The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-04-16
AVOID TYPHOID.

Dr. j. d. Stocking, health officer
OF Donley county has caused 10 b,
widely circulated message contain
Ing valuable hints and suggestions
as TO the best methods OF battling
with the dread disease, typhoid
which generally makes It's appear
ance IN the spring o; the year.
We Gull the following from his
letter.:
Typhoid Is emphatlcaly a germ
disease, and prevails throughout the
civilized world. water, milk and flies
being the three chief sources or
agents OF infection.
The great source of infection is
always through the excrements OF
the body OF the patient, in all OF
which the bacillus typhosus literally
swarms. This fact has been posi-
lively proven, and many interesting
records made OF the results OF drink
ing water that has been infected by
these discharges
II is neither healthful nor exhila-
ating to drink clear solution OF
sewage from privy, however d.
lutte. but as n matter OF fact II is as
tonishing how long communities may
drink sewage-laden water with
comparative impunity so long as the
sewerage contains no typhoid dis
charges. This fact has been proven
by Investigations prompted by de-
velopment OF typhoid fever, when the
water would be discovered to con-
tain the germ that could be traced
to typhoid discharges that had re-
Gently been deposited in a cesspoo
which had for years been pollutins
the water unnotlced.
MIX vessels should always be
washed with pure water In the
larger cities weekly certificates from
the family physicians OF all dairymen
are filed asserting that no typhoid
fever exists in their families. or
among their employees. This has
been so effective in Greater New
York that during the past five years
not a single ossAIpf typhoid has been
traceable to infected milk from dali
rymen. a7ai7 Sd isaja b.
The filthy ay is oyhe NAH conta-
yion spreader IN this country. partic-
llarly where vaMltless privies are In
vogue, and excrements are exposed
10 the millions OF flies through the
greater part OF the year, the services
Of the city scavenger being called
INTO use only once month.
A fact regarding the typhoid germ
not generally known. and yet very
important to be known, that proper
are may be taken, is that for months
after the recovery OF the patient
here are millions OF germs still in
he system capable OF being trans
nitted through the excrements.
The last method o. the transmits
ion OF the germ Is by direct contact |
With the patient. This method Is
rare, and comes from
oiled hands that are not properly
leansed before something is handled
nd eaten. The careless eating OF
ruit that is left exposed to the flies
n the sick room or luncheon that
las been left on the table or side
oard for the night watch, and been
,alked over by the filthy fly is a
angerous thing.
To destroy the ravages OF the dis
ase, every care should be exercised
nd the contagion must be fought
rom both ends OF the line.
First sterilize all the discharges
rom the patient by the addition OF
arbollc acid, or the bichloride Of
lercury in solution. Then bury
hem beyond the possibility OF any
ccess OF the fly. Screen against
he flies and destroy as far as pos
ible, their breeding places.
Dig all privies at least six feet
eep, and exclude light, for where
arkness reigns flies are unknown.
o have these prlvles cleansed or
ew ones dug before the excreta gets
'ithin two feet Of the surface, will
e found a very safe arrangement.