Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-13
CLEANLINESS is IMPERATIVE.
NOTHING ELSE WILL CHECK THE IN.
CREASE OF TYPHOID FEVER.
thence with the Public-Diph-
iberia in Asylums.

Typhoid fever is still on the increase.
The State Board of Health has repeat
eddy called public attention to this fact,
and has appealed to the people to make q
stand against the dread disease.
But in vain.
Now the State Board is exasperated.
"The increase in the prevalence of typhoid
fever will continue year after year until
the public appreciates the fact that this is
a preventabie disease, and wholly within
the public's own power TO eradicate" de-
clares the Board in its latest official month
ly report. Its prevention" continues
the Board, simply requires perfect clean
illness about our persons and premises. and
constant wstchfulness Of the sources of
supply of our drinking water. All water
from g suspected source
SHOULD BE BOILED
Before using. Numerous instances are
recorded where typhoid fever was spread
from the rinsing of milk cans with water
apparently pure, but really infected with
the germs of typhoid fever capable of in
fecting the milk. We have no doubt that
many of the cases of typhoid fever which
have baffied our research for their origin
have arisen in this way. Most of our
diaries have their water supply from wells
sunk in the cow-yard, where they receive
the drainage from the polluted soil.
ut is matter of history that cattle them
selves suffer from s disease analogous to
typhoid fever, if not the identical disease
itself. Il would, therefore, be an act of
prudence OF the part OF our health officers
to visit our dairies and examine the source
of their water supply and the means used
in keeping the milk from pollution.
Milk from an unknown or suspicious
source should be heated TO the boiling
point before using, as thus is effectually
destroyed not only the germs of typhoid
fever but likewise the germs of consump-
rion, which are very commonly conveyed
through milk taken from tuberculous
cows"
DIPHTHERIA IN AsYLUMS.
In treating of the subject of diphther a
and cranp, the Board calls attention TO the
recent outbreak of those diseases in the
Sacramento Protestant Orphan Asylum,
which was fortunately confined 10 that in
stitution. I'VE cannot" assert the States
upon the authorities that each case of such
disease is q public danger, against which
the public, as represented by its local saui-
tary authorities, is entitled to be warned by
proper Information, and we believe that
where an institution like the Orphan Asy-
lum is the seat of epidemic contagious dis.
ease, it is the duty of the local sanitary
officer TO visit such institution, and have it
properly disinfected under his personal
supervision. Such disinfec,ion should not
be Entrusted to those ignorant of the pre-
cautionary duties required or left to the
chance of a superficial sprinkiing of car
bolized water about the room as sufficient
remedy TO destroy the germs of the disease
I'VE believe that much OF the diphtheria
that exists is dependent upon insufficient
disinfection where case occurs. The germ
we know is most tenacious of life, and ex-
cept the most skilled disinfection is exer-
cised, will continue to live and propagate
its hateful existence for an indefinite period
of time. We should therefore require all
Health Officers to see to this matter them
selves, and know that through their exer-
tons all ordinary precautions have been
taken to insure immunity to the public
under his charge"
THE STATES HEALTH.
OChc4clly AO"CNCl, Tue Oldlc
Board considers the public health in q
fairly favorable condition, compared with
former years. 1t does not appear that cpl
demic disease of any description is present
anywhere in the State. Bowel disorders
ale quite prevalent, as might be expected
at this season, when fruit is INDUCED in
without regard to quantity. and very often
to quality.
The cooler weather of the month past
has had beneficial effect in lessening the
frequency and fatality of summer disrrhea
in children.
Mortality reports received from eighty
five different localities throughout the
State, with an estimated population of 1885,
300, give the number of decedents as 920,
being a monthly percentage of 3 per
thousand, or an annual mortality at the
rate of 156 per thousand, which is con-
siderable decrease from the previous
month. The mortality from cholera in
fantum has in marked n easure decreased,
as also have diseases of the respiratory
organs.
FATAL DISEASES.
During the month of September con-
sumption caused 1870 deaths, which is q
less than last month. Pneumonia was
fatal in 81 instances, which is slight in
crease over last report. Bronchitis was
credited with ouly 10 deaths, against Al
for the previous month, which is decrease
of &c during the month. Congestion of
the lungs was fatal in 16lnstances. Whoop-
ing cough caused but two deaths. Diph-
liberia and Group collectively caused 30
deaths, which is about the same as last
month. Cholera infantum was credited
with As deaths, which is decrease of
nearly one-half the mortality recorded for
August; the cooler weather during the
month no doubt contributed not little to
this result. Diarrhea and, dysentery were
fatal in "a instances, which is also de-
cline. Scarlet fever was fatal in but one
instance, and that in San Francisco.
Measles caused but one death, which &C.
Cured in Los Angeles. Typo mslarial
fever caused one death in Roseville. Ty-
phoid fever was fatal in 80 cases. Remittent
fever caused five deaths. Cerebral fever,
which includes cerebro- spinal meningitis.
is reported to have caused 10 Deaths of
these four occurred in San Francisco one
each in Angels Camp, Fresno, Havwsrds,
Pacific Grove, San Diego and Watsonville.
Eryspelas was fatal in four instances dur
ing the month; one each in Sacramento,
San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Cruz
Cancer caused 30 deaths. Heart disease
was fatal in 60 instances. Alcoholism is
credited with 10 deaths during the month
Deaths from causes not classified in this
abstract, 401.
The total number of deaths in the State
during September was 900.