TYPHOID FEVER 



265 



typhoid. In the year 1892, 1489 persons died in Chicago from 

 typhoid. To-day, when the city is three times as large, the total 

 number of deaths from typhoid is less than 400 in a year. How 

 can you account for this difference ? 



How sewage containing typhoid bacteria may get into drinking water : c, cesspool. 



Another source of infection is milk. Frequently epidemics 

 have occurred which were confined to users of milk from a certain 

 dairy. Upon investigation it was found that a case of typhoid 

 had occurred on the farm where the milk came from, that the germs 

 had washed into the well, and that this water was used to wash the 

 milk cans. Once in the milk, the bacteria multiplied rapidly, so 

 that the milkman gave out cultures of typhoid in his milk bottles. 



A third and more serious method of spread of typhoid comes 

 through the agency of carriers. These are people who have had 

 typhoid and who still harbor the living germs in their bodies. The 

 least carelessness on their part may result in the spread of typhoid 

 to unsuspecting people. Several epidemics of typhoid have been 

 traced to carriers who worked in dairies or on farms which produced 

 milk. The well-known ^' Typhoid Mary " through her careless 

 habits gave typhoid to people wherever she was cook. Still an- 

 other method of spreading typhoid is through carelessness in 

 preparation of uncooked vegetables. Several epidemics of typhoid 

 have been traced to raw oysters which were '' fattened " for the 

 market in water that was contaminated with sewage. 



Watchfulness of our water, milk, and food supplies is necessary 

 if we are to prevent epidemics or sporadic outbreaks of typhoid. 



