Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-07
How Malaria and Typhoid
Fevers May Be Prevented


DR.. L. o. Howard, chief entomologist of
the Department OF Agriculture, has pre-
pared in the form of a farmers bulletin
clear, direct description of the manner in
which insects transmit disease and Of
the preventive measures which lie within
the reach of every American agricultural
list, says the Washington Star. This bull
letin is entitled How Insects Affect
Health in Rural Districts" and can be
had for the asking. 1t is filled with val
liable information about malaria and ty-
phoid fever for urbanite and suburbanite
alike and is expected to prove one Of the
most practical and valuable publications
OF the department
I'm very many parts OF the country the
farming population has to contend with at
least two diseases which. are preventable,"
DIR. Howard says by way Of Introduction.
These are malaria and typhoid fever.
Both OF these diseases are transferred or
may be transferred by insects-malaria by
certain mosquitoes and typhoid fever by
the common house fly, or other flies.
The bulletin then continues to the effect
that both malaria and typhoid are very
largely country diseases" and that nei-
Their is often found in cities except through
contamination from country districts or
from the existence in the suburbs of dis
ease producing conditions such as prevail
widely in the country. DR.. Howard then
proceeds in part as follows:
The Sources of Typhoid.
"CitIes well supplied with water from a
reservoir especially a filter reservoir,
which possesses a modern sewage system
and in which modern plumbing is univer-
sal. derive typhoid fever only from the
following sources: Contaminated country
milk. the return of people in the autumn
from the less sanitary country, and lack
Of care Of persons who have contracted
typhoid from either of the first two
/ sources.
I'm the country, however, conditions are
| different. Each country house or each
house in a small village has its own water
supply, usually in the shape of well; the
cattle get water from the streams; drain
age containing virulent typhoid germs
! may enter the streams. be carried for
/ some distance and be taken into the stom-
achs of cattle all along the course Of the
\ stream, or the germs may be carried by
/ underground drainage directly into the
wells from which drinking water is gain
i ed; or certain flies may breed and fly,
/ fairly reeking with disease bearing filth,
| to the kitchens and tables OF nearby
] houses. ---
/ when we consider that active typhoid
! germs may be given out for some time by
/ persons who have not developed typhoid
fever sufficiently so that 1t may be recog-
| nized, and that they may also De given
| out for some time after patients have
been apparently cured of the disease. 1t is
perfectly obvious that in the country lack
Of care readily accounts for outbreaks OF
typhoid fever from any of the causes men,
| toned. -
! ~. Protection Against Disease.
"Of course It will be said that the en-
| tire water supply of city may become
contaminated at or Immediately above its
reservoir supply. This contamination is
from country sources and might be obvi-
/ ated either In general manner by the
establishment of a reservoir altering plant
or in a special manner by individual
householders by the constant and thor
ough use Of house filters In cities possess
ing a common water supply and modern
sanitary plumbing there is no excuse for
the presence of typhoid In the house
| hold. .t.
Even the city water must be filtered.
which can be done by the use Of any one