Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-13
HEALTH STATISTICS.
MONTHLY RIPURT OF THE STATE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Diseases Prevalent in California
During November, and
the Death Rate.

per 900 in the month, or an annual death
| rate of Is per ], 900, which is above the av-
erage for the past six months, but still
very low rate of mortality for this season of
the year, when acute pulmonary complaints
! prevail, and which in the Eastern States
| increase their mortality list so very largely.
! With The advent of the rainy season respi-
ratory diseases became prominent. and at
once made themselves apparent in our
mortality returns.
Consumption caused 142 deaths, about
! the same as in October.
Pneumonia, which in October produced
death in but AZ persons, in November
| caused the decease of los, over double the
number.
Bronchitis was fatal in % instances,
which is also an increase from the last re-
port.
Congestion of the lungs caused ten
deaths.
Diarrhea and dyseniery, so fatal during
! the summer months, has reduced its death
rate to five in November, all isolated cases.
| Last month deaths from these diseases
numbered twenty weight, the change in the
atmosphere seeming to have beneficial
! effect in modifying their fatality.
| Cholera 1nfantum.-The deaths from this
| disease have also fallen from thirty last
month to twelve in November These
were all sporadic cases, and in no locality
was any epidemic tendency noted.
Diphtheria made a marked advance in
| the number of decedents, forty-three deaths
| being ascribed to it. twenty-five of these
occurred IN San Francisco six in Los An
geles, three in Napa, two each in Downey,
San Diego and Sacramento. and one each
in Etna Mills, Nevada City, Pasadena, Hol-
| lister, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Stockton
and st. Helena.
| Group caused ten deaths, seven in San
| Francisco and three in Los Angeles, prob
ably all diphtheric in their nature.
Whooping cough was fatal in seven in
| stances, which is an increase over last
months report, and indicates that the dis
ease is increasing its area of diffu ion.
Scarlet fever was fatal in two instances
! only. The disease is quite prevalent. but
of an unusually mild type.
Measles caused no deaths
! Smallpox caused but one death-a child
in Merced. There were no other deaths
| from it reported.
Typhomalarial fever was fatal in nine
| instances.
Typhoid fever had a fatality of thirty
one, fifteen occurring in San Francisco, the
| the others il single cases throughout the
State
Remittent fever caused five deaths-one
| three in San Francisco.
Cerebro- spinal fever caused nine deaths
five in San Francisco, one III College CITY,
one in Colfax, one in Cottonwood, and one
| in Watsonville
Erysipelas was fatal in three instances.
Heart diseSse-sixty- one deaths were re-
ported from this cause.
Cancer caused twenty-four deaths
alcoholism was fatal to ten persons.
The following towns report no deaths :
| Bodie, Lakeport, Roseville, Folsom, Ven
tura and Wheatland.
PREVAILING DISEASES.
Reports received from eighty localities
in different paris of the State, indicate the
| increase of zymotic disease, especially
diphIheria, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, and
a tendency to the spread of smallpox.
The meteorological changes during Novem-
Der has likewise increased all acute diseases
OF the respiratory organs, influenza being
epidemic in many places, and pneumonia
and bronchitis quite prevalent
DIarrhea and dysentery show a remark
able decrease in prevalence, but sporadic
cases appeared during the month in Knights
Ferry, Cottonwood, Etna Mills, Redding,
Wheatland, Downey, San Bernardino, Tu-
lare, Fresno, College City, Red Bluff and
Benicia.
1
to be mentioned in our reports, two or
three localities only reporting isolated cases.
This fact tends to show how essentially the
disease is dependent upon temperature and
olet for its maintenance, or that the microbe
| al on which the disease is, by Hayem, said
t' depend, is not capable OF preserving its
xistence in lowered temperatures Isolated
cases were noticed in Los Angeles, San
rancisco, Lodi, San Bernardino, Downev
Etna Mills Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa
Measles are reported in Newcastle and
ReddIpg.
Scarlet fever is prevalent in Sacramento
Slsson, Biggs, Lockeford, Auburn, Cotton
Gloverdale, San Bernardino 0phir and San
francisco. In Auburn, DR.. Rooney writes
the disease appeared in neighboring houses
but by strict isolation of them the feye1
was not permitted to spread. In the town
of Ophir there were several cases with two
deaths. In San Francisco only four cases
were reported. IL Sacramento there were
many cases, owing to the want of sanitary
precautlon to prevent its spread. When
scarlatina appears in community the most
rigid isolation should be practiced, as there
is no possibility of knowing whether it is
the inauguration OF an epidemic that will
sweep through town like devastating
plague, or continue its progress in be.
nignant form. AS far as heard from the
disease is mild in type, but often producing
death from the effects which follow the
eruption.
Diphtheria, we regret to say, is men,
TONED in many reports as present. In San
Francisco as many as sixty-two cases were
reported during November. 1t also was
noticed in Oakland, Sacramento, ST. Helena
Napa, Sisson, Truckee, Igo. Etna Mills
Downey, Cotton, San BerDardino, Ventura
Fresno, Mariposa, Nevada City, Rocklin
Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Pasadena and
Santa Barbara.
Group, twin sister to diphther;a. is re.
ported as having been noticed in Lincoln
Sisson, Tiuckee, Rocklin, Fort Bid we'll
Mariposa, Anaheim, Cloverdale, Ventura
and Los Angeles.
The increase in the reports of these dis
eases must be attributed to sanitary care.
lessness in the management of the new
cases occurring. When once diphtheria has
arisen the law OF contagion carries it to the
rich and the poor without discrimination
to the cleanly and the uncleanly but moi
to all alike Filth fosters the disease but
cleanliness offers no inducement for Its
propagation. Beware of anv person who
has sore throat; do not kiss or absorb the
breath OF any such. Do not visit the
dwelling where diphtheria or Group are
present, and above all, do not let your chill.
/ uIth 20 "Heie II IS. Dlp1lnefIa is pre-
ventable disease, and proper sanitary and
preventive measures are invariably fol.
lowed by limitation of the disorder to the
place of its occurrence.
Who0ping cough is quite prevalent in
Angels Camp, Livermore, Etna Mills, Elsi.
more, Downey and College City.
Erysip5las, which is, in limited sense
contagious, was noticed in Downieville
Salinas Dixon, Truckee Igo, Redding, Fort
BidTell, Cedarvile Red Bluff, Tulare
Fresno and Colfax
Typhoid fever was quite prevalent during
the month of November, and was noticed
particularly in San Francisco. SACRAMENTO
st. Helena, Alturas, Lodi, Anaheim Liver.
more, Truckee, Etna Mills, Redding, Fort
Bidwell, Eisinore. Cotton and Jolon.
The increased prevalence of this disease
was not unexpected, as it has invariably
taken place after the first rains. probably
by the latter washing surface impurities
into the drinking water. DR.. Dowling, in
paper read before the New Jersey Sanitary
Association, asserted that careful study OF
the cases and statistics which he examined
seemed conclusive that at least ninety-fiye
per cent. of the cases of typhoid fever come
directly from impure water. Sanitary care
and vigilance are the only means known OF
preventing the disease, and wherever the
/ slightest suspicion arises of the purity OF