Evening star., 1898-08-06

and other foods. The germ is easily de-
stroyed by thoroughly disinfecting the
stools and sputum with heat and strong
antiseptics, but cold will not destroy Them
After the germ gets into the system IL re-
qures from ten to twenty-one DAYS before
the disease manifests itself
Now that / have given briefly the causes
of the disease from be time of its incuba-
ton. L propose to show that the epidemic
of typhoid which is reported to be pre-
Vailing among the soldiers was not orig
inally contracted at Camp Alger, but was
brought here by a certain regiment when
the camp was first established L do not
however. wish to appear antagonistic 10
the medical officers of the army as nv re-
latons with them have been exceedingly
Pheasant, and regard most of them whom
l have met efficient officers but they
acknowledged to me that for several weeks
they labored under great disadvantages IN
not having the necessary supplies to carry
on their work successfully. The regiment
to which | refer arrived at Camp Alger IN
May. They left two of ths<egiment in an
other state suffering from typhoid fever,
and forty-eight hours after their arrival in
camp here two of their men were in the
hospital here, afflicted with the same dis
ease. As these the first cases in
camp, and as they had been here but two
days, and as the shortest period of incub1-
ton is ten days, it ought certainly to prove
to the mind of every intelligent person
that the disease was not contracted here.
From that time on typhoid fever has con-
The farm which the camp IS located
mas not had a case of typhoid fever for
twenty-five years. This statement / can
subStantiate By both Drs L. E Gott aud
T. NJ Talbot, who Informed me that they
have treated every case of sickness on that
farm since 1873. Now. had typhoid germs
been disseminated over this farm the way
they have been represented to have been.
what would have protected the citizens on
and adjacent to his place from having ty-
phold? This co immunity is free from the
disease. We ha. not had in the last three
years more than ten or twelve cases of ty-
phoid fever in this immediate vicinity
which represents about three thousand
people, and more than one-half of that
number so afflicted were strangers So
journing in this section Temporarily The
water has always been considered pure.
Not only have j, but my professional
brethren have had ii analyzed repeatedly
by competent chemists in Washington
This we have had done in order to obliter-
ate any doubt that may exist in our minds,
as we have never been contented to stand
of and look at the water, a certain med
ical officer of the present camp did in nv
presence, and condemn it as being loaded
with typhoid bacillus.
Now, 1 do not propose to criticise the
army, as | have too profound a respect for
its officers and men, but l will say that
for several weeks after this camp was es-
tablished there was failure to carry our
a proper disinfection, owing to a lack Of
the proper supplies. Not even a pound of
lime was used for six weeks Yet / con-
tend with all the obstacles in the way the
sick rate has not compared higher tnan the
death rate of many cities. Another thing
to be taken into consideration is that a
great majority of the sickness occurred in
the ranks of the men from the north. and
the southern regiments have been much
freer from the disease. This is explained
L think. very conclusively when you take
into consideration the difference in the clf-
mate. 1t is the experience of every prac-
ucing physician that in dry, hot summers
q
affected with catarrhal and bowel troubles,
accompanied with more or less fever, which
resembles typhoid very much at the Begin
ming, but runs a much shorter course
Trusting that this explanation NAV re-
lieve the minds Of any person who NAV
entertain fears that We are in the midst of
an epidemic of typhoid fever. and believing
1t my duty as physician TO do SO, / re-
main, T. c. QUICK
Health Officer of Falls Church, va.
August 6, 1898.