Since the first day of September, 1893, I have treated 124 cases of typhoid fever. The first year I treated twenty-four cases; twenty-one recovered and three died. From Sept. 1, 1894, to March 1, 1897, I treated 100 cases of typhoid fever with one death. Why this great difference in mortality? This is the question I purpose answering for you today.
The first twenty-four cases were treated as the text-books and college professors teach that such cases should be treated. Baths were used where such treatment was practicable, and where I could persuade the patient that a cold bath was a pleasant pastime. The diet was carefully regulated and in the absence of my knowledge of a better drug, sulpho-carbolate of zinc was given. I believed then what was greatly taught on this subject, that typhoid fever was a self-limited disease and that I must carefully watch the symptoms, and