Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
CHEMIST MAKES
TYPHOID REPORT

In an interesting and valuable
report to the city commission, A.
+. Nellen, Moline city chemist,
calls attention to the seriousness
of typhoid fever and states that
everything in the power of the
city officials should be done to
Danish the disease. He declares
that 100 persons are killed by ty-
phoid to every one killed in rail-
road accidents and that in the last
80 years money loss due to the
fever has been more than three
times the net property fire loss.
An average of one death for every
10 cases is shown in data on the
dread disease, he states.
Following are portions OF the re-
port:
AS to the present cases it is to
be noted that this is the begin
ming of the usual typhoid season.
Records of the health departments
of most cities will show an in
crease in the cases during june
or July which will tend 10 grow
until September of October, when
the number Of cases reported pc.
week may drop off and by Janu-
airy or February the low point for
the year is usually reached, where
il remains until the next June.
This is characteristic Of most
A
on our typhoid last winter was
unusual because it thrived in the
season when it would be expected
to decrease.
"One Of the reasons for the
spread Of typhoid during the sum-
mer months is because people are
using water and milk products
that either are not used at other
seasons or are then being used in
larger quantities than usual. This
is often called vacation disease
because many contract it from in
feCted well or spring water whit
on outings, camping parties, va
cation trips or while swimming in
a polluted stream. The case often
does not develop until after the re-
turn TO town and to usual duties
and so the source of the infection
is often unknown.
The first thought in the mino
Of most people, especially those
who are not at all familiar with
the matter, is that the source may
be the city water supply; this will
be particularly true following the
experience of the past winter, and
the adverse report Of the state
board of health.
Because of the present COndi-
ton of our plant and chlorine ap-
paratus and the records of the lab
oratory, l will say that to the best
of my knowledge and belief, our
water supply since notice was is
sued that the water need be boiled
any longer, can have no COnnec-
ton with the present typhoid few
er cases and that we must look
elsewhere for the local points OF
the infection.
Il am not familiar with the pro
ducer's end of the diaries which
furnish milk to our city, but there
are two features of the delivery
and preparation OF the milk that
are open TO serious criticism.
The first is the fact that there
is no pasteurized milk in Moline.
The pasteurization of milk is not
a guarantee OF its safety, but if
properly handled at the dairies
where this should be done also to
secure the best results the pas
teurizatiOn process is the best safe
guard to the supply and it is not
too much to say that unpasteuriz-
ed milk, unless it is certified
should not be allowed on the mar
ket in a city of this size. The cost
10 the consumer of this important
article of food should be absolute
~ secondary to its safety.
The other feature is that milk
is sold in bulk. that is. unbottled
This practice invites uncleanli-
ness and contamination and is alb
solutely prohibited by most cities
All milk should be bottled at the
dairy and kept cool until delivered
1t is said to be common practice
for some deliverymen to bottle
milk on the wagon, using bottles
picked up on the route. This is
clearly a dangerous practice, en-
cOuraging the spread of disease
All returned bottles should be
thoroughly washed and sterilized
before they are used again.
Il have not had an opportunity
10 study closely the records of the
health department or Of the city
physician in order to learn all the
circumstances in each case, but
judging by my observation and the
experience of other cities, wish
TO point out several possible
sources of the disease. These are
not necessarily in the order OF
their Importance. but are sugges-
tive Of the most probable sources
which may apply TO our city:
u, typhoid carriers; 2. contac:
cases; 5, fly Infection; 4, open
privy vaults, 3, dairy products; i,
water; Z, soft drinks; s, vegeta-
bles; 8, restaurants and bakeries
10, floating population.