The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1887.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4859, 8 March 1887, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1887.

Typhoid fever is attracting the attention- of thepress bothinNew Zealand and Australia, and as the disease is easily preventable, it is but right that every one should know how it is brought about, and how it can be cured. Naturally, the subject is essentially a nasty one, but no false sentiment should stand in the way of important information. The Melbourne Board of Health has issued a valuable circular, and as the press of Australasia has been asked to give it the widest circulation, we have much pleasure in republishing it in this column. The title of the circular is, " Typhoid Fever : Its Cause and Prevention, with Instructions for its Management in the Absence of Medical Aid." The circular reads ■as follows:— " The grand fact is clear that the occurrence of typhoid fever points unequivocally to defective removal of excreta, and that it is a discnse altogether and easily preventable."—Dr. Parkes. Typhoid fever, is called by various names, such as enteric fever, gastric fever, low fever, colonial fever, infantile remittent fever, &c, but the disease is one and the same. A misleading name is a grave mistake, as it puts people off their guard, and often leads to fatal results. When a person is sick with what is called colonial or gastric fever, danger is perhaps scarcely apprehended, whereas, if the friends really knew that these were merely other names for typhoid—a most deceptive, infectious, and frequently fatal fever —they would be alive to the risk, both to the patient and to others. The great mortality from typhoid fever in this colony shows there is urgent need to lessen the ignorance and I consequent neglect of sanitary laws which prevail on the subject. Returns to the Government statist give an average of 456 deaths in Victoria every year from typhoid fever. If the same number of deaths took place from some other avoidable cause (like the falling of an insecure building every year), the whole community would cry out against audi a sacrifice of human life. Typhoid fever is a preventable disease, and if proper measures were taken to keep it from spreading by infection, it vrould soon disappear. But because it carries off its victims one by one, scattered over the colony, it is allowed to pursue its course comparatively unchecked. The sacredness of human life demands that every one shoidd do his utmost to stamp out such a scourge. Cause and prevention. —The chief source of infection is the discharges from the bowels of patients. Some eminent authorities are of opinion that such discharges are the only souroe, while others think that it may also arise from decaying or putrid animal matter, especially nightsoil. All are agreed, however, that preventive measures are of the first importance, that cleanliness should be insisted on, and that animal filth of every kind, but particularly bowel discharges, should be effectually prevented from contaminating air and water. The poison germs which pass with the motions should not "be let loose upon society into the cresspool or sewer, or on the dung-heaps, iv full possession of all their deadly power." Si ill less should these contagious germs be allowed to find their way into milk or drinking water. There are various ways by which the poison spreads, such as drains laden with typhoid infection emptying themselves into a creek or reservoir which supplies drinking water ; wells and tanks contaminated with poisonous filth washed into them from tho surface on the occasion of rainfall, or soaking through gravelly, porous ground, when the well or tank is not far enough removed from the cesspit, or on a lower level than the source of infection ; leaking waterpipes, through which contagious sewage finds its way into water used for household purposes ; foul air from drains or sewers, conveying- fevergerms along empty outlet pipes used for waste water; milk infected by contaminated water being added to it, or by typhoid germs in the air coming in direct contact with the milk itself. Hundreds of cases have been known to occur from a single case at a dairy. As, therefore, this disease spreads,in so many ways, it is evident that the best method of dealing with the poison is to check or destroy it at its source. This is effected by promptly burying all discharges a.foot at least in depth. The bedpan should have some good disinfectant put into it, both before and immediately after use, and the contents at once put- under ground. A good and cheap disinfectant is sulphate of "iron in solution (2oz. to each pint .of. water). Chloride of lime may be used if more convenient (4oz. to a pint of water). A very small piece of ground is sufficient, but where none is available the motions should be burnt, and on no account thrown into a closet or drain, on the ground or dung heap. Soiled bed or body clothing ought, immediately on : removal, to be put in boiling water to destroy infection. These details should be carefully earned out, as nothing is of small importance when it is a question of life or death to others. Symptoms.—The onset of the disease is often very deceptive. In many cases it comes on slowly, and without any well marked signs. The patient feels languid and out of sorts, gradually gets worse, and complaius of headache, chilliness, loss of appetite, thirst; and sense of weakness. The skin gets hot and dry, the tongue furred fn the centre, but red on the tips and edges; the face pale, with a bright patch on each cheek. The bowels may occasionally be constipated, but are generally loose, with offensive yellowish or drab-colored motions, often excessive, and greatly exhausting the.patioat. About the beginning of the second week a few small, round spots, the size of a pin's head, and of pink or rose colour, generally appear on the chest and abdomen, but sometimes the spots arc not present. These are the most common symptoms, but' in some instances, after only 'slight indisposition, tho patient is suddenly overtaken with vomiting, purging, pain in the bowels, shivering, and severe headache. He soon becomes delirious, and auks in a few days. Young persons are mere liable to the disease than those in fdvanced life. Treatment.—Exhaustion pud ulceration of the bowels are the two subjects that claim special consideration. Hence the regulation of the diet is the most important part of treatment. The strength must be kept up, while the tender inflamed state of the bowel renders it necessary that no solid food be j taken till the patient has fully recovered. , Vegetables, fruit, fish, oatmeal, and everyI thing except liquids, must be carefully avoided till convalescence has been fully established. Tho juico of grapes and oranges is much relished, and may be given hi small quantities at a time, to relieve the parched mouth, but tho seeds, sHns, and crude must not bo swallowed. Children should not be trust el with such fruit by themselves. A single grape seed taken by mistake, may cause death by bringing on' bleeding or perforation of the ulcerated bowel. New milk is the chief article of diet in typhoid fever. It is both food and drink. If, howev Jiy too much be taken or in too large a quantity at a time, undigested curds pass over the, tender, jsurfaces of tho diseased bowel with injurious effect, and appear in tho motions. This shoidd be watched by inspecting the stools. The careful management of the diet is aknost everything, and of far more value than drugs. , When curds are thus seen, either less milk i should be given, or lime water, added to it; viz., a wimglassful to each half-pint of milk. Soda water, or a small pinch of baking soda cun bo used uutciid, of Jiiue.

_________!!■ **~**^W_________| water. Chicken broth or calves-foot jelly : may be given time about with the milk ; also beef tea, if it does not cause diarrhoea. Raw eggs are' suitable. The best stimulant, is good brandy, but this should, if possible, bo under medical direction. Simple drinks limy be freely allowed from the first, such as, cold water, rice, or toast water. No open•ing medicine should be given, only an enema if required. Frequent sponging of the body with tepid water cools, soothes, and cleanses the patient. When there is much weakness sitting up in bed may prove fatal. Remember this when giving food or attending to the bowels. Avoid travelling exertion for a fortnight after recovery prevent relapse.