Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-09-18
Concerning Typhoid Fever.
Office of State Board of Health,

To the People-The height OF the ty-
phoid fever season is now uponus. Iy-
phoid fever seems TO be quite common
this year all over the country. Our State
is not escaping this pandemic. AS this
disease is generally most common in the
rural districts, we fear that the people OF
our State will pay heavy toll in sickness
and deaths from this disease before the
season is over unless aroused to resort
to every possible measure OF prevention
by communities and individuals.
The primary cause of every case OF ty-
phoid fever is another case OF the same
disease. The bodily discharges from the
afflicted are laden with the germs OF the
disease and every new case simply means
replanting of these germs. How does
this happen? How do these germ-laden
discharges find their way into our bodies?
Our knowledge upon this point is quite
extensive; in fact, almost complete. AS
far as epidemics are concerned, polluted
water and milk, and flies are the causes.
Scattered cases may be brought about in
many other ways, for "dirt, diarrhoea
and dinner too often become sadly CON-
fused"
Communities blessed with water
supply free from contamination and health
departments with ample means, authority
and ability, need to worry but little about
typhoid fever. A proper health depart
ment will easily be able to detect and de-
bar contaminated milk, and with the
proper cooperation OF the police depart
ment, il can effectually rid the COMMUNE
ty of exposed garbage and horse manure
which are the sources of our supply OF
flies. But what about communities not
so fortunate There is only one way
open to their members for immediate
safety and that is to act individually and
make use OF measures of tried and proven
value. These measures are simple and
inexpensive. Boiling the drinking wa
ter is one OF the most important OF these
measures. BY this should be understood
to include the water for washing dishes,
vegetables and fruits and for all other
purposes that may lead to the introduction
of water into the system, such, for in
stance, as rinsing the mouth after brush
ing the teeth and the final rinsing OF the
hands after washing with soap and un-
treated water Keeping out flies from
the entire house is the next most import
ant item. For this purpose two effective
means are available and should be used
at the same time: |. To have all windows
and doors in the house well screened.
The effectiveness Of screening is greatly
increased by including the porcheS, eS-
pecially the back porch. 2. Keeping
premises as free as possible from all
organic dirt and keeping garbage in tight
ly covered garbage cans. If in addition
to these measures the milk be boiled or
Pasteurized, if its purity be the least
questionable, the chances for contracting
typhoid fever are reduced almost TO en-
tire practical safety. OF course, it is as
sumed that along with these measures
general cleanly and healthy ways OF living
are practiced.
But what about the individuals who
have to be away from home or those who
cannot control their surroundings and
supplies ? And what about those COM
PEELED to live in house containing ty-
phoid fever case and especially when
more or less in close relation with the
sick? To these anti-typhoid vaccination
can be recommended as safe and ef-
fective preventive measure. The method
has been extensively used in the army
and in civil life among physicians and
nurses with good results and no harm.
For many reasons, however, people
should not look upon aDti-typhoid vac
cination as a preventive measure which
is TO make all other measures Superfluous.
Hygienic measures detailed above are
really the most effective and most desir-
able. Vaccination should be looked upon
merely as a temporary expedient TO be
used only under such special circum-
stances as mentioned above.
However, with all these efforts on the
part of every Individual and every house
hold to escape typhoid fever, the utmost
should be done TO promote organized
sanitation and induce couaty and town
administrations to realize that money
spent iu procuring safe wafer and main
tanning efficient boards OF health is the
best investment they could possibly make
in the interests Of the people. II may
be too late TO reap the benefits OF such
organized efforts this year, but they will
serve next year and in years TO come,
for typhoid fever is endemic in this country
and we will surely be threatened with
epidemics OF it again and again. Com
pIete eradication OF typhoid fever from
this country is national problem and
will only be accomplished when our
statesmen will see fit TO follow the ex-
ample of all civilized countries and es-
tablish complete department of health
as part OF our national government with
place in the cabinet for the head Of that
department.
WILLIAM w. GOLDEN, Elkins,
President.
S. L. JEPSoN, Wheeling,
Secretary.