Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-12
PREVAILING DISEASES.
Reports of Deaths and Their Cause
Throughout the State for March.

Is a still further decrease from the preced-
ing month. The mortality from consump-
ton was very high during the month, l88
deaths being attributed to it. From the
number occurring in the southern part of
the State, we may truthfully surmise that
they were in great part strangers seeking
health. Pneumonia has also high death
rate, 1I3 decedents being so recorded
Sixty-two of these occurred in San Fran
cisco, although the weather was not par
ticularly unfaYorable during the month.
Bronchitis caused twenty EIGHT deaths.
which is decrease from last report.
Congestion of the lungs was fatal in fif-
teen instances.
WhoopiDg cough caused three deaths.
Diphtheria shows decreased death rate
during March, twenty-eight deaths being
attributed to it. which is less by fifteen than
the report for February. There were only
seven deaths from diphtheria in San Fran
CISCO which shows great diminution in
the prevalence of the disease in that city.
The other cases were sporadic.
Group, which may really be classed with
diphtheria, is credited with eleven deaths.
Scarlet fever caused ten deaths.
Measles had twenty-four deaths credited
to it, which is about the same mortality
that is recorded in the preceding month
from this cause.
Smallpox caused fifteen deaths, of which
only four occurred in San Francisco, three
in Los Angeles, three in Murphys, one in
Ayarado District, MERGED, one in Stockton,
one in Redding, one in Riverside, and one
near Downey.
PREVAILING DISEASES.
Reports of sickness from ninety-nine To-
calitieS indicate very favorable diminu-
ton of diseases throughout the State for
the past month. This is especially notice
able in acute diseases of the lungs and in
fiammatory affections of the bowels. Small
pox is still to be found within the State,
more because of the failure to recognize
the disease and isolate it properly than
from any yirulence of the type prevailing.
Diphtheria is also appearing in many
new quarters, from like cause, and until
the public can be taught that prevention is
much better than disease, we may expect a
continuance, in greater or less extent of
all these preventable maladies.
Measles still prevail extensively, and in
some places is quite epidemic. The almost
impossibility OF quarantine in this disease
makes its spread limitless, except by ex-
haustion of material. Fortunately the
present epidemic is mild and the mortality
limited. 1t is prevalent just now in Tulare,
Castroville, Wheatland. College City, Lake
port, Rocklin, Sacramento. San Francisco,
Oakland, Gridley, Weaverville, Downey,
Susanville, Bodie, Colfax, Lodi. knights
Ferry, Hills Ferry. Sissons, North Bloom
field Nicolaus, Lemoore, Truckee, Pomona,
Cottonwood, Anderson, Bakersfield. Los
Gatos, Auburn, Tehachapi, Redding, Ven
tura and Stockton.
Scarlet fever, in mild form, is noticed
in Wheatland, College City, Rocklin, Sacra-
mento Biggs, San Francisco, Oakland,
Sisson's Angels Camp, Auburn, Anderson,
Redding, Murphys, Douglas Flat and
Chico.
The general conclusion in regard to this
disease is that it is a specific poison, not
depending upon defective sewerage or
sewer gas. as we find it in localities without
sewers, as well as in those well served
among the rich as well as among the poor
in cities and in remotely isolated dwellings.
The disease is communicable and can
De carried long distances by infected
persons, clothing and railway cars. 1t can
only be arrested, or at least restricted, by
the thorough disinfection of the persons
and premises of those in contact with the
dread disease. It should, therefore, be
legally incumbent on every person to give
notice of the disease whenever present on
their premises or in their families. We
hope such law will be enacted by our
next Legislature.
Smallpox. although mo longer declared
epidemic in San Francisco. still fingers in
that city. Twenty-three cases were re-
ported during the month, three of them
Chinese, recently imported. In Oakland
there were only four cases reported during
the month. In Eureka, Humboldt, five
csses occurred. Two in Millville and three
in Redding. In Stockton there were nine
all COnualpS0ant
cases were since discovered. In San
Bernardino two cases were quarantined.
In Riverside six cases were reported, all
nearly recovered; as two weeks have
elapsed without any new cases, it is hoped
the disease is there = stamped OUT by
vaccination. In Los Angeles there were
many cases, the number of which the
Health Officer has neglected TO report. 1t
also appeared in Ocean Side, Downey,
Monrovia, Ontario Point Reyt> Gilroy,
San Jose, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, bissor.s,
West Point, Murphys. Duncan's Flat, San
Andreas, Sheep Ranch, Alvarado District,
MERGED, and perhaps other points not re-
ported. The danger this State encounters
from smallpox is in the great desire for
concealment which exists not only among
individuals, but among officials; it is with
the greatest difficulty this Office gets the
necessary information to enable it to take
the proper steps for the suppression of the
disease. In San Andreas, for instance, the
disease there was mistaken for chicken-pox.
This sad blunder caused the death of some
and the diffusion; of smallpox throughout
the county. Had the physician promptly |
quarantined the first case, even if it were
chicken-pox, the disease could have been |
arrested, and the county saved from the |
pestilence. In jacksonville similar mis-
ia q ura 4 m dQ and altbnnCh ha Sod
physicians there declared the disease was
smallpox, the assurance of neutrality-suspicious. |
not so qualified, that the disease was not |
smallpox, seemed to meet with such favor |
that for a time isolation and quarantine |
were neglected, and the disease, as a matter |
of course, spread.
The fact, therefore, that the largest cities |
have practically stamped out the disease |
does not relieve US from its extension in |
the State where sanitary precautions are
either ignored or neglected. Fortunately, |
the type so far has been exceedingly mild. !
So much so, that many with the disease |
were not even confined to bed; but from |
these the most virulent cases may be de- |
veloped, and they should be as sedulously |
guarded from contact with the public as if |
they were confined to bed 1t is these |
mild cases that have caused such extension |
Of smallpox over the State and if vaccina- |
ton is not thoroughly and systematically
performed throughout the length and
breadth of the land, there is no telling |
when and where the disease will stop.
For the stamping out" of disease like
smal-q in community, there must be
cooperation, there must be individual in
terest and union. The concealment of a
case of smallpox increases the epidemic |
tendency, and intensities its capacity for in |
extension, which Injuries not |
only the guilty parties, but also their neigh |
bors. In fact, the concealment of case of |
smallpox, which thereby is communicated |
to another who is innocent of the presence |
OF the disease renders the narties rom