The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-24
FACTS ABOUT SICKNESS IN MAINE.
Reports from the Secretaries of Local
Boards of Health.
How the Towns Have Suffered and
EattIed with Disease.
Progress of the Work of Looking
After the Peoples Health.
Especial to the Press ]

nual reports OF the secretaries OF tne local
boards of health concerning contagious
diseases, water supply, sewerage, school
houses, etc.. for the year 1887, made to the
State Board of Health as required by law,
aud which will be Incorporated into the
forthcoming annual report of the Board:
Ellsacorth- There was no Epidemic except
one of measles during the early summer
Three cases of diphtheria were reported in
this city and two in Hancock, two deaths.
Pneumonia and other diseases OF the res
piratory organs have been more prevalent
than those of the typhoid type. The city
has no system of sewerage. There is pros
pect of an excellent system of water works
in the near future.
Eden and Bar Harbor-Contagiou dis
eases, g.; no deaths; diphtheria, 2; typhoid
fever, Z. The water supply is from Eagle
Lake, and is considered good. A new .sys-
tenn of sewerage is being introduced, which
is supposed to be perfect. Measles and
mumps have been more prevalent during the
year than usual, and diphtheria less. The
condition of the school houses Is generally
good. No doubt the typhoid fever was
caused by cesspools or bad drainage. The
dumping of garbage into the sea has caused
us more trouble than everything. else to-
gether With an easterly wind is drought
back to the harbor, that which does moi not
sink. That can be, remedied by towing fur
ther out to sea, and will have to be done.
Belfast Contagious diseases, case OF ty-
phoid fever, resulting in death. The water
supply comes from Shaw Springs, through
Little River, and was let into the city Dec: l.,
1887. 1t is said to be very pure. The city
will have to adopt some system of sewerage
the coming season. Six nuisances were re-
ported to abate.
Bath-Contagious diseases. IA cases; 8
deaths. Diphtheria. II, 2 deaths; scarlet fe-
yer, 1; typhoid fever, 3, one death. Inc wa
L. xxnIlc nd
and is very good. But recently the so,called
Brook water has been introduced. and IS be.
ing used by 500 families; it is giving great
satisfaction. Prof. Frank Robinson analyzed
il, and found it to be chemically pure There
is no system of sewerage, but the city mas
of self-drainage, it being situated
for the most part on high ground.
In some cases the house drainage and ex-
creta is left to flow into cess pools or
saturate the ground. Some 400 nuisances
have been reported to the board, all of which
have been examined, removed, or improved
upon. There has been difference OF opinion
as to who was liable for the removal OF nuis-
ances, s,the landlord or the tenant, but we have
held the former responsible. The matter OF
private drainage has been the cause OF fre-
quent complaint, and VIII be until system
Of sewerage is introduced. The last year has
been one of unusually good health Whoop-
ing cough has been prevalent among the chill
dren. The school houses are in fair con-
dition as regards heating, ventilation and
drinking water. There are two districts
where, no doubt, the locality is the cause of
much sickness, on the made land by the docks
and the so-called French Hill" which is SO
rocky that drainage is beyond the means OF
the residents. The Board has reason to
think that during the short time they have
improve the sanitary condition of the city.
/ Bdngor-C Contagious diseases, 36 cases; 8
deaths. Diphtheria, 10; deaths. Scarlet
fever, IA. Typhoid fever, II; deaths. The
quality of the water, which is taken from the
Penobscot river. is excellent. The city has
system of sewerage and it is designed to
have its outlet entirely at low water as soon
as construction can be completed. One hun
dred nuisances have been reported, all OF
which have been removed. Scarletfeve has
been more than usually prevalent and diph-
liberia less. The school houses as rule are
in good condition as regards heating. yentl--
lation and water supply. The Board has met
with good success and encouragement from
the people generally.
AugustG-ContagiOu diseases, 80 cases;
5 deaths. Diphtheria, 46; deaths. Scarlet
fever, 81. Typhoid fever, %; / death. The
prevalence of typhoid fever might
possibly be due to the amount of soil up
turned in planting the new system OF water
works. Pneumonia has been:less prevaiant
than usual; many cases seem to be Irregular
to have tendency to involve the larynx In
the membranous extension. Cases OF scarlet
fever were mild. The system OF drainage is
regarded as very imperfect, the natural
drainage afforded by the hills being mostly
depended on. A sewerage system Is ad-
vised.
Auburn-Contagiou diseases, 76 cases.
Diphtheria, 35: death. Scarlet fever, %;
death. Typhoid fever, 16; no deaths. The
water supply is from Lake Auburn and the
water is of unusual purity cool and devoid
of any unpleasant taste. The system of sew
erage is adequate, excepting two or three
streets which are not low enough to drain
cellars, and in the more recently built por-
tions of the city which are in measure
without sewees. There have been 80 nuis-
ances aabted of which 50 have been re-
moved. Early in the summer there was an
outbreak of an eruption disease in one of the
school districts, in the diagnosis of which
physicians were not agreed. Some OF the
cases seemed more like German measles and
others like scarlet fever. The sanitary con-
All the houses have been thoroughly disin-
fected. The sanitary condition OF our city
would be improved by abolishing wells
where the aqueduct system prevails; by ex-
tending the sewerage systems and compelling
entrance into them by abuttors.
Lesciston-C Contagious diseases, 80. Diph-
liberia, 9; one DEATH Scarlet fever, 9. Ty-
phoid fever IA. The water supply. is from
the Androscoggin river. While it is not the
purest 1t will compare fav0rably with other
river waters. The city proper has system
of sewers but as yet it has net been extended
to all parts of the city, but contemplated.
There are many imperfections. The system
Is not sufficiently low to perfectly accommo
date in many places. Thirty-six nuisances
have been reported to the secretary; 20 have
been abated. One corporation owning large
tracts of lands have persistently refused or
tlax.r .arfIa oh m aiofa mis- oc ra-
quested. Physicians are somewhat negli-
gent in reporting contagious diseases. In
the school houses the ventilation is not good
where visited; heating good. No contagion
has been reported in the schools. In reply
e the question regarding unhealthy ead y,a 0ia act
staggers me, considering the condition of
certain localities" Two or three cases OF
typhoid fever were occasioned by sewer
troubles. The efficiency of the board has
been seriously cramped for want of funds,
the city government having made no appro-
priation for this department.
PreSque Iste-C0ntagious diseases,
cases. Diphtheria. 2; one death. Typhoid
fever, 2. The nuisances reported to the To-
cal board were slaughter house in the
northern part Of the village and the PrIeessqne
The latter Is now thoroughly
Cholera infantum and typhoid
fever have been less prevalent than usual
1t is difficult to keep the temperature UNIFORM
IN the school houses during cold weather
The ventilation is bad and ceilings low. The
sanitary condition of the town can be i'm
proved by extenJing the sewerage system,
abolition of privy yaluts. etc, better venti-
ation of school houses, public buildings and
private dwellings. The board has visited all
parts of the village suspected to be unsani-
,ary, and Improvements have been ordered
n about twenty cases.
Thomaston Diphtheria, % cases; deaths.
Scarlet fever, none. Typhoid fever, 2; 1
leath. The water is taken from Oyster Riy-
II Pond, located two miles distant in the
4 ii excreta is generally hauled away. There
) no public system of sewerage, but the in
reduction of water supply seems to necessi; s,;
with the requirements of the law ON com
,laint. Diphther'a .was evidently brought
lere from New Y TX. Typhoid fever has
,erhaps been less prevalent than usual.
RocEIdnd-Thele have been II cases OF
contagious diseases; but one death resulted.
)f these were diphtheria; 10. scarlet fever;
, dxrtfa