Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-03
Duty
. 70 PREVENT TYPHOID
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE
HOSPITAL SERVICE SHOWS
THE WAY.
pLENrY or LAW NOW
PLENTY or LAW NOW
AND DoARos SHOULD ACT
Federal Authorities Say Health Off.
Gers Should Visit Every Case Of ~.
phoid and Enforce Measures to Pre-.
vent sprsad-Publio Ignorant Of
pissass.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Nov. Sin report on
the measures necessary for the control
Of the outbreak Of typhoid fever at
Fort Smith, Ark. the public health and
marine hospital service lays down I'M
portant general rules for health author
tiles turnout the country to be followed
in the case Of such outbreaks. Surgeon
General Wyman has made public the
report, which was prepared by Passed
Assistant Surgeon W. H. Frost.
The public health and marine-hos-
pital service lays down the rule that
supervision over the preventive meas
ures used In the treatment of a case OF
| typhoid is just as truly the duty OF
health department in a locality as SIM
liar supervision In the case Of small
pox. This idea, il carried out, would
mean a radical departure in the meth
DDS Of dealing with typhoid turnout
this country.
Local Boards Have Duty.
EFFECTIVE preventive measures will
be universally carried out" says DR..
Frost" only when the health depart
ment receives prompt notice Of every
case occurring in the city and sends
its representatives to give instructions
In the necessary precautions and to see
hat they are carried out"
| Dr.. Frost emphasizes the fact that
| 100 much vigilance can not be exercised
IN the matter Of requiring from physi-
clans reports on infectious disease. and
he says this IL especially true as re-
CARDS typhoid in q community where
malaria commonly prevails.
| determination Of flies, protection Of
foods exposed for sale from
flies. thorough disinfection, safe
guarding Of the milk supply. proper
sewage, proper garbage disposal.
healthy water supply and good santa
ton In general are all urged.
Public IS ignorant.
| One important fact to which atten-
ton is CALLED is the ignorance of the
public with respect to typhoid. 1t de-
wolves on health departments, accord
public The report says:
Finally, very important duty Of
the health department is to keep the
public informed as to the prevalence OF
diseases and to educate them in meas
ures necessary, for their protection. Ig-
ncrance regarding the simplest prin-
ciples Of public health is responsible
for as much II not more disease than is
indifference. 1t is rare to find even
we'll educated people versed in the most
elementary principles Of the prevention
of typhoid fever. for example. The dis
trbution Of literature by the city
health department, sanitary instruction
in me schools; and the use Of news
paEers for educational! purposes would
papers for educational purposes would
N undoubtedly promote the efficiency of
7 preventive measures, especially in the
PRODUCTION Of typhoid fever"
~ Authority Sufficient.
4 It Is pointed out that one of the chief
weakn esses OF health departments is,
rot !acle of authority. but lack Of ma
chinery to observe whether ordinances
are ohered and to enforce obedience
when ne glected.
The results Of what a well organized
health department can do are illus trait
ed by whar has been done a. Richmond
Va. The department there was organ
ICED in 1905. For twenty-five years
before, the annual death rate was over
severity sew IN per 100000 from typhoid
Steady reduction in that rate has been
brought about and in 1910 il was down
to twenty-five, OF less than a third
what it had been four years earlier.