The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-15
WHY so MUCH TYPHOID
DIR. Gill, of the State Board of
Health,
Points Out How DrOuth and
Low Water
Facilitate the Spread of This Disease
Now So Prevalent in Kansas.

DR.. H. T. Gill, secretary. of the state
board of health, has issued a circular
pertaining to typhoid fever, which says
that the Lowest water level and highest
mortality from typhoid fever are coinci-
dent in October. OF the fever and it's ORR
gin the circular treats at length and offers
suggestions as to precautionary meas
ures, the most important of which is pure
water DR.. Gill says in part:
1T is believed, upon reliable and in
creasing evidence that typhoid fever has
its peculiar germ, just as many other
disease are know to have theirs viz:
the bacillus typhoidae d. typhosus
klebs); and that it is quite tenacious of
vitality. Repeated freezing does not kill
it. OF course there is a limit to its vi
tality, both in reference to time and sur
roundings; but freezing has a tendency
10 preserve rather than to destroy it;
just the contrary of what many people
may suppose, and as is the case with many
other germs. This fact should be borne
in mind when disposing of the discharges
and soiled clothing of those sick of this
disease.
In malarial districts the disease may
be complicated in such manner as to give
various forms, but still it may be, in its
dominant features. typhoid fever. The
great majority of cases of continued fever
in Kansas are quite different. in some re-
seects at least, from the typical typhoid
of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois of % or 20
years ago.
The source of the media of infection
or contagion Goth methods are alleged
to EXIST. are numerous; but first. and
most important for our present consider
|ation. is the water supply.
THAT a large proportion of the annual
number of cases of this very dangerous
disease-the mortality in hospitals rang
ing from 10 per cent to % per cent of
the number of cases-not only can be pre-
vented as a matter of theory, but has
been as historical fact. This, too. on
such large scale as to leave no doubt;
and by the publication of one source only
to-wit, the water supply. Kansas City
is now contemplating the right thing
public filters.
In the cities the purity of the water
supplied to the public should be of first
Importance. That having been secured
beyond any question, the next consider
alton is as to wells, cistersn, etc. The
health officers of the cities should make
themselves thoroughly acquainted with
the quality of water from such sources
of supply If this is not known before
a single case occurs, that one should be
sufficient to start thorough investiga-
ton in this line of search especially, as
we'll in others. The attention OF the
public should be frequently called, through
the public press, by the local health Of
fcer, to the very great danger to health
from this source. 1t must be line upon
line" warning after warning.
IF the public water supply is not up
to the standard of purity, the German
government has a standard for water,
German imperial standard of hygiene
as our large cities have a standard for
milk the defect should be at once re-
moved, or the water company should be
proceeded against by law; for every COM
munity is entitled to wholesome food or
drink when it is paid for.
''Unwholesome, disease-producing water,
whether from public private supply,
should be declared a nuisance and abated
and it's use forbidden.
This method is being adopted in all
our large cities. greatly to the benefit
of health and lowering of the average of
sickness and mortality.
stDflution is one of the methods of rem
dering most poisons, organic or inor-
ganic( less active-indeed, it may render
them inactive: but the great destructive
agent of all disease producing germs is
heat This agent, when combined with
moisture and applied for a considerable
length of time. will destroy the vitality
of both the plant and seed, germ and
spore Boiling is a common and con-
venient method of purifying drinking
water.
IF the farmers who depend water
from wells, springs and cisterns, would
boil all the drinking and cooking water