The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-06-02
CLEANLINESS Next to Goodness

and the somewhat careless supervision
of the streets and alleys-a very neces-
sary work.
We might insert here a scientific ex-
position Of the germ theory, which
would be Greek to the average reader.
We shall, as it may be necessary, refer
to special germs as are menace to
health and life.
The typhoid bacillus OF germ stands
at the head of the list. Phthisis, diph-
liberia, smallpox and scarlet fever men
ace life in the order named. The pro-
fession is divided as to the contagion of
phthisis. I myself, from my broad ex-
perience in consumption, cannot in
dorse the contagion theory. To illus
trate: Having been at the bedside of
many ladies in all the several stages OF
consumption (tuberculosis) who would
fondle their few-hours old infant as only
a mother can. II the principle of con-
tagion now held good by members of
the profession were tenable, these mid
gets of humanity could live but few
months. Koch, the great biologist, the
first exponent Of the germ theory, made
the following statement: If one joint
of the tuberculosis bacilli were placed
in an ounce of proper menstrum and
submitted to other conditions Of heat,
this one joint would so multiply itself
that in one month this ounce would be
a moving mass of tuberculus matter"
Deduce what you may from that state
ment. Doctors make capital out Of
this contagion theory. Consequently
we turn to more interesting matter.
The greatest menace to health and
life in the United States, and the most
generally distributed, is the typhoid
germ. Herein is where the work these
ladies are engaged in, if seconded by
the citizens, comes in as a protection
and a blessing. Dirt in all its multi
tudinous forms acts as a generator of
this fell disease. The water we drink,
the milk we feed to our infants; our
changes Of clothing, if prepared in an
unsanitary locality, may produce typhoid
and death. The germs of this disease
will live for months in clothing. Cold
has no effect, even at many degrees
below freezing. At the same time cpl
denies of typhoid fever are absolutely
preventable-is a self-limiting disease
The above are settled, proved facts.
Yet many, many thousands of American
citizens annually fall victims to the dis
ease. America is the slowest, the last
OF all nations to accept and act on the
principle that cleanliness is next to
goodness.
The German people, by strict atten-
ton to hygiene and sanitation, have re-
duced the death rate in their cities to
about three in 1000 where strict su
pervision is possible; and in the whole of
Germany, to about seven in 100, 900.
They haye literally stamped out typhoid
fever as a menace to their citizens
How marked is the comparison in the
United States! In this broad America
the death rate is over so in 10000.
Herein lies an object lesson to the
careless and unsanitary.
This condition is one solely attribut-
able to lax system and to gross care
lessness OF the health officers. Where
as. if men Of skill (not politicians who
were alive to the conditions maintained
in their several districts, it would soon
be considered a reproach to record
case of typhoid fever.
The water supply is the most fertile
source for distribution OF typhoid. We
here are specially liable. We have di-
rectly tributary many thousand square
miles of water shed. The Wenatchee
is the only outlet, the natural drainage
of this vast territory. Intelligent super
vision here is imperative. The borders
of this grand river, that comes tumbling
out of the mountain canyons, getting
its supply from a hundred laughing
streams, that would be clear as crystal
were it not, unhappily, contaminated
/ by the ubiquitous laborer, the miners,
the loggers, the hunters, with camps
and their outfttings and waste; and
this also enlarged by the waste from
T the bodies If the bupdrade ~ occpyop4s