The Hattiesburg news., 1915-09-18

In the eyes of the health officer ty-
phoid fever is strictly a preventable
disease, invariably originating from
an antecedent case, and contracted
in a most loathsome manner.
Typhoid Fever Fact, Not Theory
Our scientific knowledge of the dis
ease is most complete. For thirty
years the causative organism has
been known and studied. Its habitat
has been surveyed, the associating or
[ganisms classified, and the many facts
relating to the life of the bacillus
fully recorded. For nearly twenty
years we have been in possession of
most delicate blood tests for the rec.
ognition of the disease, tests which
are not only of great diagnostic worth
but which should actually assist in
| the prevention of the infection. Our
knowledge of the dissemination of the
disease, in both its epidemic and en-
demic forms, is consequently exact
and definite. Not content with ac-
accomplishments along these lines the
medical profession, in view of the
continued morbidity, has even devised
methods by which the public man con.
tinue to live under insanitary condi-
tions with perfect impunity, so far as
this particular disease is concerned
In other words, persons may take into
their systems the filth which pro
duces disease and death and yet, il
the preventive treatment has been re:
lceived, apparently remain free from
harmful effects.
Eighteen Thousand Deaths Annually
In spite of these efforts and ac
complishments the frightful mortality
continues and the disease this yeal
will again usher $4,000 victims to
their graves. Plainly, the practica
application of our knowledge is fal
fand away behind the scientific data
in our possession, and large proper
tion of the population is ignoring the
very principles which have been 81
well established. For this reason
health officers realize that further
steps toward prevention must be tn,
result of more general enlightenment
and the better education of the mas,
of the people,
/ Typhoid Abolition a Community
Matter.
The avoidance of the infection rest
| primarily upon community action
The proper protection of water sur
plies, the eradication of filth and al
i its accomIaniments, the attainment O
a decent standard in the disposal O
1 excrementitious material, the reguls
tion of dairies and the safeguardin
| of milk are all problems which onl
Il communities as whole can. settle
Nevertheless, this does not ,absolv
the individual citizen from respons
bility, and he can do much for his owl
protection.
Clean Up!
II The eradication of filth is in par
the duty of every citizen, and eac
should see that his own surrounding
lare in satisfactory condition. II
4 Nr'''f guard against carelessness
the ma.r.-~n nnce and preparation q
food and withheld his patronage fror
: those who disrega the rules of cleai
illness, remembering that the food
which are most subject to contamini
ton are milk and It's products. oyster
and vegetables. The role OF flies
} the dissemination of the infection
] new generally recognized. The elm
J nation Of such fly-breeding places .
/ garbage, manure and filth is most e
sential, but the proper screening ,
t Ihouses and the adoption of destru
I tive measures are also Of great pr
phylactic value. II, in spite of thes
! sfprecautions, the disease develops,
} then becomes the duty of every ci
izen to implicitly follow the instru
, lions given in order that the safet
J Of others may not be imperriled. bea
ling in mind the fact that every cas-
of typhoid fever is due to someone
Ignorance or .carelessness. No, higl
Ter duty Of citizenship than this can
conceived.