery, the germ or
specific cause of this disease is
contained in the discharges from
the bowels Of those sick of it,
and that while other methods
of introducing the poison into
the system are possible, it most
generally gains entrance
through the medium of an in
fected water supply usually
the use Of we'll water polluted
by fecal matter. This may be
direct, from drinking such wa
ter, or indirect, as by using milk
or otf er articles of food Or drink
from cans or vessels washed in
it. Ice, from ali infected source,
is also dangerous, since it has
been proven that freezing does
not destroy the infective prin-
ciple.
While water from all sources
of supply is liable to contami-
nation, we'll water is especially
so, whether located in city,
town, summer watering place or
country. Thus, out of three
hundred and fourteen cases oc-
curing in Louisville, Ky. in
1884, two hundred and ninety
eight Of the persons used we'll
water habitually, and some of
the other sixteen did 50 occa-
sionally. In the now famous
epidemic at Plymouth, Penn,
involving the sickness of 1,1O4
persons, the death of ia, and
an actual outlay in money of
$67,1OO.16, the outbreak was
traced to the use of water pol
luted by the fecal discharges of
one imported case of the dis
ease. Facts no less convincing
might be multiplied Indefinite
ly if space permitted. In a small
er way they are common in the
experience Of most physicians
in active practice,
Usually the wells are sunk
near the kitchen, and in danger
GUS proximity to the privy and
other sources of contamination.
The we'll draws its supply from
an inverted cone, having it's apex
at the bottom Of the we'll and
its base at the surface of the
ground. In dry seasons this
base is often extended until the
we'll becomes the receptical for
the more or less pefectly filter
ed filth from all the sources
found in the average back yard,
and the water, often sparkling
in its apparent purity, becomes
a culture fluid for any disease
germs finding their way into it.
Two methods of prevention,
having the same general object
in view, are to be recommend
ed. The first involved the tho
rough disinfection from all dis
changes from the bowels of ty-
phoid fever patients. This is
best done by the use of a solu.
tion of chloride of lime, eight
ounces to the gallon of water,
Iusing'a quart Of this solution
for each discharge, and allow.
ing it to stand in the vessel al
least one hour before emptying
A solution of corrosive subli
mate, two drains to the gallon
of water, will answer the same
purpose, but requires to remain
longer in contact with the ma
terial to be disinfected. Bee
and body linen soiled by such
patients should be disinfects(
by the use of the same solution
or by boiling.
The second method relates tt
avoiding the Use of suspicion:
water, and especially well wa
ter. and where this cannot b.
done, to boil such water befor'
it is used for drinking purposes
| In the absence of a pure ant
guarded public water supply
properly stored cistern water
probly open to least objection
The effectual practice of thes
} methods will require intelligen
: care and some expense, but it i
: confidently believed that thei
, general adoption would resul
| in the practical disappearance
: of disease that is not onl
, a disgrace 20 our civilization, bu
} an annual scourge and tax upol
} the people Of Kentucky, in com
parison with which yello,
, fever and cholera sink into in
) Observation-Disclosures Ky