Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1925-09-12
INCREASE OF TYPHOID
DUE TO CARELESSNESS
1877 Cases Reported In Maryland In
August Against l56 In Same
Month Last Year

Duc 10 CdrelcSSfleSS III uFlfklIlS pOl-
luted water, or in eating foods that
nave been rendered unsafe by typhoid
"carriels" and to disregard of the
protection that is afforded by vacci-
nation against typhoid fever, there
was marked increase in the cases of
the disease reported to the State De-
partment of Health during August of
the current year as compared with
the cases that occurred during the
same month, last year. Reports from
the Department show that 197 cases
were reported in August of the pres
ent year in comparison with 156 in
August 1924.
In every county where there j
lie health nursing service, valuable
aid is given by the nurses in combat
ting the disease and in preventing its
spread. In outlining the procedure
approved by the State Department of
Health, and followed by the nurses,
Miss Ethel Monroe, State Advisory
Nurse said, "the plan in general is
very much like that observed in the
fight against tuberculosis. Here again,
the activities Of the public health
nures, are largely educational and in
structive. The public health nurse
shows some responsible member of
the family-the person who is doing
the actual nursing, how to give the
bedside care, the baths and treatments
that are necessary for the care of the
patient, and at the same time she
shows what measures must be taken
to prevent the spread of the disease
to others.
The State Department of Health
requires physicians to report all cases
of typhoid fever in their practice to
the Bureau of Communicable diseases.
The nurse in the county in which the
patient resides is notified of the pres
ence of the case through the Deputy
State Health Officer With the per-
mission of the family physician the
nurse visits the patient and demon
strates to the member Of the family
or other person who is caring for the
patient, the proper arrangement Of
the bedroom to facilitate case in car
ing for the patient; she shows her
how to give bed-bath without undue
exertion on the part of the patient; if
ice sponges are ordered by the doctor
she shows how they are to be given,
warning the one who is doing the
nursing of the dangers to look for and
to overcome.
Because the germs Of typhoid fever
are carried in the bodily discharges
of the patient, the public health nurse
gives instructions in the proper disin-
fection and disposal Of such dis
charges. She urges screening the
home against flies that may walk a.
bout germ laden privies and barn
yards and bring germ laden filth into
an otherwise clean home. She adj
vises every member Of the household
to wash the hands thoroughly before
preparing or eating food. When open
dug wells are the source of the drink
ing water supply, the nurse points
out the possibility of contamination
of the water supply by surface drain
age from cesspools or barnyards, es-
pecially following heavy rains.
Since typhoid fever may be trans
nitted from one person to another by
an individual who harbors the germ,
but who is not himself ill Of the dis
ease (such person is called Gear
rier") the nurse arranges for neces-
sary specimens from all suspects to
be sent to the State Psychological
laboratory in order that a diagnosis
may be definitely mad.
Finally, she follows the lead of the
acctor in urging all who come in con-
tact with a typhoid patient to submit
to the vaccine treatment which pro-
tects or "immunizes" against typhoid
fever, reminding them that the vac
cine is furnished free of charge by the
State Department of Health and is
available upon application to their
physician or to either the State or
County Health Officer.
To summarize-a few of the sug-
gestions nurse will give when visit
ing typhoid case are:
1. Look to your doctor, not to the
neighbors for advice.
2. Carry out his orders for isolation
and disinfection.
3. Urge every one in the family
Ii