The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-05
Typhoid r.ser-Rulrs for lis Pre-
scntiou.

scntion.
From advance sheets OF August Brlis-
tin Of State Board Of Healthy
typhoid fever IS present in seventy
FIVE OF the ninety counties reporting for
July. Il is therefore widely prevalent
In our state. II is a communicable dis
ease, spreading from one case to an
other though generally in a round
about fashion. Its extension can BE-
prevented by the careful observance OF
| certain, simple rules. For the Informal
ton OF the people we give these rules.
preceded by a statement OF the reasons
upon which they are based II read
and Needed by even n few some lives
would be saved and much sickness
would be prevented. Read them aid
tell about them
The active agency IN the causation of
typhoid fever Is a bacterium. the bacil-
lus typhosus. which attacks and causes
the liberation of certain glands In the
small intestine. developing therein by
myriads. They are therefore TO be
found chiefly In the bowel discharges.
houg present also in the excretion
of the kidneys and TO some extent in
the e~xpectoratioa OF a person sick with
the disease. From n OF these sources.
nearly always the first named. the
bacteria are transferred TO the lntesti-
nal tract OF a healthy person. The poi
son is always swallowed. The most
common agencies OF transfer are the
drinking water. including milk infected
from washing cans in pointed
water. and the common house ny, al
though IL may DE conveyed directly 10
the nurse by her own soiled hands, and
some times IN dust. The most impor-
taat rules therefore for the prevention
of the extension OF the disease may be
briefly stated "a follows:
/. Cover Immediately upon their pas
sage the body d~ischarges-to prevent
access OF flies.
>. AS soon as possible thoroughly dis
infect the discharges by mixing in
equal quantity with them one Of the
following: ta) freshly made milk OF
lime or -'whte-wash" tunsiaked fime):
OBJ A 5 per cert solution OF carbolic
acid: (c) a / TO 1000 solution CT corro-
sive sublimaie. I'D 4 / per cen soiu-
ton OF formaldohyde.- After Id
a half hour tco~ered AL the time) the
mixture should be buried Cnever
thrown on the surface of the groundl
at a distance from h well OF not less
than $50 feet
;. Provide in the sick-room a wood
IN tub o~ne-thi-d full of either of the
three last named solutions. and drop
therein as soon as removed everything
in the way OF body or bed-clothiag.
handkerchief, towels. etc. that have
come in contact with the patient ana
keep them submerged until they can
be boiled. washed and dried in the sun.
4. All remnants of food that may for
any reason be carried into the sick
room must be burned,
). The nurse mould vas her hancs
&c 49,. n -
preferably corrosive sublimate, after
every Changing of the patient. She
should never draw water from the
family well unless a pump Is used. In
case ii should nc absolutely necessary
she should disinfcct her hands as above
before doing so.
6. The soiled linen OF the patient
should never be washed at or near the
we'll or spring. The greatest care should
be observed to prevent the drainage or
seepage through the soil into the well
or spring from accumulation OF fitn
of all kinds. AS soon rs a case OF ty-
phoid fever APPEARS in a family All
drinking water <hould be boiled until
a report on the same can be obtained
from the state biologist the family
physician making application to the
secretary OF the board of health for
permit and steriliZed bottle.
4. As the germ is present in the in
testine in the preliminary stages and
for several weeks after convaleseence
is established and the patient practi-
cally well. extra care of surface privies
should be observed. Every evacuation
should be Immediately and completely
covered with lire or dry powdered
earth.
Sumnlary.-Prompt disinfection OF all
discharges from the body of the pa
tient: protection Of the same against
1inn- onanfnI anrn &c tn tho drinkin0
water: serupulous cleanliness.
To the professionals the people can
not be reached except through the
medical attendant We earnestly beg all
physicians having cases Of typhoid
fever under their care to insist upon
the strict observance of the above SIM
pie rules Printed copies of the same
will be furnished in quantity upon re-
quest.