Goldsboro weekly argus., 1902-11-06
No 155



flood of light upon the sources of
that dread and deadly disease, ty-
phoid fever
It was formerly believed that i'm
pure drinking water was the
chief and almost the sole cause of
this malady, but it has been demon-
strated that there are other preg-
nant sources of it. The British Med
ical Journal, in it's latest issue gives
the results of the Investigations made
by two medical offers of the British
army as to the part played by soil,
fabrics and flies in the dissemination
of typhoid fever.
These Investigations reached the
conclusion that, while drinking wa
ter does cause much of this disease,
it has other causes whose importance
is underestimated.
1t is certain that many wells and
springs are contaminated by the
soil, for it has been proved that ty-
phoid germs will live 81 days under
ground. 1t requires only a very
slight current to carry this Infection
into a water supply. The germ will
live in wet soil 81 days and in the
dust of the soil 25 days. It is very
dangerous in the latter form, as the
impregnated dust is blown about in
all directions, communicating food as
we'll as water
Flies are great distributors of ty-
phoid fever, carrying its germs to
milk, flesh and other foodstuffs.
Clothing is readily infected with
the germs of this disease, and will
hold them under ordinary conditions
for 80 days.
These three sources-dust, flies and
soiled clothes-contribute enorDlous-
ly to the dissemination of typhoid
fever.
The British Medical Magazine in
sists that the plan Of burying epteric
material should be given up because
in that way the soil is infected, and
this soil turns to dust in dry weather
or is traversed BY flies, or else the
germs in it are carried into wells or
springs or other water supplies in
wet weather. All enteric matter
should be disinfected by means of a
solution of bluestone Or sulphate of
copper. After disinfection it is not
important what disposition is made
of it. The investigations prove that
typhoid is not by any means a
drinking-Water disease pure and SIM
pie. The dust of the streets and the
| flies are also deadly agents. Drink
ing water may be the most potent
cause, but soil contamination is un-
| dOubtedly 81 good second.
Farmer Hoefast-There's as many
| miracles now as there ever was.
| There's whole columns about mira
cles every week in the Bungtown
Bugle.
Mrs. Hoefast-If you'd read the
paper, stead of JUS skimmin' over
i it, you'd see them articles is all about
people gittin' cured by DR.. Dosem's
Bilious Pills-the same you tried.
Farmer Ioefd8t-Eh! Did those
pills ever do any body any good?
Well, that's a miracle.
DR.. Ormond Of the Princeton uni
versity faculty is as noted in local
circles for his metaphysical profun-
dity. Some time ago, ON entering
the nursery at his home, he surprised
his offspring-a half dozen young
boys and small girl-in ardent dis
cussion of the "Absolute.o One
young philosopher turned to him in
appeal:
s'Father, can man be absolutely
good?"
"No," the professor replied, ga
man can't be absolutely good"
"Father," another young sage de-
manded, "can man be absolutely
bad?''
And the little daughter, aged four,
piped up.
"Father, can man be absolutely
fat?''
But the philosophers equilibrium
was too embarrassed to reply.
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