The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1922-05-04
TYPHOID FEVER AND THE FARM
WELL
By DR.. J. e Greaves. Baeterologist
Utah Agricultural College

BY DR.. ]. e Greaves, Bacterologtsf
Utah Agricultural College
The farm well is often the most
dangerous part OF the farm. Instead
Of giving pure life saving water. Il Of
ten furnishes infected. death spreading
duld. There is no way for the eye
10 detect between the pure and the
Impure wafer. But Il is true that in
the average farm well. unprotected
from Infection as II is. there are pres
ent numerous kinds OF disease causing
organisms.
Not only the dreaded typhoid. but
many Intestinal diseases ON the farm
may be traced TO Impure we'll water.
Yet II 10 not necessary for the farm
to have any Infected source OF water
supply. Proper care 70 guard the well
against contamination VIII keep the
supply pure Why Is IL that In 20
many rural districts various intesti.
nal diseases are more prevalent than
they are In large cities. when ths re-
verse should be truef Wo find az
least partial answer TO this question
In the difference in water supplies of
the two districts. In the cities The
water supplies are usually carefully
guarded against contamination. while
In the country dIstriefs the supply OF
water Is usually obtained from wells
and these in many places are shallow
and. what Is worse than that. not pro-
tected from the filth which may be
carried In from the top. Eminent an.
thorities on this subject have found
that where one death from typhoid
could be prevented by improving the
water supply. two or three deaths from
other causes could be prevented by tho
improvement An improved wnter
supply not only reduces the number
OF deaths from typhoid fever. but de-
creases infant mortality and the death
rate from gastro-intestinai disturb
nnces- This is due not only 20 the
removal ~ disease-producin organ.
isms from the water. bat there ARE
many other substances and organisms
In impure water which greatly reduce
the bodily viEor Of the individual rs
ing II. And anything or condition
which In any way reduces the bodily
vitality MAKES the individual an eahy
mark for disease.
Many wells are only loosely covered 1
with planks between which grasshop- {
pers. toads or leaves make their why. /
II is easy TO see how the fifth from 1
the boots OF working men. or from 1
children playing on the planks or from
poultry walking about carrying infec 4
lion on their feet may get into the wa
ter and pollution may easily take
place. One need not 20 far into tbs
country to find places where the out.
houses are freely open at the hack.
20 that fowls can walk under and from
here INTO the planks covering the
veil. All the fifth left By them on
he cover Of the well f. later washed
nio the well. This could do little
lar7n n the disease germs were not
present. But one never knows when
hey may be present II n not enough
b know that no cRse Of typhoid has
zen upon the premises. for ~ IL often
he cnse that apparently healthy In
Iividuals are carryinE within or
from their bodies the d.
ease germs
For these reasons the Old planks
rhich cover 80 many wells should be
eplaced BY 3 light fitting cement
latform- covering not only the sur
nee Of. bot several feet surrounding
he well and passing into he ground
hrss or four feet 10 that al the wa
sr which finds It's way into the well
INST rnss through several feet Of Grin
oil. Under these conditions. THE well
fairly deep can be Depended upon
,r water. Where water Is known TO
:. or strongly suspected OF being. con,
minated. the only remedy IL n boil
ie wster bef1re use The many III
rs which are being offered 70 the
1blic cannot be depended upon I'M
- they are so Constructed that sney
In be taken apart every day and
'orouEhly cleaned By hsatiRs 10
q heat