Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-08-07
Health Department
Prepares for Typhoid
Ways and Means Suggested to Pre-
vent Spread Of Disease. Typhoid
Germs Explained

Throughout the entire country,
there was a marked increase in ty-
phoid fever last year. To prevent a
flare up in Maryland this year, each
local health officer has been asked to
make special report on each case
that is reported from his district to
the State Department of Health, so
that the possible sources of the dis
ease may be studied and controlled.
"The State Department of Health
may do its utmost to get rid of ty-
phoid fever" DR.. Il. H. Riley, Chief
of the State Bureau of Communicable
Diseases, said," but there are certain
ways in which the individual can help.
1t is necessary to understand just how
typhoid fever is contracted. To take
typhoid fever, you must either eat or
drink the germs that cause it. You
do not breathe it in with the air as
you do some other diseases.
"The germs that cause typhoid
fever are found in the discharges from
bladder and intestines of persons who
have, or who have had typhoid fever.
All such discharges should be instant
ly disinfected. If this is neglected
and the germs are allowed to seep in
to the sources of drinking water, or
to spread over the surface of the
ground, one case of typhoid may be
the cause of many.
"For months, or even for many
years, some people who have become
entirely we'll after an attack of ty-
phoid fever, still carry the typhoid
germ in the discharges from the blad-
der and intestines. These people are
called 'SarrierS.' If they are careless
in Their habits they may carry the
germs on their hands and in that way
infect any food they handle. Milk or
cream 1or instance, may be infected
from the hands of carriers who do
the milking or who handle milk in
other ways. Accordingly, it is just
as important that the discharges from
the carriers be disinfected, as from
those who are actively sick with the
disease.
1t is very dangerous for carriers to
handle food.
"Fhts are often to blame, too, for
spreading typhoid from the sick to
the well. They feast on the discharg-
es from persons i'll with typhoid and
carry the germs to food supplies. If
the room of such a person who is i'll
with typhoid is screened against
flies, it will be much more comfort
able for the patient and much safer
for the rest of the household. The
kitchen should always be screened.
Here are ten ways by which you
may safeguard your self and your
family against typhoid
l. Boil your drinking water unless
you are sure that the supply is pure.
2, Always wash your hands before
eating.
8. Always wash your hands before
preparing food for the table.
a. Wash all vegetables that are to
be eaten raw and all fruits, in water
that has been boiled and cooled.
5. Keep food covered.
6. Use covered garbage pals
z. Screen the house from flies.
8. If there is a case of typhoid in
your household or in the neighbor-
hood, keep out of the sick room unless
you are nursing the patient. Show
your neighborliness in other ways.
9. If there is case of typhoid in
your household disinfect every dis
charge from the bowels or bladder of
the patient.
10. Ask your doctor to vaccinate
you against typhoid. The State De-
partment of Health will furnish the
vaccine free of charge. All you will
need to pay is the doctors fee. Three
treatments, a week apart will protect
you for this season and next"