Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-05
Typhoid Germs and Their Avoidance

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
So much is being said and written con-
corning the prevalence OF typhoid, and Of
the necessity to boil the drinking water, I
would like to call attention to feature Of
the matter that seems to have been some-
what overlooked.
wish to refer to the danger that may,
and in my opinion frequently does. arise
from eating and drinking those foods
which are generally taken in a raw. state,
such as fruits and vegetables and milk
to say nothing of the butter. cheese,
bakers bread, confectioneries and all the
many other articles of diet which are ex-
posed for sale in the markets and stores
and In open carts and wagons on the
streets Of the city. Unfortunately. the ty-
phoid germs are not limited to the water.
Though from the greater ease with which
they may be discovered in the water when
they do exist there we are apt to lose sight
OF the fact that they are frequently found
in large numbers in the dust floating
around in the air and deposited upon the
surface of things-especially If these are
moist-that are exposed thereto.
Those who would have the sewerage used
for fertilizing farms and market gardens
instead of its being emptied into the run
ming streams are advising a plan for con-
centrating the poison and bringing it into
physical contact with the cabbages and to-
matoes, the celery and lettuce which come
seems to me that they would localize the
germs and render 1t almost sure that some
of them would return to US, rather than
cause them to be put where they would be,
If not diluted. certainly scattered and very
likely have their virulence lessened there
by-not to mention the greater opportunity
we have for removing them from water by
boiling and altering.
1t is one Of the fortunate facts in this
connection that the germs do not grow
into the substance itself Of the fruits and
vegetables, when brought into contact
with them. What 1 mean is that though
these disease germs-whether Of typhoid or
of other similar diSeaSes-may be present
In large numbers where the plant is grow
ing and mingled with the soil in contact
with its roots, the plant tissue itself with
its products does nos take up and incor-
porate In its interior substance any Of
them. The germs lie upon the outer sur
face of the plant and its fruit, and in the
case of the fruits and vegetables that are
peeled before being eaten and those that
are not usually peeled, but are Thoroughly
washed, the danger is very materially les
sened.
Herein. however. comes the difficulty 1t
Is hard to convince people of the necessity
to take on the rind of the vegetables and
fruits which are eaten raw, and of care
fully washing those which cannot thus he
readily peeled. Yet there u.s. in nv opinion
more danger in falling to do this than In
neglecting to boil the drinking water:
though this latter should, of course, be
always done-not just when the typhoid is
epidemic, but always. In the matter NJ
those articles of food which cannot he
easily managed in the way indfcated-I
mean the bread and butter and such
things as are not readily washed or peeled
before eaten--1 would suggest that thew
be kept in closed wrappers or vessels nm,
TIL needed for use.
c. c. JOHNSON. M D.