The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-08-18
CHE Meral1 and Me'vs
TYPHOID FEVER.
Complete Immunity From Infection I'M
possible, But Wise Sanitary Measures
Reduce Danger to Minimum.

Work
1t has often been said Of typhoid
fever (Which IS just now 80 prevalent
in many American cities and towna)
that one may eat and drink it, but he
cannot breathe it. Experience estab-
llshes this RS general truth.
While typhoid attacks persons of
all ages it's greatest fatality is among
those in the prime of life. The
period of maximum susceptibility
seems to be between the ages of Is
and As. This, however, may be less
of q paradox than it appears to be.
Vigorous persons in tho prime of life
are, perhaps, less prudent than the
young are required to be. They in
dulge in more excesses and incur
greater risks in exposure to weaken
ing influences. II \; i; Good gen
eral health is the best safeguard
known or imaginable against typhoid;
and it should not be forgotten that
general good health is inconsistent
with imprudence in habit or diet.
Undoubtedly the mos, frequent
cause df typhoid fever is found in
polluted drinking water. Genorally
speaking, the protection Of water
supply is beyond the power Of the
individual; but even polluted water
may be- perfectly sterilizcd by the
slmple expedicnt of boiling it. Care
must be taken, however, to protect it
from subsequent contamination.
The cooling which is necessary to
render it agreeable to the taste
should not be done with leo added to
it and permitted to mingle with it in
melting, unless the purity of the ice
is assured. A wall Of clean glass he
tween the boiled water and the ice
which cools it is prudent.
Why the very general use of
boiled wator does not safeguard
more homes against typhoid invasion
than it appears to is probably due 10
the fact that it is not used exclusive
". There is almost certain to be
carel" ssness in the kitchen, however
great the degree Of care in the din
ing room. The washing Of greer
vegetables in water from the tap an,
it's addition to food preparations
aerved uncookod will often carry th
germs to the most s(rupulousl,
guarded table. If the water suppl,
of 3 house is known to be polluted i
should be treated like any othe
poison. Bottled waters may or ma,
not be safe. 1t depends partly upoI
what they are filled with and partl,
upon how the empty bottles ar
cleansed between reiillng. Sine
tho consumer can know very it'll
about this, however curiously h
may inquire he may feel more conf
uence in water he has boiled an,
properly cooled than in suppl
which must be taken largely oI
faith.
Milk ls III many respects the mos
dangerous article of food which come
into the we'll ordered dwelling. In
numer"b,e epidemics oftyphoid feve
have been traced to it. Tho norma
condition Of the milk Of commerce
that of swarming with bacteri,
Generally speaking it should move
be used unsterilized. The proces
known rs pasteurization, 10y whic
it is heated to l5S or 100 degrees,
the simplest aud safest. In no he
way than by heat can honsehol
"hlcb receives daily supply {
milk be safegnarded against typhoi
fever.
The same ls true of sea food. Sint
it is Impossible to know the immed
ate source Of sholllish purchased
the market, their nse uncooked m.
be pro, ,'erly discouraged. The San
tary literature on this subject is vo
luminous and convincing. Indee
there are very few things which mf
be eaten raw with immunity from Il
Immediate danger Of typhoid infe
ton. DR.. w. T. Sedgwick, profess
Of bacteriology in the Massachuso
Institute of Technology, says wi
great force and attractive brevit
HNnf hinfv 10 mora part nj