Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-17
RURAL VIRGINIA IS NOT
HARD HIT BY TYPHOID
state Health Department Figures for
July Show Situation in
Counties Normal.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL IMPROVING
Country, Says Bulletin, Is Rcaping
Dividends Now From Improved
Sanitation-Supply of Serum Now
Equal to Demand.

Rural Virginia, 1t appears from pre-
liminary statistics for July, made pub
lie by the State Health Department
yesterday, seems to have Jared consid-
crably better than the cities as regards
typhoid fever. No marked increase in
the number of cases in the counties
over the number reported from the ru-
raj sections last year is Indicated in
the report although, in July, 1915, ty-
phoid set the lowest mark of any mid
summer month on the records of the
department
From the counties OF Virginia to
date have come reports OF 626 cases Of
typhoid fever for the month of July.
The three cities whose reports have
been received SO far have :, total Of
thirty-onc cases. Reports from other
cities. expected later, will increase the
figures aud. in the opinion Of thc
board. may bring the July 1916. to-
tai for the State beyond the mark OF
6S5 set for July, 19t5.
SITUATION IN COUNTRY
DESCRIBED AS GRATIFYING"
The conditions which appear to he
responsible FOR much of the urban ty-
phoid." says the bulletin of the board.
ID" not affect rural districts AS scri
ouSly. Where washing rains may scri-
ouSlN pollutc an urban water supply,
typhoid solely because the water-uScrS
are moro scattered. In addition. the
board can now reckon on a steady i'm
provcmcnt in sewage disposal in tho
rural districts, while the sewage in
most sections Of the large cities has
already reduced to mipimum the ty-
phoid carried in this m;f,ncr C;cncr-
ally speaking, the situation in rural
Virginia is rather gratifying, the sea-
son considered. Improved sanitation
is yielding its dividends"
Following rush orders that exhaust
ed its supply OF typhoid vaccine daily,
the State Board of Health has now
more than caught up with the demand,
and hopes TO be able To ill future de-
mands for the vaccine without delay.
The manufacturers who supply the
preventive are forwarding shipments
regularly. and believe they will he able
|" meet all calls made on them
VACCINE CAN'T TAKE PLACE
OF SANITARY PRECAUTIONS
In advising the use OF typhoid vac
Gin" where there Is danger OF infection,
The board yesterday cautioned the pub
lie against relying on the vaccine TO
take the place OF sanitary precautions.
The vaccine, according TO the board,
apprcCiably increases ones resistance
10 typhoid, but nothing will give alb
Solutc protection except the rigid OBJ
ScrNancc of the proper safeguards.
THE effect of the typhoid vaccine"
said an officer of the board to-day. lis
TO increase the bodily resistance to ty-
Dhoid. This effect is cumulative for
thirty days after the first injection OF
the vaccine and then remains constant
Tor period variouSiY estimated at
abou, three years. The result is that
the vaccinatcd person is immune to the
ordinary dangers OF Infection. But
there may readily come times when a
person receives into the body more
germs of typhoid than he can throw
Off, even with the assistance of the
vaccine. While this does not happen
very often. no person should think that
typhoid vaccination gives him license
10 take unlimited chances. Naccina-
tion must be accompanied by regard
for general sanitation"