13 Aug 1915

13 Aug 1915-Citizen

Typhoid Report

"Typhoid fever can be prevented. Its presence in a community is an evidence of insanitary(sic) conditions. The death rate from typhoid fever in the State of Washington has been cut in two since 1910 through the application of sanitary science. However, there are a good many people who cannot be induced to appreciate the importance of sanitary improvements and others who prefer to take their chances with disease rather than a small expenditure of time or money in the removal of insanitary(sic) conditions. This class of people endanger the health and lives of those who take sanitary precautions, for the influence of insanitary(sic) conditions is not limited by fence or section line. The prevention of typhoid fever is not only a matter of saving lives but it is also a matter of saving time and time is money. In the US Army prior to 1910, when typhoid vaccination was first introduced, an average of 71 men were incapacitated for work each day during the year from typhoid. In 1913, with typhoid vaccination in common practice, the loss of time was reduced to one-third of one day. This loss of time was in an army of 10,000 men. The sanitary conditions in the State of Washington are, on an average, no better than those in the US Army, and in many localities nothing like as good. It is reasonable to assume that the loss of time in this state from typhoid is equal to that in the army prior to the introduction of typhoid vaccination. During the first six months of 1915 there have been reported 21 cases of typhoid fever in Lincoln County. In addition to these cases there is a fair per cent not reported." (excerpt)

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Submitted by Marge Womach to the WAGenWeb, February 27, 2006.

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