Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-22

at a point below the Level of the bot
tom of the well. Thus when typhoid
fever stool or urine is thrown onto the
ground or into closet at point
above the level Of the bottom of a
well or other source Of water supply,
such water supply or well is liable to
become infected. To locate a closet
at a point below the level of the
bottom of wells in community is i'm
practicable, therefore all closets
should be provided with watertight
boxes and with a supply of lime, and
the mass should be covered with this
lime at least once each day. The bird
that fouls its nest is considered a
filthy object but what about man. that
thinking animal, that fouls his drink.
ing water, as every one does who 10.
Gates his closet in such place as to
permit the seepage to enter his well ?
Common Sense Precaution.
But wells are not the only source
Of water supply for domestic pur,
poses. In this state it is probable that
more people get their water either di
rectly or indirectly. from irrigating
bitches than get it from wells. BY in
directly | mean those who use cisterns
filed from irrigating bitches. These
bitches become infected in the same
manner as do the wells, and in ayldi
ton to this some people are so incon
siderate as to place their closets di
rectly over irrigating bitches, and thus
avoid the slight trouble of cleaning
the closets. ! know of one hotel in
this state that uses the irrigating ditch
in this manner and typhoid fever is
very prevalent in the district through
which this ditch flows.
Distinction is Necessary.
ITO prevent infection of water the
urine and stools of every typhoid fe-
yer patient must be disinfected This
is simple matter. If lump of quick
lime the size of walnut, or slightly
larger, or quantity of milk of lime
equal to the contents of the vessel be
mixed with each stool or passage of
urine and the vessel be kept covered
for three or four hours all the typhoid
germs in such vessel will be DESTROY
ed. If this We're done with each case
of typhoid fever the great source of
these germs would be eliminated This
would be effectual so long as the patti
ent is sick but it must not be forgot
ten that typhoid fever patients carry
with them and continue to DISCHARGE
these germs for months and months
after they have recovered. Especial
~ are they found in the urine of such
people. Therefore it becomes neces-
sary for everyone who has suffered
from typhoid fever to be very careful
with regard to the disposal of his ex-
creta for several months after he has
recovered. This means that he should
never, under any circumstances uri
nate in any place except water-tight
closet supplied with lime or other dis
infectant. This precaution would not
be necessary if each patient were kept
under observation and urinary anti
septics given until the urine was prov
en- to be free from typhoid germs
But this is impractical until we have
state bacteriOlogist employed tC
make all examinations of this char
acter free of charge to the patient
This could be secured at cost of
about $500 per year.
The epidemic at Hauser Lake, re.
sulting in about seventy cases. re.
suited from recovered typhoid depos-
lting his excreta in an improper place.
Had this mans urine been proven to
be free from typhoid germs before he
was permitted to go at large. this cpl
demic would not have happened. Is ST.
500 too much to spend to prevent such
accidents, tdsay nothing of other ad-
vantages to be derived by having a
regularly employed bacteriologist ?
We have had to discontinue all bac-
THEOLOGICAL examinations, even for
diphtheria, because of lack of funds.
The Place to be Cautious.
The fact that so many people are
going about the country who have re
Gently recovered from typhoid makes
II impossible to say who is liable to
infect water supply and therefore the
only safe method is to provide all
closets with water-tight boxes and
lime and always use the closet for the
purpose for which it was built and see
that everyone on your place does the
same. This closet is the proper place
to answer natures calls and it is a
filthy practice to use any other place
for this purpose.
So long as water is thus open tC
infection analyses may show it pure
today and infected tomorrow. and the
only safe course is to boil the water
Ii there is case of typhoid in YOU
/ eighborhood, and t be on the safe
side 1t is good plan to boil the water
used for domestic purposes all the
time. Remember, that no matter how
cloudy, boiled water will not carr,
typhoid