The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-02

" lCn lies ar" gSpII--u.e ll"g" az.
little neigh5orhoOd e1itemics. extend
ing in short leaps from house TO house. |
without reference 80 watsr-supp'y Or
anything else in common. Eu; when
water is at fault the disease follows it's
use wherever IL may go. the only limit
atoms being the resisting power OF the .
individual using it. and such house
hold measures Of boiling and the like
as tend 10 destroy disease germs. Epi-
denies spread by flies tend 20 follow
the direction of prevailing warm winds
as though. the fly wandering outdoors
after contact with some source OF in
lection. had drifted with the wind.
but nothing Of the sort ) perCeptible
in the case OF watsr-OOrue disease. In
villages and camps. where shallow.
open closets are in use. giving access
of flies 10 the chief sources OF infec-
ton. the flies are the chief medium OF
its conveyance. In cities. where un-
de-ground sewers carry such material
beyond the ordinary reach OF flies.
whose migratiOns are not extensive.
such diseases can become very preva-
lent only through infection OF the
source OF public water-supply. Hence
in villages and camps they are usually
fly-borne and in cities water-borne.
When a source of public water-supply
has been infected in this manner. cases
of the disease will occur more or less
throughout the year. provided that the
germ remains active at all tempera-
lures. When the conveyance is by flies
the prevalence OF the disease will be-
confined to a particular season eXclu-
sively Thus in cities typhoid fever
| prevails at all seasons; in villages IL
is an autumual disease. When the
weather is dry and sul,ry. flies have
their best opportunity To carry the dis
ease or. in other words. under the very
conditions best adapted TO prevent its
spread if water-bOrne.
With this understanding OF some OF
the more prominent general relations
of the subject, il becomes possible 20
enter into the study OF details that
are of the utmost practical Importance.
For example, in investigating a series
of epidemics confined TO single
neighborhood recurring year after
year, the writer, following the lines
that have been indicated, was able TO
secure very positive evidence. both
clinical and microscopical. that bury
ing typhoid material in the ground
is no protection against flies. Such a
procedure simply establishes a culture
bed in which the bacili. like plants.
grow toward the surface attracted by
the warmth and other effects Of the
suns rays in that location. II any pre-
vention whatever is secured by such
burial of typhoid material without dis
infection. IL is very transient. especial
~ when the weather is sultry. The
application OF this to the care OF the
sinks in the army is evident. Indeed
it is the key To- the situation. so far As
army conditions are concerned. the
danger being greatly intensified by the
utter heedlessneSs OF many of the men.
Discipline as well as accurate knowl-
edge is required. in order to make pre-
ventive measures a success in this
case. Indeed. unless carefully looked
after. there will be neither. burial nor
distinction OF such material. far too
often.
furthermore. the burial OF typhoid
material. not only fails 10 prevent
the immediate spread OF the disease;
it. on the contrary. actually perpetu-
ates it in the locality from year To
year. This was clearly shown in the
series OF epidemics referred 10 in the
preceding paragraph. which came To
an end at once when this mode OF dis
posal of material was abandoned and
proper disiufectants were used.
The subject OF disintection in gen
eral demands revision from the point
o: view of the present discussion. The
material employed must ne suitable.
II of a volatile nature. like carbolic
acid, it must be remembered that on
evaporation it will leave nothing be-
hind TO protect against reinfection.
and consequently must be used in large
quantities and often. So that not a sin
gle particle OF material containing liv-
ing bacilu may escape 20 rGinfect the
entire mass. Sulphate OF copper in 500
luton. on the other hand, on eyapor-
alton is left behind. diffused through
the material. thus prolons:nE its effect
and even making it permanent. II a
sufficient quantity has been employed
Earth containing suiphate OF copper
thus diffused becomes n good disin-
fectant. and may be used with conf
dence to cover typhoid or other infect
Ell material.
The time at which disinfect.on is @
be performed is likewise OF the ut
most importance. II q case Of intss-