St. Tammany farmer., 1905-12-02
= S
Home Health |
| Club
By DAVID q. FEEDER. RI. b., Nh
La Porte, Ind.
TYPHOID FEVER
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TYPHOID FEVER.
l recently had letter from a relative
IN city in Indian territory, telling O!
recovery from typhoid fever. stating al
the same time that, while the total popu
latlon Of the city was less than 5000
there were over 100 cases of typhoid a;
that date and the number of deaths
were appalling.
In the case of herself and husband
the Home Health club methods of treat.
ment were carefully followed, and they
both made complete recovery in short
time. but they at once moved to town
where there was pure water and good
sewerage. The sickness had cost them
$500 in money besides the loss of valua-
bic time.
In view of the fact that this is the
season of the year when the disease is
most prevalent, think few remarks
ON the financial side of the question by
DR.. Victor Vaughan, of the University of
Michigan, as given in the New York In
dependent, are pertinent.
I'VE have $4,000 deaths annually from
typhoid fever, and we know how to pre-
vent these deaths. Why do we not do
it? 1t is estimated that the life of the
average adult is worth to the state
$1,000. If a young man of from 20 to Is
years of age loses his life, it will cost
$1,000 to raise another up to the same
age and l am sure that any father who
IS engaged in the pleasurable occupation
of raising a family of boys will deny
that it can be done SO cheaply. But on
this estimate, this government is losing
$4,000 times $1,000, or 100000 annu-
ally In deaths from typhoid fever. This
is not all typhoid fever is costing us. For
every death from this disease. at least
ten other people are sick with it. Five
hundred thousand people who do not die
are sick each year with typhoid fever.
We will suppose that the average dura-
tlon of the sickness is % days, and ali
will agree that this estimate
is too low. The person who has typhoid
fever is often unable to resume his vo-
cation within shorter time than
three months. However, we will make
our estimate on the supposiIion that
the average time lost from work by
man sick with this disease amounts to
100000 times % days, or $4,000. 900
days, which is equivalent to more
than 1886 years. Supposing that the
time ci the individual is worth so cents
per day when he is well; this repre-
Sents an actual loss of $7,00O,OOO annu-
ally, and this should be doubled, be-
cause for every person sick the time
of another person who acts as nurse is
demanded. The $14,O0O,O 900 added to
the s5O,00O,000 which are lost by. de eath
makes total sum of $64 ,OOO, 900. or
about one dollar for every inhabitant,
he annual tribute levied upon this ma
lion by the one disease, typhoid fever.
This represents approximately the
amount which we pay every year for
ne ignorance and carelessness which
We exercise in allowing this preventa-
Die disease to prevail among u.s.
Il have said that typhoid fever is a
disease, and that the large
lunbe1 OF deaths from this disease is
This is true, not onl; |
theoretically, but practical demonstra-
ions are not wanting. Prior to 1859.
he city of Munich, in Bavaria, was d
hotbed of typhoid fever
There were no sewers and no public
water supply. Most of the houses were
urEished with large brick or wooden
lues, which were built from the cellar
lp through the different floors. Into
hese the excretions from the body
we're dropped and accumulated in the
ellars. Other waste material was de.
'osited in cesspools and garbage was
brown into back yards. The air in
ne houses was foul and offensive to
he sense OF smell The drinking wa
er was taken from shallow wells ir
lie yards, and these often received the
oze from the cesspools and vaults. In
S5? the citizens were compelled to
cal tightly the bottoms and sides of
hese receptacles of filth. and, later,
system of sewerage was introduced.
nd later still a supply of wholesome
r,nking water was obtained. Not
the fact that portions of +
ne city still remained unsewered az
ne time of the last report, the results
ave been most gratifying From 1852
} 1889, the typhoid deaths per 1000
/ Munich averaged 24.2. This has
cen gradually decreased until in 1884
was Ia per 1000.
sThis shows what has been done in
. old and crowded city, and Vienna
as practically repeated the demon
.rations made by Munich The ma
,rity of cases of typhoid fever arises
ON contaminated water. That a
riEking water infected with the dis
narges Of person sick with typhoid
'ver may cause an epidemic of the
[sease there can no longer be any
oubt. The records of sanitary sci
ice abound in histories of such cases.
very physician of large experience !.
Itn this disease can detail one or
ore instances in which the disease
rs Leen clearly traced to infected wa !.
r, and I will consider that this meth
of the dissemination Of the disease
recognized by all. It probably is A
Ife estimate to say that bad drinking 1
ater causes not less than 10000 !
.atDs each year in this country" +
CLUB NOTES. | t
David H. Reeder. La /
rte, Ind.-Dear Doctor: I have
outlA In NV naclx inst fn tho loft nf