Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-13
THE HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Monthly Report of the Secretary of the
State Board of Health.

Monthly Report of the Secretary of the
State Board of Health.
Gerard G. Tyrrell, NJ. D.. permanent Sec
rotary of the State Board of Health, has
issued his circular for the month of Janu-
airy, and from which the following extracts
are taken:
Reports have been received from nearly
one hundred localities in different parts of
the State, and in none of them does cpl
demic disease prevail to any dangerous ex-
tent. Among the diseases affecting the
respiratory system pneumonia and bron-
chitis are the most prevalent, which may
be attributed to the great humidity which
everywhere prevailed during the past
month. That this rapid increase of the
frequency of pneumonia is attributable to
the hygrometric condition of the atmo-
sphere, is in great measure sustained by
the reports received, as we find that in
those counties where the rainfall was least
the prevalence of pneumonia was not OBJ
served, strangely confirming the declara-
ton made by Fleudt, before the Inter-
national Medical Congress at Copenhagen
| l1SS4), that the frequency of the disease is
directly proportional to the curve represent
ing the rainfall. However, other factors
enter into the causation of pneumonia
which determine its presence, as frequently
as the rainfall, and these are the sudden
chilling of the body from change of tenn
perature; the overcrowding of tenements by
| the poorer classes seeking shelter, and the
constant exposure of this class of persons
| to the inclemency of the weather and their
| frequent deprivation of proper food, cloth
! ing, etc. The same remarks will apply to
bronchitis, except that whereas pneumonia
! is more apt to attack the young and md
dle-aged, bronchitis prevails more extern
sively among children and the aged.
| Pneumonia is sporadic in Sacramento,
| Oakland, San Francisco, Davisville, Vallejo,
| Santa Rosa, Liyermore, Bakersfield, Mari
posa, Millville, Woodland, Truckee, Cot
| tonwood. Red Bluff, MERGED and Calico.
| Bronchitis likewise prevails over the
| same region of country, being quite notice
able at Vallejo, Dixon, Downieyille Nico-
| laus, Etna Mills, Fort Bidwell, Truckee,
| Red Bluff, townsville Livermore, Bodie.
Arbuckle and Williams.
influenza prevails extensively in several
| counties, and in some is epidemic The
| type appears TO be mild in form and not at
tended by any unusual mortality.
WhoOping-c is in Mariposa, Nico-
| laus, Pleasant Grove, Santa Ana. Castro
vile, Pomona and Jolon.
Scarlet fever seems to prevail in mild
! form in Alturas, Cedarville, San Bernardo
no, Cotton, Redding and Red Bluff
Measles is also quite prevalent in Ukiah,
Susanville, Cedarville and Pomona
Smallpox is reported to have arrived in
| San Francisco, one case being discovered on
| the steamer Belgic. Efficient precautions
have been taken to prevent its spread No
| other case is known in the State so far as
| heard from.
| Diphtheria is happily abating in San
| Francisco, but has appeared in MarysyiIle
DR.. Powell, however, writes that the dis
ease is circumscribed, and owing to the
| precautions taken will probably be confined
| to its place of origin. In Pescadero and
San Mateo the disease also prevails in q
| mild form likewise in Santa Rosa, Ander.
son, Oakland, Modesto, Chico Hanford
Santa Cruz, Los Angeles. Petaluma and
| San Bernardino.
Group prevails to greater or less extent
| wherever diphtheria has made its appear.
ance. Our reports mention it in Truckee
| Millville, Anderson, Shasta, Hollister, Mo-
desto and Fort Bidwell.
Typhoid fever and typho malarial fever
prevail to very moderate extent, and are
nowhere epidemic. The mortality from
these diseases is quite limited.