Typhoid Fever-Sewage Disposal-Flies
In 1931, Doctor Walker, associated with the United State Public Health Service, wrote about the need to improve sanitary conditions in the United States. Parts of his articles follow: “This subject, however neglected and unpleasant demands frank consideration on the part of rural dwellers, unsewered towns and communities as an essential health measure.
“Sanitary disposal of human excreta is feasible in every civilized community as stated in the 1917 bulletin put out by the Surgeon General. This is just as applicable to the humblest home, school or road stations, rural or village as to the city.
“Sanitary fly proof toilets are possible for all classes and conditions of life. It is the will to make and maintain such sanitary conditions that is lacking, all too often, or it may be negligence or ignorance or simply too busy with other things.
“Any carpenter or handy man easily and at moderate expense can construct a fly proof sanitary rural toilet for home or public premises. As follows: There should be a concrete foundation for any type. Construct a fly tight vault, whether surface or pit type, and equip the seat with automatic closing hinges on covers. Provisions should be made by a tight-fitting door at the vault for cleaning frequently.
“The fly proof dark vault that is kept clean and well limed will not attract flies. It is the toilet that is running over, open at the back or end, no seat covers, sun and light entering the vault freely that attracts swarms of flies.
“It was formerly believed that flies were necessary scavengers to consume waste and filth and therefore prevented diseases. Scientists have proven that flies are the greatest carriers of disease germs known.
“Any germ in the filth these pests feed and breed in may be brought into our homes. A neighbor’s filthy toilet may therefore be of vast importance to the dweller in the nearby house with a sewer connection and the public who patronize a fly infested café. Physicians have known for years that typhoid fever and other summer complaints as well as almost all germ diseases are spread by flies. Dr. Crumbine taught us to swat the fly and screen against the pest. It is just as necessary and more efficient to make toilets sanitary and fly proof.
“The person who cleans the daily quarters with meticulous care may neglect the home toilet, shamefully, by the year. And the man who needs to conserve his earnings and may be unemployed and unable to meet the expense of illness in his family, yet criminally exposes them to a filthy, fly infested home toilet continually.
“The carrier is a menace thru open toilets by flies to the well and uninfected. Think of the tuberculous and diphtheria carrier’s sputum that may be deposited in toilets or elsewhere open to the flies that enter homes and eating places or food markets. “It is inefficient sanitation that makes immunization necessary to be safe. Neither is immunization an excuse for lax sanitation. And by immunization we mean today, diphtheria, small pox and typhoid fever.”
