Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-24
TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC.
New Ravens Cases Considered by
 State Board of Health.

State Board Of Health.
 The disastrous epidemic of typhoid fever now prevailing (April, 190D in limited section of the city of New Ha- ven was fully considered by the state board of health, in the light of all the facts then known, at it's meeting held April Il.
 The duties of local health officers, as regards their responsibilities in ty- phoid cases, were discussed at length, and the board took action, as express ed in the following circular.
 The sudden calamity affiicting New Haven and involving already more than 400 patients, of which the fatal effects cannot yet be told, was caused solely by neglecting the disinfectlon and safe disposal of the stools of three typhoid fever patients in one family, living upon watershed tributary to one of the reservoirs of the New Haven Water company.
 The state board of health by this circular wishes to impress upon every local health officer in the state, and pdrllCuldIly upOl luOSe WhOoS Juiio { diction includes any watersheds con- ftributing to public water supplies, their great responsibility in guarding them from typhoid fever infection.
 The board believes it to be the duty of every health officer to make per sonal inquiry insregardtto the disinfec- tion and final disposal of the deiections of every typhoid case reported to him, and to satisfy himself that the meth ods adopted are effective and safe.
 Sad experienceNhas proved that the mere verbal advice of the attending physician, to disinfect the stools with this, that or the other agent. Is not always understood or effectually car ried out
 It is not always the fault of the doctor. The most careful instructions may be disregarded or imperfectly ob- served, and he has no power to en- force them. The health officer is clothed with authority to require obed- fence to sanitary regulations which are so important to public safety. While responsible duty rests upon the physician. yet the greater respon- sibility rests upon the health officer.
 The board regards the supervision by local health officers of the disinfec- ton and final disposal of the excreta of typhoid fever patients as q responsible duty. The significance of this duty is intensified, if there is any risk of pollution of water supplies, particular ly those from which large communities are served.
 Among the best and cheapest agents is Milk of Lime" prepared by slak- ing two pounds of lime with a pint of hot water. This will make a dry pow der when slaked. To this powder add four times the volume of cold water making mixture of the consistency of cream. To every stool add a little more than an equal quantity of the milk of lime and thoroughly mix them The mixture should stand two hours before final disnosal. The milk of lime should be kept covered from the air, and freshly repared every day or. two. Air-slalSed lime is good for nothing.f
 An edually good prepa aration is made by, dfssolying a. quaFt of alTpound of the best chloride of lime in a gallon of cold water. This is to.Sbe mixed with the stools in thes same way, and sSss-ss
 Still another effective disinfectant of excreta is made by mixing equal parts of icarbolic acid and sulphuric acid. 1t must be done Carefully and slowly, and kept artiffcfalIv cool while mixing. To one part of this prepara- tion add twenty parts of water. It is a strong disinfectant, and to be used just as the, others are. Both stools and urine should always be disinfect- ed before final disposal The urine should be disinfected faithfully, dur ing convalescence. After disinfection, the discharges may be thrown into the privy or sewer, or, if practicable, bur- jed in the ground, two feet below the surface.
 Caution:-Do not depend upon any of the advertised proprietary dis infectants. They are not as effective as the above agents and they cost many times as much.
 c. A. LINDSLEY, Secretary.