Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-12
HEALTH OF THE STATE.
The State Boards Report for May is
farastfuw

HEALTH OF THE STATE.
The State Boards Report for May is In
terestinx.
Mortality reports received from 1O3 cities
and towns throughout the State, with an
estimated population of 766,625. give the
number of deaths as 1,022-a monthly per-
centage of 1.33 per 1,000, or at the rate of
Is 96 per annum, which is a slight increase
over last month. The principal causes of
death are to be found among the diseases
of the lungs and heart. Consumption
caused 164 deaths. Pneumonia is credited
with 81 deaths, 20 of which occurred in
San Francisco, the remaining 81 being
scattered throughout the State indicating
marked diminution in the frequency of
the disease. Bronchitis gives record of
A deaths. OF these 80 occurred in San
Francisco, the remainder in single cases
elsewhere. Congestion of the lungs was
fatal in nine instances. Whooping cough
was the cause of four deaths. Diphtheria
and Group, collectively. were fatal in 81
instances. OF these, 16 were from diph-
liberia and II from Group. Of the former,
Ii occurred in San Francisco, l each in
Stockton, Los Angeles and Gridley. Group
caused deaths in San Francisco, 2 in
Knights Ferry and l in Los Angeles.
Cholera infantum is credited with deaths
in May. One each N Bakersfield, Salinas,
San Francisco, San Jose, Needles and
Fresno. This is an increase of over last
report.
Diarrhea and dysentery were fatal in
sixteen cases, which is more than double
the mortality of the preceding month, and
in 1iratoq ar increased Troouap,x, of ,oo,,
renee of these diseases. Scarlet fever was
fatal in four cases-three in San Francisco
and one in Woodland. Measles caused
thirteen deaths in San Francisco and one
in Los Angeles. Typho- malarial fever was
fatal in but one instance. Typhoid fever
caused sixteen deaths, which is decreased
mortality from the previous month. Re-
mittent fever is credited with two deaths.
Cerebro spinal fever caused seven deaths
which is decrease of over one-half from
previous report. Three of these deaths &C.
CURED in San Francisco, and one each in
Stockton, San Jose, Los Angeles and Lake.
port. Erysipelas caused two deaths in San
Francisco and one in Sacramento Cancer
was fatal to forty four persons. Heart dis
ease caused eighty-four deaths. Alcohol
ism caused eight deaths.
No deaths were reported in Visalia,
Truckee, Rocklin, Roseville, Oakdale,
Newman, Nevada City, MADEIRA, Long
Beach, Jolon, Igo, Forest Hill, Elsinore,
Downieville, Dixon, Colfax, Cotton or
Biggs.
The State Board of Health, in its monthly
report, says, among other things:
Reports of sickness received from ninety
two localities give very favorable records
regarding the general health of the public.
We find in many places that measles pre-
vail to large extent, and that whooping-
cough is almost epidemic in one or two To-
calities. The weather for the month of
May being quite favorable to those suffer-
ing from diseases of the respiratory organs,
a marked decrease was noted in the preya-
lence OF pneumonia, bronchitis and in.
fuenZa, while on the other hand an in
creased prevalence was noted in the fire.
quency of bowel and stomach disorders.
No cases of small pox were reported in
California. DR.. s. S. Herrick, the Medical
Inspector appointed by this Board to inves-
tigate the towns near the southern border
of the State, reported to be the seat of
smallpox, finds upon personal examina.
ton that the account received by the State
Board of Health was very much exagger-
ated. He discovered no cases along the
route of the Southern Pacific Railway, but
found that there was smallpox in Las
Cruces and other contiguous villages in
New Mexico, but none SO close to railway
travel as to seriously threaten US at pres
ent. Every precaution has been taken to
prevent the spread of the disease into Cali
fornia, and it is to be hoped our efforts will
be successful in this respect.
In regard to the action brought in the
Superior Court of Santa Cruz county by d.
K. Abel against D. c. Clark, Principal of
the High School of that county, to compel
the admission to the school of his two
sons, d. K. and James, who were refused
admission to the school because of nom
compliance with the Vaccination Act, the
Court gave judgment in favor of the Princi-
pal, and, on an appeal, the Supreme Court
affirmed the judgment Concerning the
decision, the Board says:
This decision will be of invaluable bene-
fit to the State in sanitary point of view,
compelling, as it does, Boards of Educa-
ton and School Superintendent to do their
duty in the premises, and give the children
that protection from disease to which they
are entitled by the State. If the rising
generation is generally and carefully vacci-
mated with pure virus, in the hands of COM
pefent operators, we may very soon bid de-
iance TO any extensive invasion of small
pox. To obtain this result, however, vacci-
nation must not be intrusted to any incom-
petent to determine which is true and
which a spurious vaccine vesicle. Upon
this depends the value of the operation,
the true vesicle being as infallibly protect
i've as the spurious as surely fails in any
protecting qualities. We must, therefore.
urge upon Boards of Education and School
Superintendent to discountenance, as far
as possible, the vaccination of those COM
mitted to their care by any but educated
physicians. The safety of the children is
too serious matter to he left in doubt, and
doubt there will be where incompetence to
distinguish success from failure prevails.