The herald., 1897-08-21
SANITARY PRECAUTIONS
Board of Health Warns the Public
Against Typhoid Fever

A four-page folder was yesterday is
sued by the board of health for general
dis tribution, cautioning the public
against typhoid fever and giving precau-
tons to be observed to prevent the dis
ease.
In May there were ten cases of typhoid
reported at the health department,
while in April there was not a case. In
June there were twenty cases. July saw
a decline to fourteen, but August
appears likely to pass the mark. There
were twelve cases reported to the even
ing of the 18th instant. The Health Of
icer and the members of the Board of
Health have observed this fact with some
anxiety and while DR.. Powers processes
that there is nothing alarming in these
figures still he believes that too much
care cannot be exercised to ward it off.
There is an evident intention on the
part of the authorities to avoid giving
any unnecessary alarm. The paper is
headed Precautions Against Typhoid
Fever" and states at the outset that there
is no epidemic of the fever nor fear Of
one, but that it is an insidious and fatal
disease that can be prevented If the right
steps are taken.
Then follows concise explanation OF
how the disease is spread and communi-
Gated. The most frequent medium for
the typhoid fever germ is declared to
be drinking water. The latter is spec
tally subject to contamination if it flows
on the. surface or is located where there
is a seepage from cess pools, drains or
vaults.
The medicos declare that the water may
be noXious and yet be clear, colorless and
without odor. Ice is also declared to be
vehicle for carrying the germs and
freezing does not destroy the bacilli.
Milk is also carrier of the fever germs.
Bad plumbing, uncleanliness and i'm
proper care of those infected all help to
keep alive the disease. The germs them
selves live a great length of time in the
dust or ground.
1t is estimated that twenty-one days
is about the time between infection with
the fever and the appearance of the dis
ease. Persons of all ages are liable to
the fever, but it is more often fatal in
| those between the ages of twelve and
twenty-five years.
| The medicos then recommend as fol-
lows: The most scrupuious care should
be taken to keep the source Of drinking g
water pure and to procure supplies only
| from clean sources. Only boiled water
should be used for drinking purposes
when you are not sure of the source being
clean and free from contamination When
visiting in district where typhoid fever
prevails one should drink tea or coffee
which has been we'll boiled. The results
| Of our investigation made with the OBJ
ject of finding the source of infection of
| the cases reported to the health office
satisfactorily proved that at least As
per cent of all cases so reported con-
tracted the disease in localities outside
of the city. When milk is not known. to
be clean and free from infection it should
be heated to $50 degrees Farenheit, this
temperature being sufficient to cause
the death of typhoid fever bacilli, OF
germs.
Foul air must not be permitted tc
enter house from defective PLUMBING
or privy vaults.
Anything which deteriorates general
health tends to render the system liable
to disease
The folder concludes with the --latest
suggestions for the treatment of the ty.
phoid fever victims