Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-22
See the races at Rockville Fair-Advt.
Typhoid Trails.
To the Editor of The Star

To the Editor Of The Star:
Have authorities, searching for q
cause of typhoid fever, considered the ex-
cess of upturned earth? When the digging
for the various local improvements began
the scribe and some other wiseacres agreed
that there would be typhoid fever through
out the city, as there always is when the
summer Is devoted to upheaval of old
much-used earth. That prediction was
made before the work was begun Police
men are called the guardians of the public
why not add to their usual duties that of
driving loiterers away from these places
or upheaval? This freshly turned earth is
malodorous and should not be taken into
the systems of people who stop to lounge
ana look. They are frequently in a weary
perspirlng, receptive condition, and lust
ready to become victims of this effiuvia
Persons living in proximity to this newly
turned earth should shut out its atmos-
phere as soon as the night or evening cool
ness comes. The sunlight is a germicide,
and during the day the sun-purfied and
wlnd-ventilated air should be freely ad-
m1tted into every corner and room, but the
windows and doors should be closed when
the sun Is low and the air rises from this
turned over earth, damp and strangely per-
fumed. If there are windows that can
admit air from a contrary direction, use
them; II not, depend upon leaving open a.,
tne inner doors from room to room: and
burning gas or large lamps as little as
possible. Candle light Is sufficient; street
lamps are more useful than many may
know, while starlight and moonlight are
ideal In their cool. pure restfulness
rev days ago the writer was obliged to
walk where white wings was washing
his sweeper from city hydrant two we'll
dressed boys watched the work for a WHILE
then each deliberately made cup Of his
hands and mouth and took drink from
the MUDDY liquid flowing from the hydrant
White wings and policeman left the writer
TO make the medical address. Does any
one know IL this dear Tommie and Eddie
are still In good health? 1t is hoped that
mother had plenty of boiled water cooled
for them to drink when they arrived at
home.
The next day this modern assalant Of
wind mills met a welve-year-old nurse girl
airing an infant in a go-cart much be-
rufi,ed. This guardian of infant health
stood watching the emptying of one of
always takes place when the greatest num-
Der of imbeciles are out to watch and smell
the performance. AS this dismal dark
fluid run Its course into metal cart neatly
labeled I'D. c. II. d." or something on
that order, the maid and the infant breathed
II, though the perfume suggested the old
city of Cologne. Why should these things
be thus? What sort of sanitary morning
air do these infants inspire?
Cannot some of the health officials draw
on the rest of the set for a little common
sense, remembering that foresight is much
more useful than aftersight?
While these good persons are reforming
sanitary conditions. they might very wisely
distribute yards of netting or tarlatan, or
something to protect from the street filth
the numerous booths of uncovered sugared
'delicacies," cakes, pies, etc. Some one
eats these things, dust, germs and all
c. r. BUSH.