The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-04

or milk depot, 125; restaurant. 10; none 100; unknown, IA Of this dairies supplied 2l 80 per cent and other sources supplied 7S per cent. To properly estimate these figures and give the ratio of the partic- ular supply of dairy products for the whole number would require a knowledge of the number who use these several sources of milk supply. Here again only an estimate can be made. There are about 150 dairies and 5900 cows that SUD- ply milk to the city of Birmingham. and over which the city has Jurisdiction and inspection There is no doubt that so far as sweetmilk is concerned much the greater number of people in Birmingham obtain 1t from dairies. This is proof of the quality of dairy products supplied the people of this city Furthermore, ty- phoid fever has not been traced to any dairy in the county, and there has been no series of cases. with one exception. that got milk from a dairy, and this was found after thorough examination not attributable to the dairy. There is d much larger percentage of cases who got their buttermilk from private cows than from dairies, and also there were more who got their butter from private cows than from dairies. So far as butter is concerned the larger percentage was ob- tained from the stores or milk depots
 Conclusions Reached
 The following conclusions think, are arrived at concerning the supply of dairy products:
 l. That there is much larger num- Der of people who use milk from dair- ies than from private cows, stores or riilk depots
 2. That there is a greater proportion of typhoid fever cases actually and relatively among those who use the milk of private COW, or store or milk depot.
 3 That there Is a much greater pro- portion of typhoid fever cases among those who obtain their butter from stores or milk depots. It is, therefore, advisable for the consumers of dairy products to get their supply direct ly from the dairies, and it is also ad- visable for the consumers of milk to study the percentages given the dalr- les each month after they are scored The higher the score the safer the dairy products.
 Any meals taken away from home during month preceding attack?
 Affirmative, 172; negative, 22S: un- known, H.
 This does not teach anything ex- cept that in 172 there was danger of Infection from sources other than those at home.
 In estimating the value of these findings from a statistical examina- ton the method of infection of typhoid fever must be understood, which may be summarized as follows:
 l. Typhoid fever Is caused by a defi- mite, specific germ called the typhoid bacillus
 ?. This germ increases and multiplies in the bodies of those affected with the disease.
 3. These germs are discharged from of f,, bowel and kidney discharges.
 {. Under favorable conditions they may live for sometime outside of the hody.
 ,. They are generally disposed of in closcts--sanitary or insanitary.
 (. If emptied into a sanitary closet they are carried off with the sewage. '. If emptied into a dry closet they remain for an indefinite period and constitute a focus for the supply of typhoid germs that may infect water. milk or other food directly or by be- ing carried by flies and other car liers of the germ.
 9. To produce the disease it is nec- essary that they be swallowed and ir. that way reach the intestines. 9. Therefore, it is through the con tamination of food and drink that they reach the intestines.
 PREVENTION OF TYPHOID FEVER l. The disinfection at the time of their passage of bowel and kidney dis charges from typhoid fever patients ?. That the bowel and kidney dIa- charges of typhoid fever patients be disposed of in sanitary sewer, which , Is closet connected with sewer 3. The protection of all drink and food supply from contamination of bowel and kidney discharges which if derived from typhoid fever patient will communicate the disease. The stupendous and all-important sanitary problem in the city of Bir ! mingham is connection of all closets with sanitary sewers. and to do this it is absolutely necessary that the city underwrite and chars to the property | the cost of very large percentage of connecting closets with sanitary sewers.
 l am indebted to Mir. c. V. Truss secretary of the health department and to MT. W. H. Beers, chemist and ba acteriologist of the Birmingham Ws., terworks company for the d,efaiig Q, the above statistics which Were oh. taircd by them from the recoAds of tht health denarthent. Very trVly yours