The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1904-07-02
PREVENTION OF TYPHOID
FEVER.
Circular Issued by the State Board
Of Health of Kentucky.

To the Health Officials, Physicians
and People of Kentucky:
This board again feels it to be q
duty to call the earnest attention
of our health authorities and peo-
pie TO the increasing prevalence
and mortality from typhoid fever
and to the consequent growing I'M
portance of the constant use of the
methods endorsed and confirmed
by scientific research and Observa-
ton for the prevention of the
disease. 10. 305 cases of this disease
and l,579 deaths were reported in
Kentucky last year, chiefly con-
fined to people in the prime of life
and usefulness. The cost of caring
for those sick of it, to say nothing
of the sorrow, suffering and loss of
life, for the year, is reported as
being 1868, 700.
Typhoid fever is probably the
most preventable of all diseases,
not even excepting SMALLPOX. 1t
is now definitely known that, like
cholera and dysentery. the germs
of the disease are contained only
in the discharges from the bowels
and kidneys of those sick of ii, and
that it is necessary for person to
swallow some of such discharges,
or things polluted by them, in some
way, in order to contract the
disease. They usually gain en-
trance to the system through in
fected water from wells or streams
draining inhabited areas, and pol
luted by infected fecal matter or
such matter may be carried by
flies and deposited on the food,
utensils and hands in unscreened
kitchens and dining rooms, the
germs may also be carried on the
hands of careless attendants. or on
soiled clothing, or indirectly, by
using milk or other articles of Nm
cooked food or drink from cans ana
vessels washed in infected water.
Ice from infected water Is also dan
oerous, as it has been proven that
freezing does not kill the germs.
A large volume of water may be IN
fectpd from one ease. ana. II ALREADY
polluted with organic matter, be-
come ready culture fluid for the
multiplication of the germs. In
the now noted epidemic at Plym-
Outh. Penn ylvauia, involving the
sickness of l.l04 persons, and the
death of IL, the outbreak was
stream infected by the discharges
from one imported case. The re-
cent disastrous epidemic at Ithaca,
New York, causing many DEATH,
and requiring the suspension OF
Cornell University. was traced to
the use of "a public water supply
similarly infected.
On the other hand, in the dis
tressing and fatal epidemic which
clung to our military camps at
Chickamauga, Camp Mead, Mon
tauk Point, and other places, dur
ing the Spanish-American war.
flies were found TO be the principal
carriers of the disease by the
United States Commission APP
pointed TO investigate the origin OF
the outbreaks. BY the use of white
powder sprinkled over the dis
charges i'm the latrines, thousands
of these posts were tracked direct
from these and found covering the
food, hands and utensils in the
kitchens and mess rooms OF the
common soldiers. Cultures taken
from the feet, legs, bills and intes-
tines of these flies showed the
germs of typhoid fever in countless
numbers. The kitchens and mess
rooms of the officers were screened,
and they almost uniformly escaped
the disease. Other facts no less
convincing as to both water and
flies being carriers of this disease
might be multiplied indefinitely, II
space permitted. In IA smaller
way, they must be common in the
experience of most physicians IN
active practice.
Based upon the teachings of the
foregoing facts, the following rules
have been prepared with care for
the guidance of all persons inter
ested in their own and the public
health:
LIST. When it is known or sus-
pected that a person has typhoid
fever, he should be placed in a
large, we'll ventilated room with
the windows and doors well
screened, and such preparation
should be made from the first day
for the thorough and systematic
disinfection of all discharges from
the bowels and kidneys as will pro-