The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-13
TYPHOID FEVER FACTS.
Not Prominent In List of Fatal Dis
eases, but II Is Lingering.
Baltimore Americana


Typhoid fever is not prominent in the
list of fatal diseases. The percentage
of fatalities is usually small, but the
disease entails upon the patient a long
period of critical illness. requires care
fur nursing and is heavy expense
Unlike many infections, typhoid fever
frequently comes from the country to
the city, and carelessness in nursing
one case may pollute the water supply
of the nearest town, which in turn may
pollute that of the next town or city,
and produce an epidemic of huge pro-
portions.
If not necessarily fatal malady, ty-
phoid fever is lingering. 1t is seldom
that a patient RECEIVERS his strength
until after six or eight weeks. The old
method of ice baths for the patient, to
keep down his temperature, has been
discarded. 1t is generally recognized
that the disease must take its course
No solid foods are given, and cathar-
tics are essential. Careful nursing is
Of prime Importance. Absolute rest and
quiet are demanded.
Typhoid is a germ disease Even aft
er physicians discovered the means by
which typhoid fever is communicated it
was generally believed that water free
from visible impurities was safe, and
that visibly foul water was dangerous
Although the latter conclusion is gen.
orally correct, the former is wholly err
roneous. When a eity's water supply
comes directly from a muddy stream
the probabilities are that it contains
the infection, as typhoid fever is ex-
istent at all times and streams are
open to pollution from many sources;
but perfectly clear water, having every
appearance of purity, may be more
dangerous than muddy water. The
house filter charities, but it does not
actually cleanse.
Medical authorities seem to agree
that typhoid germs must be taken into
the stomach In order to cause typhoid
fever. When person is in good health
and the gastric juices are in proper
condition, no serious results may follow
the Introduction of the bacilli into the
stomach. The germs of typhoid IeVeT
and, In fact, the germs of all diseases
are destroyed by high temperature. It
is for this reason that it is recommend
ed that water for potable purposes be
boiled since water is held to be re-
sponsible for the dissemination of ty-
phoid fever. 1t is also held that ty-
phoid fever is not infrequently con-
tracted by the indigestion of uncooked
articles of food and certain vegetables,
such as celery. lettuce, etc, often laden
with germs. The simple washings to
which they are subject cannot remove
the germs. 1t has been discovered that
lemon juice viii kill the germ, and the
sprinkling of lemon juice upon vegeta-
bles has been recommended.
To prevent the dissemination of ty-
phoid fever is one of the most import
ant problems in sanitation. for just as
long as human beings are untaught in
the simple and inexpensive methods of
representation, or being taught, are
eriminally neglectful of themselves and
others, they have no right TO expect
escape from the gravest disasters.
Perhaps the most active agents in the
dissemination of typhoid fever are tile
railroads and stemars, for II is well
known that the tanks of trains and
steamers are usually filled with water
from the common source of supply a:
their terminals in the larger cities
These companies should, under the con-
slant supervision of experts in the va
rious health boards, be compelled by
law to furnish pure water to their pas
sengers.