The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-09
TYPHOID SITUATION IS
CAUSING SOME ALARM
Many Requests Made for Water
Analysis by State Board
of Health.
HOPE TO ESCAPE EPIDEMIC
Breaking Up OF Drought Causes
Waste Matter to Wash Into
Streams and Pollute Water Sup
ply-War on Flies Recommended.

Tho typhoid situation Is problemati
cal. and the State Board OF Health will
not be In a position to say whether OF
typhoid this summer for at least two
weeks. This frank statement Is made
In a bulletin just Issued by the board
I'm the next two weeks cases that
follow the breaking up of the prolong cd
drought Will have made their appear
ance." the bulletin reads. IF these
cases are numerous and widely scat
tered the state may suffer heavily; II
they are few and localized, Virginia
VIII probably escape with small tribute
TO the summer scourgc.'"
Reports thus far received by the
board show comparatively little typhoid
In virginia For the month OF May the
June reports thus far tabulatcd do not
indicate heavy typhoid Infection. II
~ taken; however. as significant tina,
received many samples of water for
sanitary analysis. showing that people
IN various parts OF tho State suspect
their water of causing typhoid fever
that has not yet been reported by ply
sicians.
The disastrous drought from which
many counties suffered during May and
june, says the weekly bulletin Of the
board. issued yesterday. broke UP
about two weeks ago. Cases of ty-
phoid due 70 the pollution OF water
TO appear. and probably will not be re :
ported. except where cpidemics occur
until tho end of July. But the demands
upon our laboratory for water analysis
show that many citizens In ruarl sec
lions are already suspicious OF the
water they drink.
NOT TOO LATE TO COMBAT
BY PREVENTIVE MEASURES
II is not too late to combat typhoid
by tho application OF preventive meas
urcs, that are simple In the extreme
filth. scrupulous cleanliness in this re-
spect Is tho prime essential. In par
, ,s. wells and springs must be SO
disease. Unremitting war must like
wise be waged on files.
Experience has shown that careless
ness In handling tho first case of ty-
phoid that appears In a family or In a
neigh borhood is often responsible for
the infection OF many persons who
might be saved, with any degree OF
handling of these cases, the board has
prepared beside directions which have
been distributed to the physicians of
the State. or may be had. free OF ali
cost, upon application TO the board II
followed. these directions will generally
suffice to prevent the spread of typhoid
from one member of a family to the
others.
The State also commends typohid
vaccine FOR use In families where the
disease appears. and in cases where
fever. The State has made arrange
ments with a well-known firm. whereby
this vaccine is sold TO all citizens OF
Virginia at much less than the retail
cost. Tho standard treatment for al
Individual. which usually retails at
$3.50. is sold by the board for co cents
Hospital treatments, for ten persons
More calls for this vaccine have been
made during the last few weeks than
during the same length Of tIme In any
previous summer, and reports from To-
calities where IL has been used are most
encouraging.