The Coolidge examiner., 1935-07-12

approximately 5000 deaths from ty-
phold. Now, with population OF
over three million. Chicago has an
average death rate from typhoid OF
about eighteen a year.
The rural section OF the state.
however, has a much greater pro-
portion OF deaths. In 1880 there
were l54 deaths from typhoid fever
in Illinois The number OF cases
has dropped pruportionately. too.
Typhoid. originally a city disease,
has now become a country disease.
This is because sanitation has been
developed in the cities and larger
towns. while in the country districts
the drinking water is too often con-
taminated with sewage.
In the country districts people
drink raw milk In the cities pas
teurization Is required. Health Off
GERS hope that some day they win
be- able to stamp out typhoid fever
completely.
Typhoid Is filth disease. II was
suspected OF being that for some
time. but II was not until the germ
causing the disease was discovered
by Professor Eberth In Germany In
1880 that we we're able 10 under
stand why typhoid fever is associ-
ated with filth. Typhoid fever Is
infectious each new case Is caused
by swallowing typhoid germs. and
the germs are In the feces and
sometimes the urine excreted by
person who has typhoid. Then when
this eXcreted material gets into the
drinking water OF humans and is
used for washing raw vegetables or
fruits. or II gets directly on the
hands OF persons handling milk or
food. then a person swallowing this
contaminated water. milk or food.
stufTs. Is liable 10 contract the dis
ease.
There are more cases OF typhoid
fever I'm the late summer and early
fall than nj any other time Of the
year. This Is for two reasons;
first. because typhoid germs grow
best In warm weather: and. sec
Ond. because man Is more suscep.
tlble 10 typhoid fever during
this season OF the year than in the
cold months.
Under normal conditions the stom-
ach and intestlnes can destroy ordl.
nary doses OF bacteria swallowed
with the food. for a healthy intes-
final tract has an enormous power
OF self-dIsInfectlon. But when
person has diarrhea or other d.
gestIve disturbance. this power Of
destroying bacteria Is lost, and 1t is
easy 70 become infected.
Typhoid carriers are either per-
sons who have such mild cases OF
typhoid fever that no one suspects
them of having typhoid. or else per-
sons who have had typhoid fever
and apparently are recovered. but
were left with small liberated areas
in the gall bladder and adjacent re-
gions. The germs grow In these dis
eased parts and are passed into
the digestive tract and on down to
the feces. These persons. though
innocent OF wrongdoing. are a men
ace to health wherever they are.
for they are walking reservoirs of
typhoid germs. They should never
be allowed TO handle milk or foods
OF any kind. Most state depart
ments Of public health require that
all food handlers and persons work
Ing in connection with dalries be
examined periodically TO determine
whether they are carriers of typhoid
germs.
1t is comparatively simple to pro-
tect oneself against known carriers
Of typhoid germs, but it is practically
impossible to protect oneself against
the unknown carriers.
In the research laboratories of
the University Of Illinois College of
Medicine, DR.. Lars Gulbrandsen re-
Gently discovered method OF
which X-ray treatments could be
applied over the liver and gall blad-
der of typhoid carriers and cure
these people Of the carrier state.
These X-ray treatments are not Sc
we're but are In fact very light doses
of X-ray given once every two
weeks and repeated five or six
times. The patients are not sick.
They do not 90 TO bed and the ty-
phoid bacteria gradually disappear
from the feces. This Is a discov-
cry of great value. 1t means that
as soon as typhoid carriers are
known, they can start treatment,
and theT will no longer be barred
from handling milk and other food
stufTs. But more important from
the public standpoint, it means that
these reservoirs Of infection can be
eliminated. It marks a great step
forward In our conquering of ty-
phoid.