The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-16
TYPHOID FEvER-IMPoRrANr,

DINA We have known Sixty-three
cases among negroes on one plantation
in Warren county. We knew a long
time ago six negro men to die on a
farm a few miles from oxford. Pro-
baby there were not more tina a dozen
men in all on it. But that dreadful
fever has gradually extended its
domain in North Carolina, in other
southern states, and all around the
world. 1t is now known to the medi-
cal profession to be the fifth disease in
mortality on this continent. Bad wa
ter is the cause OF nine out of ten cases
of typhoid lever. This is he opinion of
experts.
so Wlde-spreading, so dangerous Is
this dreadful fever that Stays its tens
4 thousands every year that health
bureaus and medical writer's are dis
cussing it more and more and publish
ing to the world the established facts
concerning 1t how 1T originates, the
sources of danger, the treatment, etc.
The North Carolina board OF health
caused in h July Bulletin" a paper
to be published on 'FThe Bacteriology or
Typhoid Fever" The biologist OF the
North Carolina department of agricul-
ture. Professor Gerald Mccarthy. pre-
pared it. From it we learn that "tha
progress Of the disease and for some
time after convalescence this microbe
more commonly known to physicians
as the Klebs-Eberth baciIlus-is inva-
riably found in the testines and dis
charges therefrom. 1t is also during
convalescence generally found in the
bladder, urinary passages and urine.
In he n urinary passages it is the
chief or sole cause of the cystiticS and
Assesses which often follow typhoid
The of the spreading Of the
bacillus is we'll known and c~opiously
illustrated ii b many publications Of
the day. Professor Mccarthy says that
whenever 1000 men are brought togeth-
er from diverse localities at least three
of them Will bring in their system ty-
phoid bacillus. Given these three CEN
tiers Of infection and the crowded, care
less. filthy life inevitable mons raw
recruits in camp, the spread of the dis
ease is inevitable and is sure to figure
on the hospital lists within eight weeks
after assembling the men,"
Another statement is so instructive
and important that we copy 1t as it
teaches all what dangers Turk in the
bacilli and how easy the affected cases
may spread it. He writes:
'The incubation period of typhoid
microbe, or in other words the time
(which mJSf nlanSa hatU-nan the infrrI
sion Of the microbe into the human ALI
mentary tract and the appearance Of
recognizable symptoms of the disease,
is about 101a days. But the microbe
begins to multiply within half hour at
ter reaching the bowel. The bowel dis
charges contain microbes in vast num-
bers within "a ours after the original
germ gained access. Therefore a per-
son may for nine days continue to
scatter virulent typhoid germs in his
bowel discharges before the disease can
be diagnosed. This fact accounts for
many Of the seemingly mysterious out
breaks of typhoid"
Typhoid germs live from 80 to 90 days
in potable water for drinking. But
they live in polluted SOIL indefinitely
for two years. He tells about dis
injecting clothing, etc. We copy:
BED sheets soiled by excrementa Of
a typhoid patient can usually be diSin-
.fected by two hours exposure to strong
direct sunshine. Heavy blankets re-
squire a longer period. If such soiled
bedding, especially if it is moist, be
rolled up and cast into a dark or OBJ
securely lighted closet the microbes may
continue to live for a long as five or
six weeks"
He warns especially against the dig
ging Of earth in the summer. Do not
dig I'D the streets. o invite typhoid
fever every where. The house fly is "a
prime agency for spreading typhoid"
Here is the reason:
"Extrementa of typhoid infected per-
sons is commonly thrown into privies
without being previously disinfected.
No attempt is made to discover h
material. Flies gather upon it and
subsequently entering houses deposit
the germs adhering to their bodies upon
food or drink or vessels used for such
purposes. In this germs
eventually find their way into the all
mentary tract of non-immune persons,
who in due time develop typhoid fever
That is very important to know. Be
ware of the house fly in sickness.
Professor Mccarthy says that a physi-
clan after diagnosing a case of typhoid
should at once give a precaution to
have made an abundant supply OF an
antiseptic solution:
1.-The best antiseptic is arboli acid.
The best strength to use in the sick
room is 3 per cent To make up such
a solution take four ounces Of carbollc
acid and dissolve in one gallon of clean
soft water. Use this solution freely for
washing the hands, buttocks and other
zsoiled parts. Rinse bed pans and cham
Der vessels with this solution and V
all excavations and let stand for 10
minutes before casting into sink CT
privy. Soak sciled linen and bedding
in boiling water for 10 minutes"
He gives statistics as to the spread
of typhoid among the soldiers in the
Spanish war. 1t prevailed among the
troops thai remained in the United
States in 1885. There were 1874 men
in certain corps and 16.1 per cent, con-