56 
TYPHOID FEVER IH DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
Cases. 
Within 30 days after onset of illness 1 
Within 90 days (relapse) after onset of illness 1 
Not determined 6 
Of the 80 cases considered as having undoubtedly contracted the 
infection out of the District of Columbia, 53 were treated at hospital, 
and of the 32 which were considered as almost certainly having con- 
tracted the infection out of the District, but possibly as having con- 
tracted the infection in the District, 28 were treated at hospital. Of 
these 81 imported cases treated at hospital 66 were taken from places 
out of the District of Columbia direct to hospital for treatment, and 
15 were taken to hospital after being treated at private residences in 
the District of Columbia as follows: 
At private residence for — 
2 days 
3 days 
I 4 days 
1 5 days 
6 days 
7 days 
10 days 
12 days 
15 days 
Cases. 
. 3 
. 3 
. 2 
1 
. 1 
1 
2 
. 1 
1 
Total 15 
✓ 
The good percentage of cases treated at hospital was one of the 
most encouraging features met with in the course of our studies, 
because at hospitals the facilities to prevent spread of infection are 
generally much better than at private residences. The hospital 
treatment of cases suggests itself as one of the best measures to pre- 
vent the spread of the disease and should be encouraged, especially 
among those who are unable to carry out the proper precautions at 
home. 
Of the 492 cases treated at private residences, 119 were attended 
by professional nurses. The treatment of stools and urine with dis- 
infectants was efficient for 145 cases, inefficient for 286, of doubtful 
efficiency for 51, and method of treatment not ascertained for 10. 
Of the 286 patients whose stools and urine were inefficiently treated 
the lack of efficiency was due to the small quantity of disinfectant used 
for 197 and to shortness of time of exposure of excreta to disinfectant 
for 89. For 51 patients the treatment of stools and urine was con- 
sidered of doubtful efficiency, because the material used for effecting 
the disinfection w’as some patented preparation, the value of which 
as a disinfectant is doubtful. 
In 89 cases no attempt v/ffiatever at disinfection of excreta was 
made. It wmuld seem that attending physicians should be held 
responsible for the proper treatment of stools and urine of patients 
