Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-18
THE STATES HEALTH.
Report Upon the Different Forms
of Disease.

THE STATES HEALTH.
Report Upon the Different Forms
of Disease.
The State Board Of Health reports
| ,OS4 deaths in the State in February.
OF the prevailing diseases the report
says:
Measles are epidemic throughout
the State, and, in some cases, are so
severe as to be mistaken for small
pox; especially in those cases where
the eruption is very dark and mark
edly papular. 1t is strange fact that
there is seldom an epidemic of small
pox that it is not preceded, or accom-
panied, by measles. This was the
case in the great epidemic of 1910,
when, according to DIR. Thos. Syden-
ham, the measles Of that date intro
duced kind of smallpox which he
chose to entitle anomalous small
pox," as he found it different in some
particulars from the epidemic form
that preceded it. This distinguished
physician was the first to describe
the differences that existed between
measles, scarlet fever, and smallpox,
and laid down rules to distinguish one
from the other. Up to his time,
measles and smallpox were often de-
scribed together. as if one was a mod
fled form of the other.
Diphtheria continues to prevail,
but in an endemic form only. AL
though inspiring much less fear than
smallpox, it is really much more fatal.
In San Francisco .thirty-seven cases
we're reported during the month, and
of these fifteen died, mortality of
over 40 per cent. In Sacramento
some twelve cases were reported, with
four deaths. The disease is also pres
ent in Azusa, Calico, Cedarville, Clo-
verdale, Chico, Los Gatos, Los Ange-
les, Oakland, Maxwell, Riverside,
San Diego, San Jose, Sonora, Stock
ton, Santa Clara, Sausalito, Willis,
Fresno, Truckee, Etna Mills, Millville,
Elk Grove, and Anderson. In these
towns the disease appears to be of a
mild type and not as fatal as usual.
Group is mentioned as present where
ever diptheria prevails. 1t is the mos /
fatal of all forms of diptheria. The
isolation of the patient and the most
rigid sanitary supervision cannot be
too earnestly enjoined in dealing with
these cases.
Smallpox, we are glad to say, is on
the decrease, and at present shows
no evidence of epidemicity. In San
francisco, during the month Of Feb
ruary, one hundred and fifty cases
only were reported Of these eighteen
| were Chinese-fiiteen of them directly
importing the disease from China.
San Francisco is prominently a city
that shows the value of vaccination
and re-vaccination, and its positive
power to preserve community from
An epidemic Of the disease. San
Francisco has had smallpox in her
midst months; many of her streets
reeking with filth, many of her tene-
ment houses hot-beds for contagious
disease, and yet smallpox is kept
we'll under control, solely by the
good sense of her people in getting
vaccinated and re-vaccinated. If it
were not for the constant importation
of fresh diseases from China, San
Francisco would very shortly exhibit
clean bill of health as far as small
pox is concerned In Stockton eight
cases were reported during the month.
DR.. Ruggles, the efficient Health Of
ficer of that city, says the disease is
under control, and with the extensive
protection afforded by vaccination,
he does not fear any further
spread of the disease. In Sacra-
mento two cases were reported
in the early part of the month. They
are convalescent, and no new cases
have appeared. San Diego reported
seven cases in the early part of the
month. They are convalescent, and
no new cases appearing since the 9th
of February, the city may be declared
free from the disease. In Los Angeles
there have been several cases; the
exact number has not been furnished
this Office, but will probably not ex-
ceed twenty. Vaccination has been
so actively carried on in Los Angeles
that no epidemic need be expected
there. In San Pedro one case was OBJ
served In San Fernando a case
occurred also one in Santa Barbara,
three in Riverside, five in Salinas,
and sporadic cases in Napa, Red
wood, Santa Cruz, Cloverdale, Wheat
land, Sissons, Red Bluff, Lockeford,
Redding, lone, Sierra City, Lincoln,
Fresno and Tulare City. in the latter
three cases were reported. In Duns-
muir DIR. Van Meter reports three
cases; in Gibson, three cases. 1t is
also reported in Edgewood, Moke-
lumne Hill, San Andreas and
Murphy's. In Oakland there were
seven cases during the month of
February, which is decrease of one
half from the previous month. Vac
cination is vigorously enforced, SO
that there is hardly chance for the
disease becoming epidemic in that
city. In San Jose the number Of
cases has not been reported, but
probably did not exceed a dozen.
We notice that the inevitable
fool" predicted in late circular has
arisen, and, through the press, is en-
deavoring by misleading statements
to destroy public confidence in vacci-
nation. This unwise course, being
absolutely false in fact, is nothing less
than favoring the spread of smallpox
and bringing misfortune and death
where it might have been prevented.
In Sheffield, England, where smallpox
was epidemic owing to the prevalence
of characterization theories. it was
found that out of $1,000 vaccinated
children only 180 contracted small
pox, and of this number two died,
whereas out of 5 900 children unvac-
cinated, 172 contracted the disease
and 70 died. But to still further ex-
hibit the protective value of vaccina-
ton, it was found that out of 290 post
Office officials, including postmen, car
riers, messengers, telegraph opera