Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-10-01
warn CITIES OF
TYPHOID SEASON
Declared 100000 Will 30
Stricken With Disease.
FLOuRISXES IN THE AUTUMN

l kUOIIuOu6V ~ . IT. nv OUuuV
FIGURED That Death Toll Will Reach
1s,ooo-Hfty Per Cent Of Victims
Will Be Between Ages of Fifteen and
Thirty. five Years-Cleanlinsss Urged
a. a Preventive.
Misunderstanding the year prob
ably 100000 people in the United
States will contract typhoid fever, says
a statement issued by the public health
service. The average period of inva-
lidism will be more than a month for
every case, so that the economic loss,
even if recovery does ensue, can be
reckoned upon this basis including the
care and attention required.
OF those who contract the disease
possibly $4,000 will die.
Fifty per cent of these will be be-
tween the ages Of fifteen and thirty
five years. the very time Of life when
the loss is most frightful. Moreover,
this Is an annpal toll and represents
the minimum fatality which we have
attained.
No sooner is the computation of the
$4,000 completed than another series
Is begun. and SO on interminably.
True, there is some diminution In the
total number. the death rate since 1900
having been diminished by half, while
most of our cities show a progressive
reduction, but 1t still remains much
higher than that Of countries which
we are apt to consider less civilized
than our own.
Another typhoid season is again at
hand. The weather, presence of flies,
contamination Of food products and
the increased liability of infection
through changes Of residence make it
once more necessary for health bodies
to sound warning note. This is be-
coming an annual custom. but the
health officer should not modify his
tones on that account. He is indeed
q prophet. and the voice Of the prophet
should be heard.
Typhoid fever Is a disease of filths
It can only be contracted by taking
into the system the waste products OF
one previously Ill Of the disease.
These waste products are conveyed
from one individual to another usually
by means Of third object. such as
water. flies or milk.
Even II disease itself were never
contracted in this manner we should
revolt with adherence at the idea Of
such uncleanliness. For every case Of
the infection developing some one.
either the municipality or the individ-
ual, has been careless. and public opin-
ion will soon regard such carelessness
a. criminal.
For thirty years the causative Or
ganism has been known and studied.
For nearly twenty years science has
been in possession Of most delicate
blood tests for the recognition Of the
disease. knowledge Of the dissemina-
ton of the disease IL consequently ex-
act aud definite.
Not content with accomplishments
along these lines, the medical profess
sion has even devised methods by
which the public may live under In
sanitary conditions with perfect Inn
punity. so far as this particular dis
ease Is concerned. Persons may take
into their systems the filth which pro-
duces disease and death and yet re-
main free from harmful effects II the
preventive treatment has been re-
ceived.
In spite of these efforts the frightful
mortality continues. A large proper
ton Of the population Is ignoring the
principles which have been so we'll es-
tablished. Further steps toward the
prevention Of typhoid must be the re-
suit of more general enlightenment Of
the mass of the people.
The avoidance Of the infection rests
primarily upon community action. The
proper protection of water supplies. the
eradication of filth and all its accom-
paniments, the regulation Of diaries and
the safeguarding of milk are all prob
lens which only communities as a
whole can settle. Nevertheless this
does not absolve the individual citizen
from responsibility, and he can 90
much for his own protection.
The eradication Of filth Is In part the
duty Of every citizen, and each should
see that his own surroundings are In a
satisfactory condition. He should guard
against carelessness in the maintenance
and preparation of food and withhold
his patronage from those who disre-
gard the rules Of cleanliness. remem-
bering that the foods which are most
subject to contamination are milk and