The Press., 1884-08-07
Monthly Bulletin.
BY DIR. 0. W. CHAMBERLAIN, SECRETARY c
 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

Monthly Bulletin.
 BY DIR. 0. W. CHAMBERLAIN, SECRETARY OF
 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
 June is usually one of the healthiest months in the year when there are com paratively few deaths from zymotic dis eases, for the reason probably that the peo- pie are so much more out of doors. Then the changeable spring weather that has played such sad havoc among the con- sumptives and the weakly generally, and has been SO favorable to all kinds of dis eases of the air passages and respiratory system, has given place to warmer tenn perature and less fckle changes. This year, however, while the prevalence of lung fever and fatal levers have been less than has been the rule for the past few years, the lighter levers and especially in- fiuenza have been more than ordinarily common. Thus from Wilmington almost an epidemic of influenza is reported and many cases of throat trouble, and to a less degree the same, especially the catarral and throat troubles is true generally. Whooping cough has been very prevalent in Hartford, Norwalk, Stafford Springs, New Hartford, Willimantic, Waterbury and in & portion of Ridgefeld, which indicates its diffusion. Scarlet fever ranks next. After marked decline and total disap- pearance in many places 1t has reappeared in considerable virulence. The table shows it's mortality in the cities. Two deaths are reported from Willimantic, seven cases, three fatal, are also reported from South Manchester {; cases usually severe are re- ported from several towns ill the south western part of the state. The indications are that the disease is spreading and is rather increasing. At
 Diphtheria is less prevalent than ln the spring, but shows slight increase over last month. It still fingers in Hartford The deaths, eight in number, are just double the total mortality in Bridgeport in 1888 from diphtheria, although that city before the efficient sanitary work done of late. used to report 75 or moro deaths for A series of years. Four deaths are re- ported from Willimantic, and cases usual 1 iy of not very malignant type are report ed from eight towns. The prevalence ot these diseases is unusual for June, unless an epidemic exists. In most of the cases filth conditions are easily traceable. The overflow of filth from 8 soil pipe on the lower floor of three-story tenement house and a broken earthenware outlet pipe from the house to the sewer were associated with five deaths, and sink drainage per colating through cellar wall, with two others faulty plumbing with the greater part of those in the cities.
 Each month that reports are made of causes affords more or less clear instances of the relation between filth and diphthe- ria, So constantly has this been noted thatthe Massachusetts state board of health in recent circular affirm that diphtheria can be caused by filth directly without any connection with preceding case.
 Diarrhoeal diseases have not been as prevalent as was indicated by their early appearance. Several cases of sudden death, both in children and adults, have been re- ) ported, death ensuing twenty-four and thirty-slx hours after seizure. A few cases of dysentery have been reported, but only in one locality.
 Malarial diseases are reported as lncreas- ], ing in the southwestern part of the state and along the valley of the Connecticut. Fevers intermittent and remittent are re- portsd from Tarifville, while the month is declared to have been the healthiest oi ) the last twelve, with little other sickness. A similar report is made from Oxford, that is, no sickness except an increase in ma larial diseases. Typho malarial fever is also reported in several cases.
 In general the history of the month has not been as unfavorable to health as the average, while more 50 than is the case usually in June. Cheshire reports one death only. Granby but three, one from old age. Haddam IS reported unusually healthy, and whooping cough and measles as the only disease prevalent in Stafford Springs. Ridgefeld is pronounced unusu. ally free from disease, and the same, with the exception of malarial diseases, could be said of several places.
 Nervous diseases have been unusually prominent for June. Thus New Haven reports 23 deaths, 16 from convulsions, and in many towns cases of meningitis and cerebro spinal meningitis are report ed. These are all in the part of the state where malaria has long been prevalent. That there is some causal relation in case of cerebro spinal meningitis is more than probable The relation to nervous dis. eases in general is certainly quite constant.
 A fatal case of sunstroke is reported from Waterbury one not fatal from Som. CTS, while instances of persons overcome by the heat or partial sunstroke were oft ener mentioned. The table indicates an unusual number of accidental deaths. To these must be added two from South Man. chester, one from drowning, one from g l broken hack