The Washington times., 1922-07-09

pnOfu.
But after the vaccine was used
their death rate fell almost TO that
Of our armies.
The effect OF all this snould
not be lost In times Of peace.
Nowadays any one who is going
into the unsanitated and out-of-
the-way places Of the earth. or
s up into the country for . month
or more. should generally take
the vaccine before he starts.
The most basic and vital ele-
ment in protection against
typhoid IL the very same as our
chief defense against most infec-
tions-absolute cleanliness.
So whatever we do against
typhoid returns US double value.
furnishing at the same time a
powerful barrier against almost
every contagion that curses hu-
manity.
Clear a city's death roll Of
typhoid, for instance. by pure
water. and for every life saved
from this infection two and .
half more viii be saved from
other diseases.
WATER SUPPLY CONTROL.
The lions share Of our prac-
tical victory over typhoid is due
to our successful control OF pub
lie water supplies.
Germs as a class are not ex-
actly noted for diffidence or slug
gishness; but the things that Q
handful of typhoid bacilli can
do when they once get into q
water system are almost beyond
belief.
A single case Of typhoid. near
enough to the bank of q reser-
voir to drain into It. can start q
fuil-blown epidemic Of several:
thousand cases. and has done 10
a score OF times.
But this applies chiefly to the
urban half of our population. In
rural districts, far too much Of
our water is drawn from wells
into which vaults. house-slops and
barnyards drain.
Hence the apparent paradox
that typhoid Is now chiefly a dis
ease Of the open. supposedly
healthful. countryside. whittier
the penned-up inhabitants of the
congested. seething cities are
flocking about this time In their
thousands.
Indeed. the heaviest city ty-
phoid rate for the entire year 10
in September. just after people
begin to troop reluctantly back to
the weary grind. and consists al.
most solely Of "importations"
from vacation spots in the coun.
try.
Nor Is this q mere coincidence:
The average death rate In the
United States from typhoid il
about Is per 100000 living: the
average city death rate is approx.
mateiys T.
While there are several towns
Of over 100000 population which
can boast that not a single death
from typhoid has occurred within
their boundaries for a year. or
even two years at a stretch!
OF course. there are many rural
districts which have adopted
standards Of hygiene and cleanli.
ness that would. do credit to the
largest municipalities. and In such
localities the heaith-giving powers
Of the open air, delicious vege-
tables. cool spring water, and
fresh, sweet milk have an un-
hampered chance to work their
wonders on the summer resident
But IL 10 well to be quite sure
that the neighborhood where you
are planning to 20 is among this
happy number, and that there 10
not even the smallest "nisger in
the woodpile" in the shape Of some
ill.kept farm or badly placed out
house near the water supply.
SPRING NOT SAFE.
For, alas! even the fact that
water comes weiIing and bubbling
right up out of the ground In .
spring. cool to the lips and deli
cious to the palate. is no sign what
ever that II is uncontaminated.
Nor Is 1t any sign OF value that
the local inhabitants have always
drawn their water supply from It.
Typhoid only attacks about 10 per
cent OF It's possible victims, and
the habitual drinkers Of the water
lesley =
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