Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-13
THE STATES HEALTH.
Monthly Report of the Secretary of IL
State Board of Health.

State Board of Health.
DIR. Gerard G. Tyrrell, permanent Secre-
tary of the California State Board of Health.
has issued his circular for the month of
December. He says:
Mortality reports received from sixty-
eight cities and towns for the month of De-
cember indicate slightly increased death
rate over the mortality reported in Novem-
Der; in the latter month the percentage
per thousand in the month being l 81 in a
population estimated at 754 $50 whereas,
in December, in an estimated population of
COS, 800, the deaths nur bered 1.O53, giving
a percentage per thousand in the month of
LIB. The increased mortality NAV fairly
be attributed to the greater prevalence of
pulmonary diseases, including Group and
dlphtheria as affecting the air passages. and
typhoid fever and diarrhHa and dysentery
as affecting the alimentary canal
The number of deaths reported are as
follows: Consumption, 173; acute pneu-
monia, ITO; acute bronchitis, q; conges-
ton of lungs, 4; diarrh9a and dysentery,
II; cholera lnfantum, 8; other diseases of
the stomach and bowels, %; Group, 80;
diphtheria, 20; scarlet fever, 3; measles. II:
smallpox, Is; whooping cough, .; typho-
malarial fevers, 6; typhoid fever, 81; re-
mittent and intermittent fevers, 5; cerebro-
spinal feyers, IS; cancer, 2S; erysipelas. 5;
heart diseases, 81; alcoholism II: other
causes, 401. Total, 1858.
Very many of the deaths caused by con-
sumption occurred in strangers visiting the
coast in hopes of benefit from the climate.
PREVAILING DISEASES.
Reports received from ninety-two locali-
ties IN different parts of the State indicate
that disease prevails TO a greater extent than
usual at this season of the year. This is
especially noticeable in diseases affecting
the respiratory organs, pneumonia, bron-
chitis and influenza being almost epidemic
in many localities.
Diarrhpa and dysentery are mentioned
with frequency in reports received from
Tulare Newcastle, Wheatland, Downey.
Etna Mills, Millyille, Fresno, Sonoma.
Knights Ferry, Santa Cruz, Sissons, Ar
buckle, Jolon, and Modesto.
Measles prevail very extensively through
out the State. They are noticed in San
Francisco, Sacramento. Calstoga. Lower
Lake, Davis, Downey, Cottonwood, Mer-
ced, Fresno, Ukiah, Calico, Sausalito, Oak
land, Alameda, Lockeford, Auburn. Hop
land, Truckee, Cotton, Pomona Red Bluff.
Gridley, Sissons, Arbuc1le, Marposa, Wea-
veryille, Woodland, Berkeley, Hills Ferry,
Modesto, and Elk Grove.
Scarlet fever is mentioned in Cottonwood,
Lemoore, Sacramento, Red Bluff, Pomona,
Sissons, Arbuckle, Forest Hill, Livermore,
Oakland, and San Francisco.
Diphtheria seems to be spreading
throughout the State 1t is quite prevalent
in Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and
AmadOr City; it is also mentioned as pres
ent in jacksonville, Berkeley, St. Helena,
Santa Cruz, Fresno, Maxwell, Redwood,
Etna Mills, Truckee, Igo Sissons, Suisun
Livermore, Cloverdale, Biggs, and Wood
land.
Pneumonia prevails very generally, and
is reported in San Francisco, Oakland, AL
ameda, Sacramento, jacksonville, San Jose,
Bakerfeld, St. Helena, Fresno, Lemoore,
Bodie, Susanyille, Trukee, Yreka, Cedar
vile, Los Angeles, Pomona, Suisun, Hills
Ferry, Modesto and Woodland.
Smallpox is slowly but surely dissent
mating itself throughout the State 1t has
been declared epidemic in San Francisco
is present in sporadic form in Alameda,
SolaLo, Marin, Sonoma, San Joaquin,
Butte, Contra Costa, Nevada, Sskiyou,
Lake and Sierra counties. This scattering
OF so contagious disease as smallpox over
so large section of the State indicates its
source as being from a common center
where disease germs are in abundance. and
are thence conveyed by visitors in their
system, or in their clothing, to be developed
as they reach their several homes. All the
cases. so Tar as known, trace their origin to
san Francisco. In Sierra CITY the disease
epidemic proportions, there being
no less than nineteen cases in that town.
We may expect like result in other towns
as the disease progresses. The history of
smalI-p ox in this and other States is about |
the same. For number of years the dis
ease is absent. Then negligence takes the
place of vigilance and
VACCINATION Is DEFERRED
Until the number thus unprotected has
assumed snch large proportion that small |
pox, ifintroduced, is supplied with an over
abundance of material susceptible to con-
taglon, so that the disease in a short time
assumes an epidemic form, until all the |
available sources of supply are exhausted |
ana every unprotected person attacked |
W are Just now emerging from this period |
OF qulescence throughout the State. the !
material for infection is abundant. and /
small pox IS abroad. Therefore. without |
general vaccination throughout California, |
we cannot possible escape the result of our |
negligence TIE small pox of to day is the !
same suaHpo described by Procopius |
nearly fourteen hundred years ago. that |
deciminated and laid waste The Eastern |
world; and if material is furnished as then, |
us rayages are no less sure. The Board of |
Health again reiterstes its advice to vacci- |
nate all unprotected persons, and to re- |
those, the protective power of |
whose vaccination may have become i'm |
paired through lapse of time. Do not wait |
until smallpox invades the community in !
which you live before awaiting yourself of
the only preventive means that exists to !
avoid the disease. 1t may then be too late. |
and yourself be the first victim to the /,
malady. Above all, pay no attention to /
the inevitable fool that is sure TO arise TO !
air his ignorance by declaring that there is |
no safety in vaccination. and that it is a !
delusion. The history of smallpox en-
phatically gives such cranks positive con-
lradiction. There is safety in vaccination,
without it there is none.