Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-02
TYPHOID FEVER.
A Special Circular Put Out by
Board of Health.
Precautions Which Should be Needed
by Every Family.
The Use OF Oranges, Lemons and Sour
Apples Recommended.


board in which is contained a grea
deal of valuable information regarding
the precautions which should be takel
in households where the disease exists
as well as those which should be oh
served by everyone.
The distribution has thus far beef
made in houses where cases exist, blu
il will be made general so far as tn,
circulars, which are the gift of tn,
State board, can be secured. 1t is ais,
the intention of the local board to es
tablish a station for steam disinfec.
ton on the lines suggested by the cir.
cular, but the matter has not pro.
crossed sufficiently yet to allow of any
definite statement.
In addition to the circular the boar(
recommends the extensive use OF
oranges and lemons, or sour apples, as
u preventive against typhoid, as it is {;
we'll known fact that the acid con-
tanned in these fruits is very beneficial
as a protection against ones becomins
infected by the fever germs.
The text of the circular is given be-
low, and should be read by everyone:
Typhoid fever is communicable
cred contagious or infectious in the
general meaning of these terms. In
the absence of precautionary measures
the disease often prevails unnecessar-
lily.
The infectious germ is given off in
the discharges from the patient. The
prompt and efficient disinfection OF
these discharges is therefore, one OF
the chief requisites to the prevention
of the spread of the disease.
The infection Of typhoid fever comes
by ingestion,-that is the typhoid fe-
Yer germ is swallowed in infected
drink or food or. more rarely, it
reaches the mouth in infectious dust
from dried infected clothing, for in
stance). The communication of the
Infection usually takes place in some
of the following ways:
The discharges from the typhoid fe-
Yer patients reach sources of drink
ing water supplies through sewage, the
drainage from privies or otherwise.
Water thus infected is the prime cause
of typhoid fever. Boil suspicious drink
ing water; it is thus rendered harm
less.
pHOlu lever IS sometimes spread
from the primary cases in households
by the fingers of the nurse or mother
who attends to the wants of the sick.
and then turns to the preparation of
food for the family. An ordinary wash-
ing of the hands does not suffice to en-.
sure against the transmission of the
germs. (See Distinction. 100
The disease is sometimes widely
spread by milllInen whose milking is
done by persons whose fingers are in
1ectious, or whose milk supply is kept
too near the sick room or the privy
vault, OF whose milk cans are washed
with infected water. Heat suspicious
milk TO near the boiling point.
1t is sometimes spread by means of
infectious dust which comes from the
personal clothing or the bed clothing
that has been soiled with the dis
charges from the patient and after
wards dried. (See Distinction, and
-.
Typhoid fever is, perhaps, sometimes
spread by breathing in the eXhalations
from infected privies. (See Disinfec-
ton, 50
/. The work OF diSinfection should
begin with the beginning OF the treat
ment of cases and should continue dur
ing the whole course of the disease.
All articles of bed clothing and of body
clothing should be dsinfected as soon
as they are removed from the bed or
from the patient.
=. The diSinfection work should be
carried out in conformity with the fol-
lowing rules as far as possible. No
bedding or other property of value
should be burned or otherwise de-
stroyed if it can be avoided
3. EXcreta.-The certain disinfection
of the discharges from the patient i'm
mediately afterfthey are passed is of
prime Importance For this purpose
use milk of lime prepared from caustic
lime just as Whitewash is made; or So
luton of chloride of lime at the rate of
6 ounces to the gallon of water: or
lysol, ounces to the gallon. For the
disinfection of fresh excreta a quantity
of one of these solutions three or four
times as large as the volume of the
discharge shoult. be used, and before
the final disposal is made the disin-
fectant should act three or four hours
at least. Time is an important ele-
iiitlil Ill anu le IlllN-
ture of the disinfecting solution and
the matter to be disinfected is essen
tial.
A sure way to disinfect fresh excreta
is to pour upon it, in the vessel, at
least four or five times it's volume of
boiling water, cover the vessel and let
it stand until it is cooled.
For the distinction of excreta in
privy vaults use milk of lime in large
quantity sufficient to thoroughly sat
urate. thss contents, and, after the vault
is enpti@l, gallon after gallon should
be poured in until the ground beneath
the ordinary privy is thoroughly satur-
ated with the milk of lime.
The final disposal of typhoid excreta
should be with the view of avoiding
the possibility of it's reaching. by sur
face drainage or by percolation, rivers
lakes, wells. or springs that serve as
sources of water supply. With disin-
fected excreta there is always a fair
probability of unsuccessful disinfec-
ton at some point.
4. Cotton and Linen CIothing-Dis-
infection may be done by immersion
in a solution of carbolic acid 6 ounces
ounces to the gallon of water). The
clothing shollId remain in, tho colntio,,