The Portland daily press., 1889-03-16

from which 1t will be seen that, not only Is
the number of cases very much less, but the
er.
The board believes in isolating cases of
diphtheria and scarlet fever. They believe
In the contagiousness of diphtheria, although
they do not claim to tell how it originates,
neither do they declare membranous Group
Identical with diphtheria, as some boards of
health have done. A portion of the State
Board of Health report in reference to our
school buildings, is reproduced, claiming
that the ventilation of the High School is
failure; the Cumberland street grammar
is bad in every respect; the Butler condition
good: the MeLellan's ventilation is not quite
satisfactory the North school deserves CON
demnation, and the Chestnut street primary
might have been made satisfactory at a
slightly increased expense. $780, iA
A new pest-house must soon be required,
and the city committee should build new
one in good location.
It's customary in many States for the To-
cal boards Of health to compile for their re-
spectise. localities the vital statistics. The
Legislature of the present year refused to
pass a bill carefully drawn up, and similar
to laws of other States, ana there is in con-
sequence, no law in II Is State for the proper
collection and arrangement Of vital statis-
tics Of any of the cities and towns of the
State. We are. therefore. unable to compare
our own city with any other part of the
State. in any OF the points as to compare
tive healthfulness, which might be learned
by study and comparison Of vital statistics.
We have in this city however the means of
making il not an accurate statement. at
least one quite nearly correct of the births
and deaths. The estimated population of
the city at the present time Is made up from
the usual data. such as the known number
of adult population as shown by the asses
sor's lists, tthe number of school children
enrolled, etc, and this is supplemented by
the result of a census just taken by the pub
fishers Of the Portland Directory, to whom
we are indebted for these figures In advance
of publication. The population from these
estimates is about $4,000.
The whole number of deaths in the city
from March LIST, 1888. to February 18th, 1885,
inclusive, was 642. This does not include
the 81 deaths at the Maine General Hospital
of persons brought from out Of the city for
treatment and taken home for interment,nor
the number Of still births which was %. the
same as last year. We retain last years es-
10000, which makes the death rate 1905 for
each 1000 inhabitants, against 1913 for last
year and 1913 for the year before. OF the
$40 deaths, GO were from Zym0tic diseases,
which are in measure preventable by prop
er sanitary regulations, and therefore, to
some extent, show the sanitary condition of
the city. and the progress which is making
a series of years would be a tair indication
Number of deaths In 1889, 642, in 1878, TT,
In 1867, 719. Deaths from diphtheria and
Group In 1889, q. In 1873, AZ. In 1867,
40. Deaths from cholera infantum in 1889,
20. In 1873, 81. In 1867, SO. Number of
deaths of children under five in 1889, l55, in
1878, 1879, in 1867, ISL.
TABULATED STATEMENT OF CAUSES OF