166 THE INVISIBLE WORLD 



The period of incubation, the time from the 

 moment of infection to the onset of the disease, 

 is about a dozen days. The disease is then well 

 pronounced. All its conditions and symptoms are 

 present, chills and fever, headache, ache all 

 over, high temperature, quickened pulse, diarrheal 

 discharges. 



If the patient continues to live, the fever runs 

 about twenty-one days. Then the turning point. 

 The fever leaves. The patient is low. The pulse 

 is low. It is the critical moment. Give stimu- 

 lants in small doses. Easily digested food, 

 liquid is the best, little at a time, but frequently. 

 As the patient becomes more and more convales- 

 cent, the appetite is keen and keener. But be cau- 

 tious. Feed moderately. Over-feeding or taking 

 cold is apt to bring on a relapse which is almost 

 always fatal. Do not hurry about getting well. 

 Take time. 



From beginning to end, kind and skillful nurs- 

 ing is the main thing. It may be well to consult 

 the up-to-date physician. But all drastic drugs 

 are out of order. Avoid them. They do only 

 harm. 



In the United States from this disease occur 

 about 50,000 deaths every year. Pro-rata through- 

 out the world, 937,500 deaths annually. 



Yet typhoid fever is plainly preventable. In 

 every case, with sufficient insight and foresight, the 

 cause might be removed, and of course the disease 

 prevented. In every case the germ comes from 



