Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-05-10
THE CAUSES or TYPHOID
A Citizen Who Disagrees With a
Writer in Another Paper.
He DEFENDS HIS STAND
And Asserts the Rights Of Every Citizen to
Write Over an Assumed Name on Cues
tons Of "a Public Nature.

tons OF a Public Nature.
Mr.. Editor - In last Saturday &
Democrat, the Editor has seen dit in
a very reckless and thoughtless way.
to attack. the writer's of number
of sensible.communications which an
peared largely in the Evening World.
as to the probable and most natural
cause OF typhoid fever in this locali-
tv.
AS good citizens who have the best
interest. of Martinsburg at heart and
who without any selfish motives in
view are anxious to see the city rid
of Dreventable enidemics, they have a
right to be heard,
He saws that they are either asham-
ed nr afraid 70 sign thier names. 1t
they were lie him. that would be
true, but not heing like him being
neither ashamed or afraid. they see
no reason for signing their names,
1t is customary for writers 70 write
under assumed names ii thew desire,
the editor of the periodical in which
the communication appears. knowinr
their identity. they being RESPONSIBLE
| TO him for what thew write.
He further says that doctor whose
name he mentions. declares that ht
: does not believe the cause Of the
| disease is due to the water, but indl.
Gates how the air is poisioned anc
rendered malarlous bv filth and pu-
| trifaction faction. "
With all due resDect to the doctor
is he not as liable to make mistakes
as some other human beings. espec
tally wien other practitioners, who
have gone through severe epidemics
of typhoid fever. and are familiar
with its causes and treatment. assert
that it is their firm belief that the
trouble is due to polluted water?
If all the ply sicians of the city
were consulted. the large majority
would say that contaminated water
either directly or indirectly, is re
snons1ble f r almost every epidemic
of typhoid fever.
Damp air, even III charged witt
malarial poison. does not produce ty
phoid fever, as typhoid and malaria
and two separate and distinct diseases
and in order to have typhoid person
must take into the system the specif
Ic typhoid poison. which is done il
almost every case through the mouth
in food or water.
He also states that the co-respon
dents referred 10 express themselve,
with great confidence in the correct
ness OF their conclusions, etc. Thi
is not true.
! We have read all thar communica
tions carefully, and none OF then
have gone further than to assert anc
give the rongest reasons for theil
assertion, that the profitable cause il
in the water. and to demand a thor
olgh investigation.
Such incorrect and thoughtless
statements like the Democrats. tend
ing to discourage a full and free dis.
cussion of serious matter by people
who do not care to have their names
in prinr. and to discount thorough
investigation are responsible, in a
measure for the continuance Of this
| death dealing fever.
The que stlon CT Riding the CITY
from typhoid is serious one and it
ill becomes any one to ser up sense
less howl against the earnest efforts
of honest citizens to portect the health
and life of its people. N. 8