Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

solution of sulphate of copper b.
fore flies get access to them and be
fore they are thrown out or buried IN
the earth
Our Spanish war, it is shown, pro.
duced many cases of typhoid that
were plainly due to causes other thai;
contaminated drinking water. Tie
instance is cited of a company COM
posed of particularly intelligent men
who suffered more from typhoid than
the other companies of the regiment.
The men of this company had the
best OF drinking water Every con
dltlon was favorable on the theory
that drinking water alone CONVEYS the
| disease germs. But the very scrupu-
lousness of the men led them to kee,
In their tents for dejecta vessels to
which flies had access. with the re-
suit that one after another in great
numbers fell victims to typhoid.
Files, after visiting these vessels and
the trenches or latrines about the
camp, settled on the company's food
and contaminated the latter with the
germs of the disease. Trenches once
contaminated are dangerous after,
year or more. Though deeply buriet
Ihe disease germs grow to the sur &c
after time, to infect rain water and
wells and be borne about in clouds of
dust. Vegetables eaten raw. such as
radlshes, lettuce, celery. etc. if in
su1hclently cleansed. surely convey
the bacillus from soil that has been
contaminated to the stomach. Manv
physicians believe that burying the
stools of typhoid patients in the earth
Is the proper way to destroy the
oaclll1, but to do this, DR.. Veeder
says, Is sure means of producing a
crop OF cases. An instance is men
TONED in village epidemic of tv
phold which had continued MANY
years, but ceased with the death of
physician who had been particular to
instruct the people to bury the en-
creta. Speedy disinfection with sui
phate OF copper or other vigorous
drug is the only preventive worth
Inc idea is not sought to be con-
Veyed that contaminated drinking
water is not often the source of sick
ness. Water does convey the germs
ID many cases. But the soil. as
rule, Is the source from which the
water itself is contaminated. as also
vegetables and other foodstuffs
Whit of wind may scatter the dan
gerous soil in the form of dust over a
wide area, producing cases where the
direct action of water was impossible.
But fles, more perhaps than ANYTHING
else, scatter the infection. settling
hrst on the excreta of patients and
then soon aften upon the contents of
the grocery, the butchers stall and
the pantry. Lime scattered over the
former has been found on food. hay-
ing been brought on the feet of flies
That buzzed about. In this connec-
ton DR.. Veeder directs attention to
the arrangements provided in these
days of trolley lines and one-day ex-
curslOns and picnics' for persons who
carry food for consumption in cool
groves amid the beauties of nature.
Such commonly are the sanitary al.
engagements, he says, that flies quick
ly convey typhoid poison to the vi
ands set out by the picnickers A
multitude of cases in a ceretain city
he states, have been traced to such {
resort. Files fresh from dabbling ir:
the vilest filth were abundant at the
very point at which excursionists
most frequently stopped to eat their
luncheon Such is DR.. Veeders the
tention.