HOW TO MANAGE A CASE OF TYPHOID FEVER

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 10 September 1885, Page 4

HOW TO MANAGE A CASE OF TYPHOID FEVER

Tytiioid fe\t'i is a disease which infects locilitie*, anil which is live to a =pecih'-' cause— probibly a In ing perm— which usually gains admittance to the system by In. nig awn Mowed iatlu-r than l>y beiiiLT inhaled. It is, therefore, nob usually contngionsiiionlinaryscnBetheofthpUi.il meaning then by that there is little danger of talari},' the disease by merely being in a loom with a typhoid patient— although there are some exceptional cises of its transmission which it seems difficult to explain, except by supposing that it was effected by exposuie to eontami nated air. The potential cause of typhoid fe\or is probably contained m the disehaiges fioin the bowi Is of a pci a>n affected w1 th it, and these is good reason for thinking that this case is cause may multiply and inciea3e outside the body —in other wouls, that it is a living oiganUm of a peculiar kind. In tho management of a case of typhoid fe\er the most impoitant tJiintr to prevent its spiead is to thoionghlv nml promptly disinfect the ilisohaiges from the bowels, and alio all m tides of clothing or bedding foiled by th. m be fon- they become diy. The hands of the patent, and of the attendant win nandles the \e->sel or clothing, should nlso be thoroughly dis'iitccted after each (Inehirge. The best disinfectant for this puipose is a stiong solution of chloride of zinc, or of corrosive sublim it<\ followed in the case ot soiled bedding or clothing by boiling, and for the hands by thorough washing with warm water. Isolation of the patient is of secondaiy importance so far as preventing the spiead of the disease is concerned, although it is desirable for other reasons. The greatest danger of the spread of typhoid fever atises from the mild cases, which are often very obscure, and in nome cases cause so little incontinence that a physican is not called in. Such cases walk about, use the ordinaiy pi ivies and water closets, and in this way infect large quantities of sewage. The infectious chaiacterof the dischaiges fiom the bowels probably continues for several weeks, and precautions should therefore be tiken until the patient is fully convalescent. If proper care has been taken to promptly disinfect the discharges and all soiled clothing, bedding, &c, there is no absolute necessity forfuiniirating the room at the end of the case (although, probably, by way of ensuring safety from any air-contamination, this latter precaution should not be neglected). — Sanitary jEni»incer.