Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-25
TYPHOID IN PENoBScoT.
Sickness Alleged to Be Due to Water
Supply.

Bangor. Me-, April 24.-The Penob-
scot County Medical Association has
given out for publication the follow
ing:
"The members of the Penobscot
County Medical Association consider it
ftting at this time to express their
opinion to the public concerning the
cause of the large number Of cases Of
typhoid in Bangor and vicinity and the
means that should be taken to ameli-
crate the present conditions.
.,rhe opinion is unanimous that the
ma iority of all cases of typhoid can be
traced to those cities and towns taking
their water supply from the Penobscot
river. In the present epidemic all cases
in the lower Penobscot valley are con-
fined to Millinocket, Old Town, Bangor
and Brewer, while Orono, Hampden.
: Winterport, Bucksport, Ellsworth ana
Bar Harbor have no cases at the pres
ent time: and it is the universal opin-
| ion of the physicians of these surround
ing towns that the majority of their
few cases of typhoid in the past can be
traced to Bangor, Brewer or Old Town.
1T has been the misfortune of Ban
gOf LOT lHt past years W nave an
annual or semi-annual epidemic of ty-
phoid fever, the cases numbering from
so to several hundred. Again and
again individuals in the profession
have pointed out the one great source
of infection and have succeeded in
convincing many of the thinking peo-
pie; but the majority seem still indif-
ferent to danger.
Water analysis and meteorological
examinations are of value only when
positive results are obtained. A mega
tive result is of no value whatever and
is apt to be misleading. 1t is SO diff
cult to demonstrate the presence of the
typhoid germ in water. that all eminent
sanitarians agree that that method of
procedure at the present time is of little
value against the evidence of recurrent
epidemics and open pollution of water
supplies.
The primary cause Of all typhoid is
infected drinking water. Boiling it is
sure way to destroy the germs. All
drinking water should be boiled unless
one can be certain that the supply
comes from source where there is no
possible chance of contamination. Not
only should the drinking water be
boiled, but all of that used for wash
ing vegetables, lettuce, fruit and what
ever IS used for food, uncooked. Many
people are very careful to use spring
water for drinking. but brush their
/ teeth. rinse their dishes and milk Jars
: in unboiled water. This may be a fire.
quent source of infection.
Files are great carriers of infection.
Not only should typhoid patients bes
screened, but all the urine and stoolss
should be thoroughly disinfected and at
the same time kept where the flies cans
not get at them Going from the patient
they contaminate the food. carrying tS-
! the present epidemic continues it would
! be well to have all the screens put on
the houses earlier than usual, and use
extra care to keep all flies out. The dan
| ger from typhoid is not from contact as
| in the conta gious diseases, since the germ
| is taken into the system through the
| mouth So, if all water is boiled, if reas-
enable precautions are taken in the care
| of patients and i'll the disinfection of the
| excreta, and flies are kept from the
| houses, the chances Of typhoid infection
will be very small.
tram L. Bryant, G: P, Thomas, Lewis
Crane, w p McNally, D. Hennessy, c.
ID. Edmunds, Atwell W. SWEET, William
c. Mason. George E. Hilton. H. A. King,
G; L. Mccurdy; 7, ]; Murphy, J; s.
son. Harry Butler. J. Albert Lethiecq. c.
NJ Thomas. w. H. Simmons. w. L. Hunt.
G. r. Rur g So O. l. R 3, CarIot t.
starrett, Blanche Mansfield. w, H.
3. Tibbetts, H. L. Jewell.