The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-07-29
BULLETIN.
FROM STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Lansing, July 81, 1911.

AS consequence of the recent Bull
etins sent out from this Department,
many questions have been received, re-
garding the method by which typhoid
fever is transmitted from one person
to another. It seems well, then.
to issue brief statement setting forth
the most common and the most i'm
portant methods by which this disease
is transmitted so that proper care
may be taken by all concerned, in order
to prevent the spread of typhoid fever
in any locality.
In the first place, it is definitely
known that typhoid fever is germ di-
sease. In given case Of typhoid fever
the primary site of the affection is in
the wall of intestines. Here there de-
velop ulcers, and from here germs get
into the circulation and are carried to
all parts of the body. The germs are
given off by the typhoid patient with
the excretions from the body, particu-
larly from the bowel and in the urine.
Now, in order to have second per-
son contract typhoid fever from this
given case, it is necessary that some of
these germs get into the intestines of
this second individual. Of course they
can get there by way of the mouth and
stomach. Therefore, to outline the
means by which this is possible it is on
ly necessary to suggest the means by
which the germs from the excretions
of the first person can reach the mouth
of the second individual.
If this point would be kept upper
most in the minds of all people who
are associated with case of typhoid
fever, to the end that the excretions
would be properly and absolutely disin-
fected, Immediately after their pass
age, there would not be possible Sec
ond case of typhoid fever. Every ply
stefan and every trained nurse know
how to do this and for this reason no
case of typhoid fever should be unat-
tended by competent physician and
by a trained nurse. If the excretions
are not properly disinfected, then we
have to consider how these excretions
and typhoid germs may get into the
second individual.
This is often accomplished by one or
more of three means. First, some of
this material may be carried directly
to the mouth of the person because of
contaminated fingers, usually as re-
suit of not properly washing the hands
after attending typhoid patient. Sec
ondly, the food or drink may be-
come contaminated with these germ
loaded excretions and so convey the
disease to the second person. In the
third place, the germs may be carried
to the food or drink of the second per-
son by the flies which have been in con-
tact with the excretions from the ty-
phoid patient. These are in substance
the most common means by which ty-
phoid fever is spread. There are of
course many variations and combina-
tons of these methods.
The proposition is to make these
methods impossible by properly caring
for the excretions from the typhoid pa.
tent. If these excretions are thrown
out upon the ground or buried OF dis.
posed of without complete disinfection,
the germ will remain in them for long
periods of time, and may be carried Il
the food, milk, etc., by flies, or may b.
carried through or upon the soil by wa
d ter currents, emptying into a well ant
so provide most convenient source o.
infection for the household. Both O.
these may occur months after the frs
case of typhoid.
Now it is because of the fact that il
nearly every vicinity there have beef
cases of typhoid fever, which were no
properly protected, that it is necessar.
to prevent contaminated material from
getting into the intestines of the indi
vidual. This is only possible by boilin,
the drinking water because boilinl
will kill hhe typhoid germ and by pre-
venting the flies from getting into con
tact with the food. The principle is s
simple and the methods of protectio
90 easy that it would seem that wit
the warning which is being given, few
er people would have typhoid fever tn
son. We could cite good many case
that might have been prevented b
boiling the drinking water. Likewise
many cases could be cited, provin
that flies do carry infection from clio,
cts to the kitchen and thence to tn
J person through food or drink.
1t is especially urged that you do nc
! take any risks at this time of the yea
You do not know that your water is {
to drink. The safest thing to do is
consider that it might be contaminate
and boil it. This would save a gres
many lives in Michigan this sum mel
\ The State Health Department issue
pamphlets and bulletins regarding tn
Z various dangerous communicable di'
Z eases. These are gladly sent to any
? body for the asking.