Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-13
HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Report of the State Board of Health 10
Eovemhar

Report of the State Board of Health for
November.
The report for November of DIR. Gerard
G.. Tyrrell, Secretary of the State Board of
Health, includes the following remarks:
Reports from eighty-nine localities in
different parts of the State give indications
of a very fair condition of the public health.
and an absence of any severe epidemic dis
ease. The dryness and low temperature
observed during the month of November
increased materially the fatality of pulmo-
nary diseases and of those affecting the air
passages. The total mortality reported
from sixty-eight cities and towns, with an
estimated population of $50, $50, was 1888,
or percentage of about IA per thousand.
which will compare favorably with that oil
any other State in the Union
Reports from ninety localities continue
to give indications that the prevalence of
disease OF an acute character is quite linn
tied; indeed, some of our correspondents
seem to imply that in many Of the towns
there are more doctors than patients. How
ever, we find that cholera infantum is no.
ticeable in Davis, Wheatland, st. Helena,
Cloverdale, Bakersfield, Oakland and Val
lejo.
DiarrhGa and dysentery are also sporadic
IN Elk Grove, Camptonville, Wheatland,
Susanville, Martinez, Jolon, Sierra CITY,
Dixon, Anderson, Castroville, Anaheim,
Red Bluff, Sacramento and Stockton. The
type Is mid and with but very limited
mortality.
The diffusion of pneumonia is now quite
general, and is reported in Sacramento.
Gridley, Nicolaus, Camptonville, Cotton,
st. Helena, San Francisco, Oakland, Los
Angeles, San Diego Fort Bidwell, Te-
hama, MERGED, Hills Ferry, Amador, Clo-
verdale, Martinez, Dixon, Watsonyille,
Angels Camp, Anderson, Hanford, Bakers
field, Marysville, Red Bluff and Santa Rosa.
Bronchitis has also been observed as
prevalent in Nicolaus, Davis, Camptouville,
Tehama, Fort Bidwell, Etna, Willis, Mer-
ced, Angels Camp, Arbuckle, San Fran
cisco, Martinez and Red Bluff.
Influenza also prevails more or less
throughout the State, but is not of fatal
character.
Whooping cough is prevalent in Sacra-
mento, st. Helena, Willis, Amador, Sauce
Tito, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Diphtheria continues to spread over the
State. Sporadic cases have appeared in
Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, Stock
ton, st. Helena, Santa Rosa, Martinez, Jo-
lon, Igo, Amador City, Auburn, Anderson,
Pomona, Gonzales, Williams, Georgetown,
Placerville and Cross Creek. DIR. III. c.
Crowder, of Williams, reports several cases
of severe type of sore throat in his neigh
borhood. DR.. Davidson, of Hanford, re-
ports the diphtheria in Cross Creek to be of
very malignant character.
Group also prevails in Shasta, Sacra-
mento, Amador, Martinez, Williams, Mill
vile, Benicia, Marysville, Oakland and
San Francisco.
Measles is reported in St. Helena, Mon
terey, Chico, Riverside and Healdsburg.
Scarlet fever has appeared in Lassen
county; also in Martinez, Sacramento, Red
Truckee, Woodbridge, Ontario, Colusa,
Shasta, San Francisco Georgetown, Placer
vile, Santa Rosa, and is still spreading.
This increase of scarlet fever shows the ne
cessity that exists for the establishment in
every town of local Board of Health, to-
gether with an effective sanitary organiza-
ton, to insist upon such measures as will
limit the spread of this and kindred dis
eases. If scarlet fever, particularly, was not
so far reaching in its effects, and so many
of its victims invalided for life, there might
perhaps be lame excuse for indifference
to its advent. But knowing, as we do, that
an epidemic of scarlet fever means certain
death to some, and lifelong sickness to a
great many, it cannot be too strongly urged
upon our legislators to pass such restrictive
laws as will, under proper supervision,
limit this malady within the narrowest
bounds.
The discovery of DR.. Klein, of London,
that scarlet fever may be produced by milk
derived from diseased cows offers a clue to
the origin of those mysterious outbreaks
which so often puzzle the sanitarian, and
give rise 10 the supposition of the spontane-
Gus origin of scarlet fever. We believe that
scarlet fever never rises spontaneously, but
is always developed from previous case,
the germs of the disease being so tenacious
of life that they may lie dormant for years,
and then spring into virulent activity
whenever soil suitable for their develop
ment is presented. The most thorough
disinfection is therefore absolutely neces-
sary for the destruction of these germs, and
without it the disease will have its periodi-
cal recrudescence whenever an inviting op-
portunity offers. Distinction will not be
undertaken by individuals except under
compulsion or, if undertaken, will be III
efficient without the instructions and under
the supervision of competent officer of
health.
Erysipelas is mentioned as occurring in
Hills Ferry, Lakeport, Millville, Truckee,
Anderson, Red Bluff and Martinez The
type is mild and without fatality.
Typhoid fever and typho-malarial fever
have been noted as prevailing to a greater
or less extent in Petaluma, Susanville, San
Fernandez, Jolon, Igo, Sierra City, Ander-
son, Truckee, Yreka, Weaverville, Red
Bluff, Santa Rosa, Gridley, Livermore,
Riverside, Etna, Cotton, San Francisco,
Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego and
Martinez. DR.. Allen, writing from River
side, doubts the presence of typhoid fever
in that city. 1t is not epidemic anywhere.
every city.
Smallpox was reported in Arizona, but
no confirmation of such report has been re-
ceived in this Office We may, therefore,
rest assured that it has not crossed our Dor
der as yet.
4 lsnNG TIE CID INNN NnANNA