Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-07-14
WOMAN CAUSED
TYPHOID CASES
Had the Disease Is Years Ago and
Milk Became the Germs
Vehicle, 'Tis Said.

North Adams. July 1o.-According TO n
bulletin issued by the State board Of
health "A woman who suffered an attack
Of typhoid fever Is years ago in New
York State has been the source of one
fifth of all the typhoid cases in this city
for the past seven years.
Physicians regard this as remarka Bile
but fully accept the Investigations and
conclusions Of the State boards experts
The remarkable result was obtained by
careful inquiry into all cases of typhoid
since 1888.
A milk supply was the vehicle for the
germ. The dairy from which the disease
carrying milk was sold had been repeat
eddy inspected with vigor oven by State
authorities and pronounced to be all right
as source of milk supply. But repeate
appearances of typhoid along the route
on which This milk was sold caused sus-
picion to deepen into a certainty that this
dairy was responsible for share at least
In the spread Of the disease.
An abstract of the language OF the
State boards bulletin presents the case
as follows:
notwithstanding frequent inspections
and questionings at Is dairy In tho past
no source of infection could be discovered.
Further visits at this time brought out
the fact that MIR. LIS daughter. "A middle
aged woman, had had typhoid fever in
New York State over is years ago. A sis
ter had gone from her home to care for
this daughter. contracted the disease and
died. while this daughter recovered. and
soon returned to her fathers home in
Clarksburg. bringing her two children
with her. Here sho has lived since
During this IL years sho has had five
children. All seven children are well, and
mono of them havo ever had any serious
Illness. The mother has had no other III
ness beyond what was associated with
collaborating. This information led to tho
taking Of an immediate vidal test, which
was positive. Following this. specimens
were examined at three different times
The first examination resulted IN the find
ing of bac!lli which closely resembiod
the paratyphoid bacillus. The second and
third examinations wero negative. since
May. 1905. there have been no cases Of
typhoid fever which could be- truced to
this source.
THIS present season tho production
OF mix for other than their own family
""" mas becn discontinued. The absence
OF cases of typhoid fever from this source
previous TO 1892 is explained IN that TIL
'heh no milk was produced on the farm
except for their own family use. At that
tiine additional cows were purchased and
the milk was sold to Mr.. c. as previously
mentioned
Ihat the cases due to this infection were
irregular in their appearance and number
seems easily explained. in considering the
probable mode Of infection of tho milk
AS "a rule Mr. l.. s daughter has had moth
ing to do with the milk. But the milk
was taken into the kitchen for a strain
ing and the oans were washed there.
Nothing could lie more natural than that
under special circumstances. the daugh-
ter volunteered to assist her father In
the handling of the milk or utenails. Dur
ing tho fly season further opportunity for
Infection also occurred.
ut 10 also worth noting that while tho
L. dairy never produced over q hundredth
part of the milk consumed daily in North
Adams one-fifth OF ell the typhoid IN tho
community occurred In cases where this
milk was used. II . few secondary cases
DO included"