The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1917-07-12
A Typhoid Lesson.

The California Board Of Health re-
ports an interesting epidemic Of water
borne typhoid fever from which several
lessons useful in everyday life can be
drawn.
In the fall and winter OF 1916, $40
men were employed in building the
San Pablo dam in Contra Costa County
A temporary camp was established in
September. This camp was without
toilet facilities. In October the perm
anent camp was built hali mile below
the dam and Temporary camp was
opened. This permanent camp was
equipped with water flushed toilets,
shower baths, washstands and an ex-
cellent water supply derived from un-
polluted springs.
This unusual provision for the welfare
Of workers in a construction camp went
for naught because Of lack Of wisdom
in one essential feature. An accessory
water supply taken from the creek was
used theoretically only Tor watering
stock and washing. The break result
ed in an epidemic Of typhoid in which
there we're fity-two cases. The state
relree awarded compensation for dam
ages in favor ofthe employees and against
the company. The kitchen and din
ing rooms were supplied with spring
water only. None Of the kitchen or
dining room help got typhoid.
On November 9 water drawn from
San Pablo creek was turned into the
mains in the lower part Of the camp,
mixing with such water as could reach
these mains from the spring supply.
While the camp was we'll equipped
with toilet facilities the men at work on
the dam had no alternative but 10 pol
Lutte the SOIL Their excreta washed
into the creek. The epidemic began
the latter part Of November. New cas-
es stopped developing when the water
was chlorinated on December u.
OF the men who developed typhoid,
four drank water from the creek direct,
eleven used water from the mixed sup
plv for brushing their teeth and wash
ing their hands, but they did not drink
any Of il; thirty seven drank water from
the mains in the lower part Of the
camp.
The first lesson is one that has been
repeated scores OF times, but somehow
we never seem to learn it. It is that
it is unsafe 10 have double wafer sup
ply--one pure and one polluted.
The second is that typhoid fever can
be contracted BY using polluted water
with which 10 brush the teeth and wash
the hands.
The third relates TO the incubation
period Of typhoid fever. One man aI-
Ter a drunk lasting several days came
TO work in the camp He had a next.
day thirst and drank excessively Of the
polluted water. On the third day he
had symptoms OF typhoid. Another
case had an incubation period Of three
days; two had periods Of four days;
two had incubation periods oil fourteen
days. 1t would seem that the incuba
baton period while generally from
seven to ten days, may range from one
10 fourteen dasy, according TO the size
Of the dose Of typhoid bacteria swallow
ed.
Another lesson Is that treating bad
ly polluted water with chlorine will
make 1t safe.
And the final lesson Is that the prrc-
edent has been again established Tor
holding employers responsible for ty.
phoid fever due to a bad water supply
IN an industrial establishment.
Commissioner HarIan's Views
James S. Harlan, who is nearing the
end Of his second six'year term as a
member oi the interstate Commerce
Commission says that this month to
month and purely statistical view" oi
the ado quacy OF fsilfoad rates il no,
safe. for there is much larger problem
which must be approached in a broad
er way. He points out that all partici