Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-13
THE STATES HEALTH.
Monthly Circular of the State Board for
EehrnarY-Sm all-nnx Ahafin1

Monthly Circular of the State Board for
February-small-pox Abating.
Gerard G. Tyrrell, NJ. D., permanent Sec
rotary of the California State Board of
Health, has issued his monthly circular
for February, in which he says:
Mortality reports have been received
from sixty-seven localities. with an esti-
mated population of 665, 700 The total
number of deaths reported was $50, which
gives percentage of 80 per thousand in
the month. or an annual death rate of Is As,
which is an unusually small percentage for
the season of the year, and indicates the
absence of any epidemic disease upon the
coast.
Deaths resulted as follows Consump-
ton, 165; acute pneumonia, 1872: acute pron-
chitis, %; congesti n of lungs, 7; diarrbea
and dysentery, 5; cholera infantum, 4; other
diseases of the bowels, 30; diphtheria, 80;
Group, IL; scarlet fever, l; measl es, 1; small
pox, 1; whooping cough, L; typho malarial
fevers. l; typhoid fever. 81; remittent fever
l; cerebro spinal feyers, IA; cancer, 26; cry
sipelas. 1; heart disease, 81; alcoholism, 10;
other causes, $50.
Reports received from seventy-five local
tiles in different parts of the State indicate
an unusual absence of sickness, with the
exception of pulmonary diseases, which are
rather prevalent in many places, especially
influenza, which seems TO be almost uni
versal. As it has no very dangerous ten
dency, and depends more upon meteoro-
logical conditions than infection for its
diffusion. it can hardly be included among
the zymotic diseases.
DIPHTHERIA
Continues to be reported in Los Angeles,
Ventura. Anaheim, Downey. San Benar-
dino, Salinas, Fresno, Napa, ST. Helena,
Santa Cruz, Truckee, Millville, Etna Mills,
Anderson, Oakland and San Francisco In
the latter city thirty-four cases were re-
portel during the month, which is a de-
crease. The importance of isolation in
these cases is beginning to attract the notice
of the public, and when we consider that
the disease is almost as contagious as small
pox and twice or perhaps three times as
fatal TOO much care cannot be taken in
combining the disease to as narrow COM
pass as possible.
SMALLPOX
Is abating in a very gratifying manner. In
San Francisco there was but one case dur
ing the month of February. DR.. Wrenn,
writing from Placerville, reports that five
cases occurred during the month. These
all seemed to have originated from lady
who died after few days illness with
what was supposed to be pneumonia it
was more likely hemorrhagic smallpox,
as the first one taken with undoubted
variola was her son, and soon after the
priest who attended her was stricken with
continent smallpox. Although many
persons were exposed to the disease it has
not spread, vaccination being at once re-
sorted to. One case was reported in or
near Stockton. There was also case re-
ported by DIR. o. Barton of Truckee, in the
person of a colored waiter who had come
ten days before from Carson. He was wait
ing at dinner when the pustules were
noticed upon him. He was at once isolated
and quarantined. In MERGED two cases
were reported as convalescing. No other
reports Of smallpox have been received.
CONSUMPTION.
In view of the wide distribution of this
disease, unconfned to any one portion of
the State, but being particularly noticed in
the Southern portion, from the large immi-
grafton of these sufferers to that genial
climate, it is deemed of importance to give
the conclusions of DIR. G. Cornet upon the
righteousness of the disease His re-
searches show conclus;vely that the virus
of consumption is. not ubiquitous. but
arises and remains concentrated about
phthisical patients. A consumptive patient
only becomes dangerous when the most
elementary rules of hygiene are neglected.
Of the discharge from a consumptive pa
tient it is only the sputum which is danger
Gus. The expectoration, as long as it is
moist, is devoid of danger. If the sputum
is spat into splitting cups there is no risk.
The cup should be kept covered, except
when in use, not to prevent evaporation,
but to keep out flies, which have been
Hr,n faa t1,ax ak4 l,o.x
feet. The great danger arises when the
patient expectorates on the floor or in
handkerchief. In these cases the sputum
dries, is pulveriZed and carried about by
the winds, and if inhaled by person sus-
ceptible to the disease, will undoubtedly
produce the effects of incubation. DR..
Comet is also of the opinion that the pa
tent is by indiscriminate expectoration
even more dangerous to himself than to
his surroundings; that he can poison him.
self, and that The inhalation of few bac-
cilli more, and consequent starting of a
fresh foci of disease in his lungs may deter
mine the speedy end of his lite. From
these remarks it can be seen how very i'm
portant it is that the expectoration of all
consumptives should be- speedily disin-
fected, especially in hotels, pleasure resorts
and sanitariums which invalids seek for
health's sake. Until this is methodically
and effectually done, we can hope for no
advantage in the Limitation of a disease
which is preventable, and which DR.. Cor
net says kills one.seventh of the entire
population.
A FRIEND in need is friend indeed is
doubly true in the case of Hobbs Little
Vegetable Pills. They always cure.
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