Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-12
SANITARY SUBJECTS.
REPORTS SHOW JUNE TO HAVE HAD
A LOW MORTALITY RATE.
Facts for Which Californians Should be
Duly Grateful-Useful Hints to
Parents and Others.

At the monthly meeting of the State
Board of Health, held last evening at the
residence of Secretary G. G. Tyrrell, the
following report of the latter was read re.
garding the sanitary condition of the
State:
Reports received from eighty towns, with
an estimated population of IDS, 700, gives a
total mortality of S54, which is a percent
age of LII per 1000 in the month, or an
annual morality of "A 04, which is an ex.
ceptionally small death rate, and indicates
how little serious sickness was present
within the State during the month of June.
Thermic fever, or heat apoplexy, is cred
tied with causing two deaths in Stockton,
The particulars of these cases were not re-
ceived. No other deaths from this cause
are reported within the State
Reports of sickness received from ninety
four Localities throughout the State indicate
that minimum amount of disease pre-
vailed during the month of June. AL
though the report of the Signal Service
declares that the mean temperature of the
month was above the average, its effects
were not manifested by any great in
crease in the number of cases of bowel dis
orders reported. 1t is, however, very
doubtful if an increase of temperature has
OF itself, that marked effect upon internal
arrangements that's so popularity ascribed
to 1t. The state of the weather in its rela-
ton to health is in great measure gov
erned by the local conditions surrounding
US. If they are bad, and need only an in
crease OF heat to develop those poisonous
emanations which are hidden under a lower
temperature in all decaying and decom-
posing animal and vegetable matter then
will sickness increase, bowel disorders
flourish and the warm weather be uniustlv
blamed for what our foresight should have
prevented. If before the warm DAYS and
nights come upon US we would see that our
cities towns, villages and dwellings were
properly cleaned and Invested of all posi-
BILE sources OF cOrruption-that our drink
ing water was pure and our air untainted
by human filth then even extremes OF
temperature would have very little effect in
endangering or shortening our lives.
We find cholera infantum noticed in
Redding, Biggs, Knights Ferry, Lodi,
lone, Anderson, Antioch, Grass Val
ley, Fresno, Pomona, Woodland Sacra-
mento, San Diego, San Bernardino and San
Francisco. The disease was in sporadic
form, and could be traced in most instances
to errors in diet. In one case in which
death occurred in less than fifteen hours, it
was undoubtedly due to tyrotoxicon devel.
oped in milk while standing in an insani-
tary cellar for several hours. We have no
doubt that many infantile deaths are caused
in this way which are wholly preventable
by care and the exercise of common sense
Diarrhea and dysentery were reported
as quite prevalent in large number OF
localities.
Varicella, or chicken-pox, was noticed in
few towns SnnraHin ~
Heating, in San Bernardino, reports small
pox as raging in Albuquerque, New Mex
leo. This is getting the disease quite close
to our southern border, and will probably
need an Inspector on the line, if the report
is confirmed.
Diphtheria and Group continue to be
mentioned in our reports. The prevention
of the spread of these diseases is an object
which should engage the attention of
Health Boards and Health Officers through
out the State. Without the greatest vigil
lance on their part the disease will con-
unue to enlarge our mortality lists, and
cast reflection upon our sanitary progress.
Nurses and physicians attending diphthe-
rite patients should avoid, as far as pos
slble, the infection of their persons and
clothing, several cases having been recorded
OF the conveyance OF the poison by those
parties, they themselves remaining well.
Where diphtheria is prevalent parents
should daily inspect the Threats of their
children before sending them to school,
and if any sign of inflammation appears
they should be kept at home, as it is these
cases OF so-called walking diphtheria." or
mild diphtheria, that are the most common
sources of propagating the disease, being
allowed TO mingle with other children,
drink from the same cup, play with the
same toys, and even kiss each other, with
out fear of consequences. No parent is
justified in sending the children to school
when infectious disease is present in their
house, no matter what its character.
The discovery by Professor Afanassjew
that whooping-cough depended upon a
specific bacillus has brought the disease
within the category of those that are pre-
ventable, or, at all events, of those that are
amenable i'll a measure to specific treat
ment; hence, the relief experienced by
those children exposed to the sulphurous
fumes about gas works, and the treatment
by certain antiseptic drugs; in the near
future we hope science will give US COM
plete control of this, one of the most fatal
diseases of infancy.