The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-14

TYPHOID WILL TAKE
| HEAvT TOLL THIS YEAR
Prcvena1blc Disease VIII Be Con-
trActed BY 100000 In United States,
OF Whom $4,000 VIII Die.
During the year, probably 100000
people In the United States will con-
tract typhoid fever. The average Pc
Rod OF invalfdism will be more than
a month for every case developing,
SO that the economic loss, even II re-
cOvery does ensue. can be reekoned
upon Elis basis. including at the same
time the care and attention required.
OF those who contract the disease.
possibly $4,000 will succumb. Fifty
| per cent Of these will be between the
ages OF fifteen and thirty-five years
the very time Of life when the loss
10 most frightful. Moreover. this is
an annual toll and represents ta.e
minimum fatality which we have at
tanned. No sooner Is the computation
| OF the $4,000 completed than another
series 10 begun. and so on interminably.
True there II some diminution in the
total number. the death rate since
1900 having been diminished by half
and most Of our cities showing a pro-
gressive reduction In the incidence
Of the disease, but 1t still remains
much higher than that OF countries
which we are apt to consider less
civilized than our own.
Typhoid Time Coming.
Another typhoid season is again at
hand. With the advent of summer
weather. the presence Of flies con-
tamination Of food products. and the
increased liability Of infection through
changes OF residence, It once more
Is necessary for health bodies to sound
a warning note. This ia becoming an
annual custom and doubtless will soon
be considered one Of the early prog
nostications OF TIE onset OF the sum
mer season. but the health officer
should not modify his tones on this
account. He In indeed a prophet and
the voice OF the prophet should be
! heard.
Fingers, Flies snd Filth.
| Typhoid fever In a disease OF fifth.
4
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 a third offset. such as water, flies
or milk. Even II disease itself were
never contracted In this manner we
| should revolt at the a1iorrence Of the
/ Idea Of such uncleanlfness. For every
case of the infection developing some
one. either the municipality or the in
divtdual. has been careless, and pub
| lie opinion will soon regard such care
lessness as criminal. In the eyes Of
the health officer typhoid fever is
strictly 4 preventable disease. inva-
rtably orr mating from an antecedent
aA.se, and contracted in a most ioath-
aDme mas ner.
Typhoid Fever a Fact.
Our scientific knowledge Of the
disease is most complete. For thirty
years the causatsve organ has been
known and studied. Its habitat has
been surveyed. the associating organ
isms classified. and the many facts
relating to ,a,e life Of the bacillus full
~ recorded For nearly twenty years
we have been In possession OF mos.
delicate blood tests for >the recogni-
ton 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 rshe
disease, In both its epidemic and en-
demtc formA 10 consequently exact
and definite. Not content with ac.
compltshmsnts along these lines the
medical profession, in view of the con-
tinued morbidity, has even devised
methods by which the public may
continue to live under insa nitary con-
ditions witch perfect impunity. so far
as this particular disease Is concerned
In other words persons may take
into their systems the filth which
produces disease and death and yet
IL the preventive treatment has been
received. apparently remain free from
harmful effects.
Eighteen Thousand Deaths.
In spite Of these efforts and accom-
plishments the frightful mortality
continues and disease this year will
again usher $4,000 victims to their
graves. Plainly. the practical appli-
cation OF our knowledge is far and
away behind the scientific data In our
possession. and large proportion of
the population is ignoring the very
principles which have been so well
Established. For this reason. health
officers realize that further steps to-
ward prevention must be the result
Of more general enlightenment and
the better education Of the mass OF
the people.
A Community Matter.
The avoidance of the infection rests
primarily upon community action. The
proper protection OF water supplies
the eradication Of Nth and all its &C.
compartments. the attainment Of q
decent standard In the disposal OF ex-
Icrementitious material, the regulation
of dairies and the safeguarding Of
milk are all problems which only COM
munitios ~ = whole can settle. Never
theleas. this does not absolve the in
dividual citizen from responsibility,
and he can do much for his own pro-
lection.
Clean Opt
The eradication OF filth IL in part
the duty Of every citizen. and each
should see that his own surroundings
are In q satisfa Glory condition. He