Albemarle Observer, Edenton, N.C., Jan. 8, 1915
Smith and His Typhoid
His real name was S.B. Smith. He lived in North Carolina. He
was a farmer. His house was built flat upon the ground. No underneath
ventilation. There was a small cellar. It was musty. Vegetables, rotten and
unrotten, were stored in it. The house was heated by an “air-tight” stove. All
windows were fastened down. All window cracks were caulked with rags. The barn
was 328 feet from the kitchen door. There was a big pile of manure against the
barn. There were maggots in the manure.
Flies, thousands of flies, were born in
the manure. In the barnyard were cows and pigs. They waded in barnyard pulp.
Just 53 feet from the kitchen door was a privy. It was dilapidated. Its awful
refuse spread out behind it. It was a nasty thing. It smelled horribly. Clouds
of flies surrounded it. Under the back porch was a dug well. Smith didn’t know
its depth. An old sock was stretched over the pump spout. It was there to
strain out worms and little water bugs. The water had a funny taste. The
garbage tub stood just outside the kitchen door. There were maggots in it.
Flies were born there by thousands.
One day Smith’s daughter came down with typhoid fever. A
doctor was employed. Medicines were purchased. Mrs. Smith did the nursing and
she also cooked for her husband, her son, and a hired man. Mrs. Smith was worn
out. She took typhoid. The daughter died. Mrs. Smith died. The son took
typhoid. He survived. When Mrs. Smith took down a nurse was employed. She
stayed after Mrs. Smith’s death to nurse the son.
The cost: Doctor’s bills: $410. Nurse: $140. Medicines:
$23.60. Two funerals: $416. Court value of mother’s life (average court
judgment): $4,600. Court value of the son’s life: $5,000. Loss of time
(estimated: $300. Total: $10,889.60.
Does it pay to be sanitary? Does inducing sickness and early
death tend to produce wealth and happiness?
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