Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-14
To PREVENT TYPHOID.
Words of Advice From Health
Commissioner G. G. -
Craig.
ALL WATER SHOULD BE BOILED.

Pure water and MIX More Important
Than All EIse-Sanitary f sgulations and
Care In Attending to Patients
BILE to Protect Streams Flowing Through
PopuIous Valleys, as the Mississippi.
In view of the existence of typhoid
fever in Rock Island, as in other cities
in the Mississippi valley. The ARGUS
requested DIR. G G. Craig, Jr., the
health commissioner. to give, for pub
location, some words of advice that
might prove helpful in preventing
the further spread of the disease.
Pure water and milk" says the
doctor, s'are more important than all
the r. st put together" He advises that
the water be boiled 80 minutes before
using, and that the milk be also boiled
or pasteurized. Raw vegetables for
table use should also be washed in
pure water. The doctor suggests fur
Their:
Sanitary Plumbing-No sewer
gas. good drainage, proper closets,
burn garbage, keep premises clean.
plum bling inspector is at your service;
notify health department.
Care in, Attending Patient-Learn
how to take precautions from the at
tending physician; heed them 10 the
letter; disinfect-kill germs.
IA pure drinking water is essential
An artesian we'll is safe il properly
constructed so as to allow no contami-
nation Gas through faulty piping in
the shaft). 1t is praclic lily impossi-
BILE to protect streams which flow
through populous valleys, as the Mis-
sissippi, receiving sewage of other
towns and vIIl,ges above US, or to
prevent ordinary wells from becoming
contaminated from soaksge. There
fore such wells should be abandoned
and filled with earth or ashes. and the
river water should be boiled before
using for drinking Water uttered
and then boiled is still better. Filter
iug alone will not suffice. Water dis
titled into sterilized bottles and prop
erly kept is safe.
In Regard to Milk.
milk has been known to transmit
typhoid, the germs not getting into
the milk from the COWS, but from the
wafer used in cleaning milk cans.
The germs prosper in the milk and
Food as celery, salads. etc may
become contaminated in their prepa-
ration for the table, and oy sters may
become infected if their feeding
ground is defiled.
The best author tiles say that ty
phoid fever cInnot come from sewer
gas, or improper plumbing or decay
ing matter alone-the germs of ty-
phoid must be there also. in order
that typhoid be caused by it, but if
one is exposed to sewer gas, filth, ETC.,
his system is less able to com bat dis
disease, and he is, of course, more
susceptible to typhoid fever.
Typhoid is only rarely due to
causes other than drinking water,
as by milk, food, transmission
through the air, flies and other in
sects, and if every one would drink
pure water, we would not have much
respect for typhoid.
Prevent the spread of the disease
by immediate and thorough disinfec-
ton of the stools aud urine, aud the
handling of the patients clothing and
bedding. DIsinfectants should be kept
in a place by themselves and labelled
''poison." On the recovery of the
patient wash the bedstead and furni-
ture with antiseptic solution, boil
towels. bedding. ETC., and air the sick
room daily for several days before it