The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1906-08-21
How to Prevent Typhoid Fever.


To the Health Officials, Physicians and
People of Kentucky:
This Board again feels If TO he a
duty to call the earnest attention OH
our health authorities and people to
the increasing prevalence. and mortal
ity from typhoid fever and to the con-
sequent growing Importance of the
constant use of the methods endorsed
and confirmed by scientific research
and observation for the prevention of
the disease. Thirteen thousand and
three hundred and five cases of this
disease and 1,579 deaths were reported
in Kentucky last year, chiefly confined
to people in the prime of life and use
fulness. The cost of caring for those
sick of it, to say nothing of the sor-
row, suffering and loss of life, for the
year, is reported as being 1868. $50.
Typhoid fever is probably the most
preventable of all diseases, not even
excepting smallpox. 1t is now def
nitely known that, like cholera and
dysentery, the germse of the disease
are contained only in the discharges
from the bowels and kidneys OF those
sick of it, and that it Unnecessary for
q person to swallow some of such dis
charges, or things polluted by them,
in some way, in order to contract the
disease. They usually gain entrance
to the system through infected water
from wells or streams draining inhabit-
ed areas, and polluted by infected fecal
matter, CrS such matter may be car
rled by flies and deposited on the food,
utensils and hands in unscreened kitch-
ems and dining rooms, the germs may
also be carried on the hands of care
less attendants, or on Soiled clothing,
or indirectly, by using milk or other
articles of uncoOked food or drink, from
cans and vessels washed in infected
water. Ice from infected water is also
dangerous, as it has been proven that
freezing does not kill the germs. A
large volume of water may be infected
| from one case, and, if already polluted
with organic matter, become ready
culture fluid for the multiplication of
the germs. In the now noted epidemic
at Plymouth, Pennsylvania. involving
the sickness of 1,104 persons, and the
death of ia, the outbreak was traced
to the use of water from a stream in
fected by the discharges from one i'm
ported case. The recent disastrous
epidemic at Ithaca, New York, caus-
ing many deaths, 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 distress
ing and fatal epidemic which chung to
our military camps at Chickamauga,
Camp Mead, Montauk Point, and other
places, during the Spanish
war, flies were found to be the princi-
pal carriers of the disease by the
| United States Commission appointed
to investigate the origin of the out
| breaks. By the use of white powder
sprinkled over the discharges in the
latrines, thousands of these pests 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 intestines 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 uni
formly escaped the disease. Other !
facts no less convincing as to both
water and flies being carriers of this
disease might be multiplied Indefinitely,
Iif space permitted. In 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 interested in |
their own and the public health:
/ l. When it is known or suspected |!
that a person has typhoid fever he
should be placed in large, we'll venti-
lated room. with the windows and |
doors well screened, and such prepara-
ton should be made from the first day
for the thorough and systematic disin-
lection of all discharges from the bow
els and kidneys as will protect other
members of the family, the attendants
and the community.
g. A solution of chloride of lime, |
eight ounces to the gallon of water, |
should be provided in quantity, and
quart of this should be put in the bed |
pan or vessel each time before it re-
ceives the discharges, and should be
we'll stirred and allowed to stand in the
vessel at least an hour before it is
buried. An equivalent solution of
creOlin, or thick white-wash made
from the fresh quicklime, may be used
in the same way when the chloride of
| lime can not be obtained, but with
| THESE dC l0dSC iWO IlOuTS Will De required
to complete the disinfection.
g.. Soiled bed or body linen should
remain in the chloride of lime solution
for an hour, and may then be safely
put in the family wash. Soiled paper
or clothes used about the patient should
be Immediately burned. Attendants
should wash the hands frequently, and
the lips, and rinse the mouth always be-
fore eating. No one should partake of
any food which has stood in the sick
room. All of these precautions. should