The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-08-05
GUARD AGAINST TYPHOID

In its June bulletin the state de-
partment of health calls attention to
the proximity of the most danger
Gus months of the year for typhoid
fever and warns against that disease
Means for it's prevention are briefly
suggested. The bulletin says:
We are now approaching the time
when typhoid fever is most prevalent
August, September and October be-
ing the maximum months, and there
fore, the need for watchfulness and
for special efforts on the part of To-
cal health officials for the restric-
ton and prevention of the disease is
apparent.
In the past, contaminated drink
ing water is believed to have been
one of the most common sources by
which typhoid fever has been spread
and undoubtedly is, especially dur.
ing the winter and spring months
However, during the last few years
it has been determined beyond a
doubt that, during the summer and
fall months of the year, the common
house-fy is very important factor
in the spreading of typhoid fever.
The guilt of the Typhoid Fly
having been established, this de-
partment urges the cooperation OF
all persons for the restriction and
prevention of the spread of typhoid
| fever. The screening of houses
groceries and fruit stands and in the
rural districts the establishment OF
sanitary dry earth closets will do
much toward restricting the spread
Of typhoid fever.
The prevalence of the disease dur
ing the three months named, which
are incidentally among those in
which flies are most troublesome,
is strikingly shown from figures Civ
en-. They show that during this one
quarter of the year the number of
cases of typhoid fever is one-half
greater than for all the other months
combined. We can well afford, then,
to concentrate our energies on the
three months that are now before us
with a view to properly guarding
against a disease which is rightfully
among the most dreaded of all.
First of all in the steps to be TAX
en- to combat the disease-and this
means in it's largest sense to prevent
it, rather than to attempt to cure
cases which have been contracted
is the elimination of the fly. 1t has
been shown beyond question that
this pest is responsible for spreading
the disease and that it is one of the
greatest disseminators of filth. 1t
haunts most disgusting places and
comes from them direct to our tab
les. 1t should be our task to exter-
inmate it and at the same time to
protect all food against It, We
ahould see that our houses are prop
erly screened and that all articles of
food are thoroughly protected. In
addition we should see that flies are
not in the house and should make il
duty to destroy those that have
succeeded in penetrating the build
ings despite the screens.
The greatest care should also be
taken regarding the supply of drink
ing water. Surface wells, which
means wells Is or 20 feet deep or
even deeper, are unsafe and should
not be used, for contamination is too
easy The city deep wells are safe.
The observance of these precau-
lions, as urged by the state board Of
health, should do much to cut down
the number of cases Of typhoid fever
1t is disease that can be guarded
against and in view Of its character
no one can afford to overlook the
ordinary protective measures.