The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1909-01-28
THE CAUSES OF
TYPHOID FEVER
A Plain Talk by Prof. +. E. Beck.
with, Bacteriologist, N. D. A.C.

One Of the diseases of the North.
west for which there is least excuse
is what is generally known as IA
Run of Fever" Red River Fever"
and sometimes merely Fever" all of
which may be classified under the
general title of typhoid. Typhoid fe.
yer Is extremely prevalent in parts of
the state, especially in the rural dis.
tricts, and its presence is largely due
to the fact that proper methods of
combating it and treatment are not
understood. Moreover, it is not COM
pretended by people who should un-
derstand such things that it is a dis
ease which is readily communicated
from person to person by means of a,
number of agencies. If those agen-
cies are rendered harmless the trou-
BILE cannot increase. It has been
found by light of late medical study
that typhoid is an unnecessary dis.
ease.
The seat of action is in the fntes-
line. The ordinary portal of entry is
through the mouth. The diseased
condition occurs in the intestines, and
is due in most cases to an liberation
which causes high fever and gen.
eral breaking down of the system
and often death. About two-thirds of
the deaths from this disease are due
to tuberculosis and pneumonia and
complications which gain a foothold,
due to the weakened condition of the
body at the time of the attack.
Typhoid is caused by bacteria.
Since the center of the trouble is in
the intestine it logically follows that
ell material passing through the in
testine is infected with the disease
germs. If we could render absolute.
ly safe all such excrementious mate
rial the disease would be almost en-
tiiely erad!cated. Consequently, he
next point in logical order is the kill.
ing of these disease germs in this
matter given off from the intestines
by thorough treatment with some
chemical which shall kill the disease
in it. The substances which are
cheapest and most available for this
purpose are chloride of lime or
| bleaching powder and common lime.
Where case of typhoid is present in
the house all excrementious matter
should be removed and carefully and
rlentifully treated with one or the
ether of these compounds. In that
way the disease would be killed, and
70 further danger may arise from
! this source. Many an epidemic has
been caused by the fact that this
matter of expediency has not been
carefully looked after.
Typhoid fever is water born dis
case. 1t naturally follows that rain
falling on a center of infection will
wash away and dissolve some Of it,
and this water then becomes con-
taminated. If it passes away into a
stream the stream likewise is infect
cd. If it seeps through the soil to
some adjacent we'll or cistern that
water supply also becomes infected.
and it is not strange that cases break
cut. either in the same family or some
family using that source of water
supply. 1t naturally follows then
that tie location of the we'll should
he above that of the house, or at some
safe distance from it where slop
water and various kinds of contamina-
ton may not be washed down into
tic we'll. Moreover, the we'll should
be banked at the mouth, and it should
be covered as tightly as possible in
order to keep all surface water from
gaining admittance. 1t has been found
that in an ordinary soil contamination
can seep through the soil for dis
lance of from fifty to one hundred
feet, consequently all excrement
should be deposited at a distance
greater than this, and if possible at
some lower point than at the level
IF the mouth of the we'll.
Another mode of carrying this dis
case is by means of milk. Milk is the
ideal human food; it is also ideal for
bacteria, consequently any bacteria
gaining admittance to milk multiplies
rapidly. If the milk cans be washed
| with infected water some of the dis
ease germs will be left in the cans
unless they are thoroughly scalded
and the milk straightway becomes in
fected and may become direct mcn-
ace to life. Thus it becomes neces-
sary that the greatest precautions be
taken when there is typhoid in the
family or immediate ncighborhood
that all conditions as regards the milk
supply be as absolutely clean as pos
:ible.
Flies also constitute another method
by which this disease is carried.
Their natural focus about which they
crement is deposited. If typhoid is
case of course it will be wherever ex-
crement is deposited. If typhois is
in the family and this material is not
thoroughly treated the fly becomes in
fected, then passes from the vault to
the house, around the kitchen, light
ing on the cooking utensils and the
food, and we have our contamination
trouoht tn every food which we eat.