Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-25

in drinking water and the consequences
of this are so disasterous, that a philan-
throphist can scarcely use his efforts to-
better advantage than by endeavoring
to enlighten those who are thus injuring
themselves. BY systematic publication
and sterilization Of the drinking water
the human mass would be very consld
serably increased. 1t should be made a
rigid rule which might be enforced by
law to boil or otherwise sterilize the
drinking water in every household and
public place.
The mere filtering does not afford
sufficient security against infection, all
ice for internal use should be artificially
prepared from water thoroughly steril-
lied. The Importance of eliminating
germs of disease from the city water is
generally recognized, but little is being
done to improve the existing conditions,
as no satisfactory method of sterilizingl
great quantities of water has yet been
brought forward. BY improved electri-3
cal appliances, we are now, enabled to
produce ozone cheaply and III large
amounts, and this ideal dislnfectant.
SEEMS to offer a happy solution of the
important question
DIR. Dennis adds further:
Typhoid fever is essentially a filth dis
ease, therefore a preventable one. and /
fear that we as guardians. of the public
health have been too SLOW TO admit this
fact. believe that the physician should
be held responsible for the spread of ty-
phoid fever just AS much as, tho 1t were
a case OF smallpox or diphtnerla. We
have not fulfilled our whole duty in re-
gard to the prophylaXis of the disease,
unless We prevent each case coming I'M
der our care from becoming a center of
infection. Our Immediate concern should
therefore be With the individual case
and indirectly with the water supply
and sanitary condition of the premises.
The toxines are eliminated from the
system by the bowels. kidneys. lungs.
and to some extent by the skin, there
fore the greatest care is required to ren-
der the waste products of the body in
lnocuoua
OF the various germicides used for this
purpose, the best and cheapest is prob
Eably a strong solution of chlorinated
/ lime. This should be prepared by dis
solving five or six ounces of the lime in
one gallon of water and this solution
added to the dejecta from the bowel in
about equal proportions. This should
then be thoroughly mixed. by stirring
with a glass rod, care being taken to
crush any fecal masses 50 that the dis
infectant may come in contact with ev-
cry particle of the stool, and then set
lsaSde for at least an hour before being
emptied into the water closet. The urine
and sputum should be treated in like
manner. Some of the solution should
be kept in the bed pan when not in use.
Other disinfectanta used for this pur-
pose are formaldshyd 10 per cent solu-
ton. mereuric acid, calculated 1900 or
1-1cOo and carbolie acid per cent to Is
per cent solution
The patients buttocks and anus
should be thoroughly washed in a aoiu-
ton of bichlorde 10000 Immediately af-
ter each stool, The soiled bed linen
should be soaked in a three per cent So
oughly boiled before washing. The mat
rss's should be protected from soiling by
tabeings covered With rubber sheet.
After the termination Of the case, the
4 room, bedding, clothing, etc. should be
Thoroughly disinfected by formaldehyd
! gas before the room ia again occupied.
The nurses, or other attendants,
should be cautioned to usa the utmost
care to disinfect themselves They
should be instructed to cleanse the
hands thoroughly each time after watt
ing on the patient, first by scrubbine
i with soap and water, and immersine
! them in a solution of corrosive subli-
mate 10000.
They should be especially instructed
] not to take food or drink while in the
! sick room, or uss any drinking vess 81
3stc., used by the patient, without first
4aieansing them thoroughly. Where pos
4 sible. the nurses should be persons pa 81
I middle life, or thpse who Themselves lae
I the disease. as one attack usually con.
i fers immunity upon the Individual. File.
& and MOSQUITOES should be excluded
4 from the sick room by proper screens
A not only for thecomfort of the patient
3. but to prevent the dissemination of thu
disease thru their agency. The sourc,
i Of the Infection should be ascer,ainet
III possible and measures, taken TO pro
4 tect other members of the household
4 All drinking water should be boiled ane
milk sterilized before using. The patien
should he isolated, especially from th
4 younger members of the family.
a CRANK ASKS a HEARING.
i Editor Err: EditorialIy as an ad
Z ministration organ you favor this can