The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-20
BY DR.. s. DePOrte,
Secretary Of Carter County Medical
Society.

In the United States, typhoid fever
stands fourth on the list Of mortality
tables: tuberculosis comes first, then
pneumonia, cancer and typhoid fever.
In 1910, there were 90 900 deaths from
typhoid fever in the United States, rep
rcsenting at least $50 600 cases-one in
every 400.
Our general attitude toward typhoid
fever is Inconsistent familiarity has
bred a remarkable Indifference to the
disease. The physician has a dual
duty to perform in the care Of "A case
of typhoid fever; one ls to assist the
patient the other is to protect the
community. On the other hand the
people should learn the lesson that a
case Of typhoid fever should be re-
garded as seriously as a case Of chol-
era. These two diseases prevail es-
pecially in hot weather, both are in-
testinal infections Of bacterial nature.
BY strange contrast, there is a re-
markable Indifference TO typhoid fever.
n wholesome fear Of typhoid fever
would materially assist the health au-
thorities in combating what may be
considered one of the major sanitary
problems Of the age
From the standpoint of preventive
medicine, it is proper to regard ar
outbreak of typhoid fever as re-
proach to the sanitation and civiliza.
ton of the community in which it was
contracted.
Antityphoid Vaccination
The freedom from typhoid in the
great armies mobolized in the recent
European War, unprecedented in mil
itary history. was the final demonstra.
ton Of the place that vaccination holds
in the prophylaxis Of typhoid fever.
Improved sanitation has certain
influence in limiting the spread of the
disease, but it is the conclusion of au
thoritative opinion that the brilliant re
suits obtained in the prevention Of ty
phoid fever. were directly due to the
general adoption of antityphoid yacci
nation.
Antityphoid vaccination was quick
~ introduced in all the armies OF tn,
world, and always with the same re
Inarkable reduction in the medicines
and mortality of typhoid fever.
In January and February, 1914, {
severe outbreak occurred in the regi
ment stationed at Tours, of 2l34 men
l SAC were vaccinated, and ASS wer
not vaccinated. Among the non.vacc
mated men, there were SO cases Of ty
rhoid fever, with 81 deaths. No case
occurred among the vaccinated mer
This typhoid vaccine is not in tn
experimental stage, but has bee
proven conclusively in every outbrea
and epidemic Of typhoid fever, durin
the recent war.
, At Arigoion, in 1912, there wer
I . 053 soldiers. OF this number, SO
were vaccinated. 525 before and S4
, dur. NJ the epidemic of .hat yea
Among the remaining Gs7 men ne
vaccinated, there were SO cases of I!
phod fever, with % deaths. No cas-
occurred among the 1856 vaccinate
men.
There is no reason to believe hoy
ever, that the immunity conferred
vaccination in the army would not |
duplicated by vaccination of the civ
population. II carried out with III
scme thoroughness.
Proper Time for Vaccination
r Typhoid fever is a warm weathc
disease. l.: occurres as an annui
| crop from July to October. The pro-
3 er time To r;ccinate would be the IA
, and winter.
3 Epidemics caused by infected wate
occur especially in the spring, lat
fall or winter months. Milk outbreak
may occur at any time OF the year.
In the United States there is mor
typhoid fever in the southern state
than in the northern zone. The onl