The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1921-07-29
DR.. DIN West Suggests Pre-
cautions Which Guard
Against Typhoid.
Infection Over State More
Prevalent Than for a
Number of Years.
Urges Individual Inocula-
ton as Surest Means
Of Prevention.

The appended communication from
DIR. Olin West, state health officer,
Is splendidly in line with a story
in the Partisan week before last,
when DR.. Oliver, county health off
Ger, in an interview with this paper,
gave similar excellent precautions.
The subject. which has also been
editorially discussed in the Partisan
| is timely, and DR.. Vests letter,
should be carefully read by every
| one.
Reports received at the state
board OF health office during the last
six weeks indicate that typhoid fever
Is more prevalent throughout the
state than at any like time for a
long term of years. l am therefore
addressing a letter to all municipal
tiles in Tennessee, urging upon them
that all possible steps be taken to
safeguard their respective commune
ties against this very serious infec-
| ton.
II would especially urge that all
possible precautions be taken to safe
guard the purity of public water
supplies, and that in all communities
not provided with an adequate sewer
age system, the law requiring the
cleaning of closets and the proper
disposal of human wastes be very
rigidly enforced during this season.
| would also urge the importance
! of supervision of diaries and of
| food handling establishments. 1t is
| important, too, that all accumulatons
of decaying organic matter should
be cleaned away and properly dis
posed OF.
The prolonged drought which has
been in evidence throughout the
state was broken on July 10th by a
very profuse rainfall, and 1t is al
most certain that the streams and
springs from which so many public
water supplies are secured have re-
ceived an unusually large amount of
pollution because of this rainfall,
would therefore respectfully advise
that if the water supply of your
city does not receive treatment by
| liberation and disinfection, the PEG
pie be advised to boil their water
before using it for drinking pur-
poses. In case your water supply
homes of your city, | would suggest
that the operation of the water plant
be very carefully regulated, so as to
insure maximum efficiency in purify
ing the raw water
II have addressed a communica
ton to all health officers of the
state, advising them to urge upoT
the public generally that they should
avail themselves of the protective
benefits of anti-typhoid vaccination
There is no longer any question az
to the value of this procedure, but i
is to be clearly borne in mind tina
vaccination is not an absolute pre-
ventive; sanitation is the absolute
fundamental necessity in typhoid
prevention.
THE year 1920 was the best yea
this state has ever had with respec
to mortality from typhoid fever, blu
the occurrence of so many cases IL
so many counties and towns of thu
state at this early part of the sea
son is calculated to give us grea
concern.
Il wish to assure you that tn,
facilities of this department are en-
tirely at the disposal of your com
munity for whatever we can do 70
the benefit of the public health.
Very truly yours,
"OLIN WEST,
Secretary and Executive Officer"