Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-13
HEALTH OF THE STATE.
DISEASES THAT WERE FATAL DURING
THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
Something of Interest About "summe,
Diarrhea"-No Abatement of
Cholera Infantum.

According 10 lne report OF the State
Board of Health for the month of August,
the number of deaths in the State during
the months was l,065-s monthly percent
age of 50 per thousand, or an annual NOR
tality at the rate of 1854 per thousand,
which is somewhat less than that Of the
preceding month.
The mortality from cholera infantum
and stomach and bowel disorders continues
without much abatement. Consumption
caused 157 deaths, an increase over last
month. Pneumonia had only IL deaths
attributed to it, which is a decrease of 10
from last month; % of these occurred in
San Francisco, in Oakland, 8 in San Jose,
the balance in single instances scattered
here and there. Bronchitis caused %
deaths; of these, 20 occurred in San Fran
cisco, in Los Angeles, l each in Vallejo,
San Jose, San Bernardipo, Sacramento,
Oakland and Fresno. Congestion of the
lungs was fatal in IL instances. Whoop-
ing cough caused deaths. Diphtheria
and Group collectively caused 90 deaths, 25
being from diphtheria and from Group.
Of the former IL occurred in San Francisco,
2 in Los Angeles, in Alameda in Sacra-
mento, and l each in San Jose, Oakdale,
Pasadena. Cloverdale and Anaheim Chol-
era infantum is reported TO have caused 76
deaths in August, which is only less than
in the previous month. Diarrhea and
dysentery were fatal IN 25 instances, which
is slight decrease from last report Re-
mittent fever caused deaths; cerebro-
spinal fever. 10: cancer. 40; heart disease,
63; and alcoholism -. Deaths from causes
not classified numbered 451.
The following extract regarding sum
mer diarrhea" from the monthly circular
of the Connecticut State Board of Health,
is quoted in the report as being of interest
to California at this season:
l. General conditions in their influence as
Geological factors, to wit: Temperature OF the
air, temperature of the earth TO the depth of
four feet rainfall, air movement
2. Conditions and locality, such as elevations
above sea level, soil, density of population, i'm
pediments TO ventilation, dark aud dirty dwell
ings, sewer or cesspool emanations. filthy ac-
cumulations OF domestic refuse in priyies,
garbage heaps, etc, polluted drinking water.
3. Conditions relating to the population-as
social position-food and artificial feeding of
infants-maternal neglect and carelessness in
result Of this exhaustive study conclusions
which the author modestly calls provisional
hypothesis. While he accords to high tenn
perature very potent influence, he says lit is
exerted indirectly and is not direct cause of
diarrhea. The following remarkable statement
appears IN the report The summer rise of
diarrheal mortality does not begin until the
mean temperature recorded at four feet below
the earth's surface attains about so Fahrenheit,
no matter what may have been the previous
temperature OF the atmosphere of that recorded
by the one-foot earth thermometer" And that
the maximum diarrheal mortality of the year
is in the week in which the temperature re-
corded by the tour-foot earth thermometer
attsins its mean weekly maximum And, fur
ther, that the decline of the diarIheel mortality
comedies with the decline of temperature re-
corded by the four-foos earth thermometer
without regard to the atmospheric temperature.
The effect of rainfall seems to depend upon
its reducing the earth temperature.
Air movement-1n diarrheal season, calm
promotes it and high winds lessen it.
Soil-Diarrheal mortality is favored by soils
permeab BILE to water and air. Rock and irnper-
meable soils lessen it. The presence of organic
matter IN the soil favors high diarrheal NOR
tality.
Density OF population and everything which
contributes to foul the air or interfere with its
free circulation, enhances the diarrheal death
rate.
Domestic darkness and general dirtiness OF
dwellings eonduee to diarrheal mortality; ifwith
these the habitations are crowded and the ven
tilation bad, then the mortality is highest.
Sewer or cesspool emanations in concentrated
form and suddenly let loose, the author says,
are of themselves capable of Occasioning q diar-
rheal epidemic
Food exposed in cellars and closets to emana-
tions from domestic filth produce diarrhea
especially If stored IN dark places and not ex-
posed to currents of air. The essential cause OF
| diarrhea resides original in the superficial
layers of the earth, where It is Intimately asso.
ciated with the life processes of some micro
organism not yet detected. The vital mani.
festations of such organism are dependent upon
conditions of seasons, and on the presence OF
dead organic matter. which is its pabulum In
certain conditions, particularly of temperature
these organisms become volatile, and are waited
through the air, attaching themselves to such
organic material as viii afford them indus
and pabulum. For obvious reasons, bottle-fed
babies are most expos ed to this infection