SEPTIC SORE THROAT 163 



milk utensils with cold water, and the accidental or inten- 

 tional addition of water to milk. 



The protection of the farm water supply against contam- 

 ination with typhoid bacilli is important, not only from the 

 standpoint of the health of the farm home itself, but also 

 from the point of view of the homes to which the products 

 of the farm find their way. Milk is the most important 

 product in this regard, because the typhoid organism can 

 grow so luxuriantly in it, and because so large a proportion 

 is used without previous heating. 



Springs an- the outlets of underground streams. Spring 

 water is usually free from bacteria when it issues from the 

 ground, but it immediately becomes seeded with organisms 

 from contact with the organic matter in the soil, unless 

 special precautions are taken to guard it. 



Contamination from typhoid patients. Direct infection 

 of milk sometimes occurs where a person in contact with 

 a typhoid case, as a nurse, also is concerned with the prep- 

 aration of food or the handling of milk. Such infection 

 can occur only when carelessness obtains with reference to 

 the cleansing of the hands after handling the patient. In 

 these days physicians give strict directions that all the dis- 

 charges of a typhoid patient shall be treated with a disin- 

 fectant that will destroy the typhoid bacilli; but if care is 

 not taken by those coming in contact with the patient, they 

 may not only acquire the disease themselves, but may serve 

 to spread it to others. The recognized case of typhoid is 

 not so dangerous as those that are not clinically apparent, 

 such as mild cases for the treatment of which no physician 

 is consulted. The attack may be so slight that the individ- 

 ual may not be aware of any appreciable illness. Yet the 

 virulent organism is eliminated in these cases to the same 

 extent as in pronounced cases. 



Typhoid carriers. When recovery from typhoid takes 



