The Press., 1883-08-09
SANITARY REPORT.

Dr. c. w. Chamberlain, secretary of the state board of health, in his June re- port, says
 The health of the state during the month of June has not been equal to the average for this month, which is usually one of the health fest of the year. There has been no general epidemic, nor the unusual prevalence of any one disease in single localities. The cities and large towns have been more influenced than the country in which, indeed, there has not been much increase over the usual rate Diarrhoeal diseases appeared much earlier than usual, with many fatal cases among chil- dren under five. This is due to the excessive heat of the latter part of the month,-as the disease was checked to some extent when cooler days came on. That local unsanitary conditions are aggravated by heat is shown by the prevalence and mortality being con- fined to the cities, and mainly where over- crowding and bad air from neglected filth add to the depressing effects of the heat. Heat, polluted air and adulterated food are the po- tent agents in the production of cholera in- fantum.
 There have been few cases of small pox, caused, in several instances, by infected rags. There had been seven cases near the city of Norwich during the spring and three deaths, one case at least due to infected rags. There have been several cases in Windsor Locks, one of which was alleged to have been due to in fected rags. The subject of infection from rags was thoroughly investigated by the state board of health at the time of the plague in Egypt several years ago. I addressed com munication to the national board of health, oughly. In our fifth report there is brief account of what is known as the result of the thorough study of the subject by commis- sion appointed by the sanitary authorities of Great Britain and of the studies made in this country. The conclusions arrived at were that small pox is the principal disease likely to be communicated by rags. Repeated in stances have been cited of this. We had con- ference with the various paper manufacturers, visited the factories, the wharves and the ships, and learned that several months must elapse before rags gathered in Egypt could reach this country. The rag collectors were called in, we were told, upon the appearance of the plague, cholera or any pestilence. As the rags are dusted and baled at central stations, the first danger of infection would be there. There is not much if any danger then until the bales are opened at the factory in Connec- rags are dusted and cut in the factories. This year, however, information has been sent that ships laden with rags have sailed since the | outbreak of cholera also that the collection of rags was not, as usual, arrested upon the outbreak of cholera. The British government | is the source from whence this information comes; also that such vessels are en route for America, so that unusual care is necessary on the part of local health authorities in whose hands the power of quarantine is placed by the laws of this state. While the probability of the introduction of infection is not very great, all such vessels should be inspected, and strict supervision maintained where there is the least probability of danger.
 Pneumonia has been more prevalent than is usual in June. Including consumption, lung diseases still occupy prominent place. Measles continue prevalent, and some lung complications quite generally occur in the fatal cases. A strong tendency towards such complications has been mentioned by several correspondents. In Riverton in population of 450 there have been, it is stated, hundred cases of measles since spring. They are re- ported to have been quite prevalent in Water town. Avon reports many cases Oxford a new infection from New Haven since the dis ease disappeared Monroe and Greenwich re- port few cases the latter whooping cough also.
 l Scarlet fever has been less active, but is re- ported from several new places-a fatal case from Cheshire several cases from South Man chester, and in Willimantic quite number. There is about the same amount of whooping cough as last month-not altogether in the same localities. Group and diphtheria, ex- cept in few places, are much less prevalent.
 Malarial levers are very variable. Where they have appeared comparatively recently they are often very active, as in Manchester and South Manchester. In Stafford they are stated to be more prevalent than in previous years and on the increase in Wilmington and of severer type. A fatal case is reported from Berlin, stated to have been complicated by congestion of the lungs, which may have been caused by the malaria. Watertown and Haddam report an increase in malaria and one case of typhoid fever each. Monroe and Had dam report cases and Westport reports that malarial influences show in most diseases, and also a large number of cases. The latter IS true also of New Canaan, with three deaths from consumption. There have been many cases of acute intermittent fever in Hartford and several places where the obscurer types have been the ones encountered almost inclu- sively for some time. Were this general 1t would indicate new outbreak, but the cases thus far are limited in number and not mass ed in localities With these exceptions the disease commenced last year still continues, and the obscure types are the prevalent ones, except in regions more recently invaded.
 Cholera infantum-or the various varieties of infantile diarrhoa-began to be the most