Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-18
Typhoid Fever and One of It's Causes.

L
To the Editor Of The Star:
once practiced medicine for twelve years
In small village and the surrounding
country. and of course. had cases of ty
phoid every year. While there is so much
OF it In Washington 1t seems to be the
duty of every one with any experience to
assist in locating its possible source, and
1t will be understood that my remarks are
given for what they are worth. Typhus
fever has been called camp fever" jail
fever, ship fever" etc, and typhoid
Is sometimes considered mild form
Of typhus If typhoid is fatal 1t
doesn't matter what is the grade. To
get down to the point of my letter.
do not believe that dirt" per Sc. causes
1t. nor decaying wood or vegetables. nor
dead sewer gas. nor swamp land. nor ardi-
nary poor water, nor weeds, nor asohalted
or dusty streets, decent amopnt
of work mental or physical; nor tea, cof-
fee or pure beer. Sewers must be flushed
and the asphalt carries the rain water to
them, and, doubt, the above list in
cludes causes of lowered vitality and so
render persons more susceptible to the ty-
phofd germs. but my opinion Is that gen.
uine typhoid poison comes from the drain
age from barns where are kept horses and
cattle-live animals. In my experience
never failed to notice the relative situation
Of the house, the barn, the vegetable gar
den. the clubhouse and the pump If the
drainage from the floors and manure heaps
of the barn could reach the vegetables and
the pump, the surface or by way OF
veins in the earth, there was my case. III
the animals usually drank the water thus
contaminated by themselves l see no fea-
son why their (possiblef Peyers gaEds
should not be affected, and thus through
the barn refuse complete the circuit, Incl
dentally Staying their owners Subjected
to the same cause, the whole family are
likely to be sick, some of them Walking
So often have l seen the necessary mother
and wife taken down first and likely the
worst case, because she was most conf ned
to the house with work and worry. lf the
pump is between the house and Darn lcok
out! If the house is between the barn ana
the pump, contrary to rule and convenience
and the drainage Is away from he pump,
Won don't have to look out If there is
genuine case of typhoid fever in The mouse
the safety of every one depends upon wat
Is done with the discharges from The Fa-
tent. They should be carried 10 distant
point and buried, away from flies and pcs
sible drainage. / believe in boiling the wa
ter we drink. in whatever shape II is 'aken
into the stomach, whatever Is n II. not OF
cold / would like to see map OF the
city of Washington with nothing shown on
the streets but the horse and cattle BARNS
and the relative location of typhoid fever
cases. Again calling attention to tpossipie)
Peyer's glands In horses. cows ETC. re-
mark that the above considerations cover
the milk question" the dairy farms, the
outlying vegetable gardens. the Vish.ns
in the country, the SmalteT noiciS u TIC
seashore, the upper Potomac water, etc
Sewers are dangerous necessity With all
their openings and outlets communicating
with barns and residences. yet typhoid is
very prevalent in the country districts, N
spite of the outdoor life. Is 1t not reason
able to believe 1t has a common otSih-
that the germs come, comparatively re-
Gently from live animals? 1t is l'kh Tune
that some theory should match the condi-
ton and that the true cause be spotted
When a crowd surges toward common
point every one cries out, What Is ltf
What Is it?" While uncertainty every
where prevails splendid men and women
are dead and others will die. some In me
houses with sanitary surroundings, anu
neople are asking What Is it?' Merely
saving. Filth Is typhoid and Typhoid is
d!seraceful' does not pan out. one case
that goes Into a ship. jail or camp is
enough. There need not be more than me
one case brought into camp, but careless
ness and flies will serve to NOW down tHe
brave boys who under orders look 70 otiie 81.
for skill and protection. ComparaiiVely re-
cent discharges from live animals IoItu-
nately can be brought to the immediate at
tention of households, at least, II You wouia
in some manner give 1t prominence
want to say in advance to any one "Eo
NAV arise to criticise this letter that all
the grounds and bushes and possiohltles
have been pretty we'll thrashed over: anu
that If he has a better theory TO oier ne
ought to have thought of 1t before SO let
the band play. T. - Ni]