Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-01-24

the disease There may be a hint for
Waterville in this.
The typhoid fever germ has some PEI
culiariti,s all its own. Il is claimed
that the only WY TO administer it 10
the body for business purposes is
through the mouth either in water or
food. The disease is not known as con-
taeious in the usual sense of the word
although there is of course danger il a
patient communicating the germ to
those attending him. The germ seems
to have more lives Than the proverbial
cat. There seems TO be no ordinary
natural conditions that Will destroy it
although heat of sufficient intensity
win do it. So far as known a germ
c,lce matured will live forever, There
was a case in Brunswick a few years
ago that illustrates this quality very
We'll. Many years ago there had been
a case in Il family that obtained it wa
ter from well, The well was closed
aud remained SO for q long time and
WAS then reopened and cleaned in what
was considered Il thorough manner.
i.ut some of those using the water were
attacked by the disease and the cause
was traced to the well, it being believed
that the germs remained there from the
case Of many years before. After the
second case the well was filled up SO
that there would be no chance to get
water from it again.
1t is claimed that 2 germ Of the dis
ease may be frozen in the midst of Il
cake of ice and left there for months
and then taken out alive and kicking
all ready for business if it once gets
into a body. 1t will not grow in the ice
but remain dormant with all it's quail
ties in force and ready for work as
soon as the conditions again become
congenial. 1t is also claimed that no
amount of filth will generate the germ
but that if inserted in the midst of it
will thrive in fine style.
it Will be seen that with these quail
tiles after once getting a foot hold it is
very difficult to get at the germ and
destroy It. For this reason where thtr
has been a case Of typhoid unless ex-
treme care is taken there is liable to be
another sometime. The germ will
struggle along some way until it get
another chance to work and then will
make its presence known all right.
Drinking water seems to be the lire
Of least resistance for the germ as
many cases have been traced to this.
A good example of the way water may
De responsible for the spread of the dis
case IS II well known case where q
small town was almost wiped out Of
existence by ii. 1t was some time be-
fore the cause of it could be accurately
located but it was finally explained in
this way. The town took it's supply Of
water from q small river and q small
brook en,ptied into this several miles
above the town. IL was found that
there had been a case OF the disease in
u family ur on this brook a.ld that ali
the broo.s, thence to the river from
which the towns water was taken. The
cause of the epidemic was laid to the
case I'd on the brook.
1t is not always easy to locate the
germ in water by analysis. There may
be no germ in the sample taken and
yet plenty of them in the source of
supply. Usually the presence of germs
in the water can be determined by an
Investigation that shows there has
been germs and that they have had a
good opportunity to get into the water.
The nature OF the germ, the peculiar
weather conditions of the winter, the
prevalence of the disease here and in
other places in the State and in the
country make the problem a pretty
tough one for solution. The local
Board of Health is doing all that is
possible under the circumstances. 1t
has not been going about with brass
been studied pretty carefully. When
it was found that the cause could not
be discovered by home talent outside
experts We're employed and these are
now at work. This seems to all that
can be done at present. When the true
cause is located beyond a doubt there
viii he d chance for further action.
Meanwhile every one will have a
chance to help the thing along by TAX
ing good care of their health. One
thing that has been noted il, several
cases where death has resulted that
the patient had not been feeling well
for some time before, finally giving up
to the disease. If every one would
take care to doctor when they first be-
gin to feel bad or call in a physician
at once some cases of the fever might
be prevented. The danger of keeping
around while feeling half sick has
been pretty clearly shown.
There is certainly no reason for GO
ing into Mysteries over the local con-
ditions. The Board OF Health in do
ing all that can be done and this with
every one taking proper care of their
own health and extreme care in the
handling of the patients seems to be
all that can be accomplished at pres
cnt. If the experts now at work dis
cover the real cause there will be 8
chance to do something. Meanwhile
, take care of yourself.
A. +. GERALD, BLACKSMITH.