Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-14
HEALTH TOPICS.
Valuable Hints Thrown Out by the State
Board of Health,

Valuable Hints Thrown Out by the State
Board of Health.
DR.. G. G. Tyrrell, Secretary of the State
Board of Health, in his report for the
month of July, says:
Reports of mortality received from 100
cities and towns, with an estimated popu-
lation of SO3,5 give the number of deaths
as S97, which is a percentage of LII per
1000 in the month, or an annual mortality
of IL 80, which is the smallest death rate
yet recorded in the year. 1t indicates an
entire absence of epidemic disease of
fatal character, and a general condition of
healthfulness throughout the State, which
speaks louder than words. Consumption,
which enters SO largely into our mortality
returns, was fatal in 100 cases, which is be-
low the monthly average.
Diphtheria is credited with 10 deaths,
which is decrease of II from last months
mortality, and diarrh9a and dysentery
were the cause of 10 deaths, which is de-
cided decrease from the June report. Chol-
era infantum was fatal in % instances,
which shows an increasing frequency in
the disease. Typhoid fever is reported to
have been the cause of 20 deaths, which is
slight decrease from last report. Heart
disease was fatal in 81 instances during the
month of July, which is a large increase
from this cause.
Alcoholism was the cause of death in
10 cases.
Reports received from 40 localities
throughout the State indicate remarkable
absence of zymotic diseases. All observers
| agree that general mildness of type char
acterized the sickness which had come
under their notice. which will, perhaps, in
| measure account for the limited mortal
" lodi rrir fha .-l-4
be expected. the most prevalent of all dis.
| orders of the system were those affecting
| the stomach and bowels, and this was par
| tlcularly noticed during and after tie very
warm days that were experienced in the
earlier and latter part of the month.
Smallpox was not reported from any To-
| cality during the month. We have, there
| FORE come to the reasonable conclusion
| that the disease is now entirely absent from
! the State for the first time in over two
| years. This fact should now be taken ad-
| vantage of by urging immediate vaccina-
| ton of all nnvaccinated persons, so that if
the disease is again imported into the State
| it will find no pabulum upon which to
| feed, and will die for want of sustenance.
| By thorough vaccination there need not be
another case OF smallpox in California It
| is to be hoped that the new law upon vacci-
| nation will tend toward this desirable end,
and, by protecting our children, lessen the
| chances of any severe epidemic even if
again attacked by the insidious foe.
As this is the season of the year when
! typhoid fever is most likely to prevail, and
| thereby increase the chances of the con-
| tanination of our drinking water, and as it
| is also at this time that visitors leave the
warm valleys to seek health and recreation
| at the various mountain and seaside re-
| sorts, we cannot too earnestly advise such
| soiourners to criticise ksenly the sanitary
| surroundings of the place in which they
| propose to spend their summer holiday
| examine the outhouses and priyies, see
| where the sewage is conveyed and deposited,
note the proximity of the closets to the
well. and if the well is dug one, and
within three hundred feet of the sewer,
cesspool or privy. do not drink the water
| from such well, except you know it to be
| boiled. In short, avoid all summer resorts
| where cleanliness and sanitation is not the
rule, where every clubhouse, privy and cess
| pool is not deodorizad and disinfected as
! regularly as the week comes round. With
| out this danger IS ever present, and we
| firmly believe that more typhoid fever is
contracted in these insalubrious country
houses, whose portals we seek for health
than the public is aware of The frequent
proximity of COW yards, hen roosts, stables
ana even pig pens, make the surrounding
| atmosphere anything but sslubrious. It's,
therefore an act Of prudence to study the
sanitary surroundings of pleasure resort
before mourning the exposure, and perhaps
fatal danger, which insanitary conditions
aiways present.
Remittent and Intermittent fevers were
quite prevalent along the river bottoms,
which is to be expected at this season of the
year.
The appearance of cerebral fever in differ
ent sections of the State would seem to con.
firm the opinion of late observers that the
Infectious germ is preserved in the soil,
and thence passed into the atmosphere, as
it is now known that epidemics of this dis
ease may appear ct any season independ-
ent of local temperature; and as drying
does not destroy the vitality of the disease
germ, it may explain those cases of the
disease which seem to spread by wav of the
air