Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-12
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
Report of the Secretary for the Month O
I~-

| hepOrt OF Inc secretary Tor the Month o
December.
Gerard G. Tyrrell, NJ. D., Permanen
Secretary of the State Board of Health il
his monthly report for December says:
Mortality reports received from seventy
| five cities and towns within the State give
collectively the number of decedents as OH
in an estimated population of 100000, ex
elusive of those town reporting no deaths
/ having population of 10 500, so that actu.
ally in population of 719, 100 the NOR.
| tally gives the exceedingly low percentage
of LIZ per 1000 for the month of Deem.
| Der, when the death rate is expectedly in.
creased everywhere within the temperate
| zone. If our mortality reports were re.
| ported as they should be, from every village
and town in the State. we have no doubt
the same condition of diminished mortal
ity would be found. We trust the Legisla-
ture will see the i'm ortance of so amend
ing our health laws that reliable statistics
may be obtained. as by them we can dem
onstrate clearly the advantages of Califor-
mia as health resort.
PREVAILING DISEASES.
Reports received from sixtv.fiye towns
indicate, with few exceptions, that the
amount of sickness is very limited and
what does prevail is OF mild and not a
serious character. This may be owing to
the favorable temperature throughout the
month, which was not characterized by
any sudden changes.
DiarrbGa and dysentery have subsidized
almost everywhere. Sporadic cases are re-
ported as occurring in Tulare, Fresno,
Nicolaus, Lemoore. Andersen and Downey.
Cholera lnfantum is almost entirely alb
sent from the State, or so seldom met with
that 1t is no longer reported.
Measles is reported in Red Bluff, Sisson.
Salinas and Eisinore The number of
cases is very limited, and it is no longer
epidemic
Scarlet fever is more widely diffused. but
in very mild form. 1t was present in
Red Bluff, Visalia, Naps, Sacramento. San
Francisco, Salinas, Cottonwood, Liver
more, Biggs, Anderson and Cloverdale.
Diphtheria occupies quite an extensive
range. II was present in Sacramento, San
Downey, Los Angeles, Napa, Petaluma.
Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz,
Vallejo, Tulare, st. Helena, Newcastle,
Sisson, Coliax, leo, Wheatland, Anderson
and Elsinore. DR.. Fl. N Miller, writing
from Colfax. says that thirteen cases came
under his observation during the month,
but the type is mild. We have yet to learn
upon what factor or factors the type of an
epidemic depends, and, again, to what we
owe the appearance of certain diseases in
regular cycles, appearing and disappearing
with a certain regularity that has so far
batfled the sanitarian.
Group accompanies diphtheria with IN
falling regularity, almost compelling us 10
believe in the identity of the diseases. It
was reported in Williams, Anderson, Clov-
erdale Downey, Forest Hill, Los Angeles,
Qss.and, Sacramento and San Francisco.
Whooping-cough was in North Bloom
field, Lodi, Angels Camp. Anderson,
Downey Placeryille and San francisco.
Erysipelas was observed in Red Bluff,
Fresno, College City, Cedarville. Newcas.le
Downieville, Sierra City, Lincoln, Truckee
and Lockeford.
Typhoid fever was noticed in reports
from San Francisco. Tulare, Fresno. New
man, North Bloomfield, Salinas, Wheat
land, Cottonwood, Cotton, Sisson, Anaheim,
Fort Bidwell, Lakepcrt, Igo, Jolon, Ander-
son, Bakersfield, Eisinore, Chico. Los
Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland.
Truckee and Vallejo. The range over
which typhoid fever prevails would indi-
cate that sanitary defects exist in these
places that ought to be remedied. Typhoid
fever is, Of all diseases, the most prevent
GDle, anu IL the SANITARY inspector, which
the State hopes to appoint according to law,
does nothing but instruct the people how
TO keep clean and prevent the development
OF typhoid, he will have earned his salary
and saved the State many thousands OF
dollars.
Remittent fever is mentioned as prevail
ing in many places, but its type is not
severe and mortality very limited.
Pneumonia still prevails to consider.
able extent but is not nearly so prevalent
as it was in November.
Bronchitis was more frequent in Red
Bluff, Sacramento, Fresno, College CITY,
Caiistoga, Watsonvilie, Sierra City. Bodie.
Redding, Brownsville, Lockeford, Oakland,
Alameda and San Francisco.
Smallpox wasi in Nerced City, but the
place is now free from it. There are, how
ever, three additional cases quarantined in
the pest house three and a half miles from
town. In Mendocino City there is one case
only in the pest-house, now convalescing.
In Stockton one case occurred. which came
from San Francisco. Since bis death no
Lew cases have appeared. In Los Angeles
two cases OF varioloid were recorded at the
pest-house, which are now convslescent,
and no further cases have appeared in the
city. In San Francisco they had few
cases that we're promptly isolated No new
cases has appeared since December %
1888. No further reports OF this disease
have been recorded.