The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-10-21
CAUSES OF TYPHOID
AND CARE OF CASES
DISEASE NOT NECESSARILY IA
tai THOUGH LINGERING; RE-
QUIRES GOOD TREATMENT.

Typhoid fever is not prominent in
the list of fatal Diseases says the
Baltimore American. The percentage
of fatalities is usually small, but the
disease entails upon the patient a
long period of critical Illness, re-
quires careful nursing and is a heavy
expense. Unlike many infections, ty-
phoid fever frequently comes from
the country to the city, and careless
ness 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 proportions.
If not necessarily a fatal malady,
typhoid fever is lingering. 1t is sell
dom 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 tenn
perature has been discarded. 1t is
generally recognized that the disease
must take its course. No solid foods
are given, and cathartics are essen
tial. Careful nursing is of prime i'm
portance. Absolute rest and quiet
are demanded.
Typhoid is a germ disease. Even
after physicians discovered the means
by which typhoid fever is commune
Gated it was generally believed that
water free from visible impurities
was safe, and that visibly foul water
was dangerous. Although the latter
conclusion is generally correct, the
former is wholly erroneous. When a
city's water supply comes directly
from a muddy stream the probabili-
ties are that it contains the infection,
as typhoid fever is existent at all
times and streams are open to pollu-
ton from many sources; but perfect
ly clear water, having every appear
ance of purity, may be more danger
Gus than muddy water. The house
filter clarifies, but it does not act
ually cleanse.
Medical authorities seem to agree
that typhoid germs must be taken
into the stomach in order to cause ty-
phoid fever. When person is in
good health and the gastric juices are
| in proper condition, no serious re-
suits may follow the introduction of
the bacilli into the stomach. The
germs of typhoid fever, in fact, the
germs of all diseases, are destroyed
by high temperature. 1t is for this
reason that it is recommended that
water for potable uses be boiled,
since water is held to be responsible
for the dissemination of typhoid fe-
YER 1t is also held that typhoid fever
is not infrequently contracted 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 subjected cannot remove the
germs. 1t has been discovered that
lemon juice will kill the germ, and
the sprinkling of lemon juice upon
vegetables has been recommended.
To prevent the dissemination of
typhoid fever is one of the most i'm
portant problems in sanitation, for
| just as long as human being are UNI
taught in the simple and inexpensive
methods of Misrepresentation, or, be-
ing taught, are criminally neglectfu
of themselves and others, they have
no right to expect escape from the
gravest of disasters.
Perhaps the most active agents in
the dissemination of typhoid fever
are the railroads and steamers. for il
is well known that the tanks of trains
and steamers are usually filled with
water from the common source OF
supply at their terminals in the larger
cities. These companies should, UNI
der the constant supervision of eX-
perts in the various health boards, be
compelled by law to furnish pure wa
ter to their passengers.