The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-13
DIPHTHERIA.
Warning Words of the State
Board of Health.

The monthly circular of the State Board
of Fl alth for October gives reports from
eighty localities, with an estimated popula-
ton Of 754,639, the deaths being 1016.
death rate of 1.34 per thousand, which is
an annual mortality of 1908 per thousand
The causes of death were: Consumption
$50. pneumonia Sc, bronchitis 20, congestion
of the lungs 7, wh0Oping cough T. Group Is,
cholera infantum 80, diarrh9a and dysen-
terry ID. scarlet fever /. measles 2. typho-
malarial fever 8, typhoid fever Sc. remittent
fever 5, cerebrospnal fever 8, erysipelas 2,
cancer 90 (Which is about the monthly aver
age), heart disease SO, alcoholism 10, not clas-
sified 42S.
Diphtheria is charged with thirty.nine
deaths, which is a large increase over the
mortality caused by this disease last month.
Twenty of these deaths occurred in San
Francisco, where the disease is quite preva-
lent; four in Los Angeles three in Alameda,
three in Sacramento, two in Sausa'it", and
one each in San Jose, Visalis, Grass Valley,
Fresno, Chico. Napa and Newcastle.
Diphtheria and Group have been quite
prevalent during the month, assuming
malignity in many cases that has been quite
unusual hitherto. In view of this prevalence
the State Board of Health has deemed it
advisable to publish, for gratuitous distribu-
ton, small pamphlet OH the disease. its
restriction and prevention, which can be had
on application to the Secretary in Sacra-
me nto. The conditions being favorable for
the development of the disease, the local
health authorities should look more strictly
to the public safety than they apparently do
in the presence OF these cases OF diphtherla.
They have the power of requiring from
these persons attacked. in that regard to
residence and otherwise, they shall so con-
duct themselves as not to unnecessarily null
tiply the chance, of extending the affection
to others. Public funerals should be strictly
forbidden, and the transportation by rail of
Those dead from diphtheria should not be
allowed, eX ept under the most stringent
provisions and competent inspection. Each
case of such disease is public danger
against which the public is entitled to be
warned by proper information.
Any person knowingly having this disease
under his care or control who voluntarily
neglectS to take all the necessary precautions
to prevent Its spread should not only be pun
ishabe by penalty as for an act of nuisance,
but should be liable to pay pecuniary dam
ages for whatever harm he may occasion to
Others. At this time il would be we'll for
parents to keep a watchful eye upon the an
imalS with which their children play, as it is
well-ascertained fact that dogs and cats are
very frequent carriers OF Infection into
household. An instance occurred in this
city where pet cat contracted diphtherla
from sick child and conveyed it to neigh
boris Child who unfortunately played with
it just after it had lett the infected home.
Cats having diphtheria generally display it
by yellow discharge through the nose a
gumny secretion about the eyes, hoarse
voice and a desire for quiet ami seclusion.
Dogs are not nearly so subject to dlphtherla
as cats, but are liable to carry the infection
on their hair. A curious fact, recently dis
covered by DR.. Klein, and confirmed By the
health officers in London, is that cats suffer
ing from diphtheria manifest the disease
more frequently in intammatory deposit in
the lungs than elsewhere, and while in this
condition they were as capable of commune
eating the disease 10 children as when it
manifested itself in the throat and nose.
In San Francisco the dis ase is reported
as almost epidemic, and ascribed to emana-
tons proceeding from filthy sewers. 1t was
also quite prevalent in Sacramento in the vi
cnity of the drainage canal; WAS reported
in Vi>alia, Napa, SaGsalito, Hopland, Lodi,
Eureka, Truckee, San Jose, st. Helena, Los
Angeles, Downey, Fresno. Newcastle, Grass
Valley, Chico and Alameda. The extension
of this disease 10 so many parts of the State
may, perhaps, be attributed to some condi-
ton in the atmosphere OF which we are ig-
norant, but we do know that wherever the
germ is deposited it is nurtured in filth and
developed where sanitation is deficient.