The Portland daily press., 1891-03-18

Inc same course with regard 70 placarulng,
Isolation and dlsinfection has been pursued
this year as has been followed for the last
three years. We are glad to say that our
course In this respect has, for the most part,
met the hearty approval OF all who have been
affected by the cases.
by which an effort Is made to prevent the
spread Of contagious diseases, through fumI-
cation and dislnfection, the board has made
arrangements with competent person TO do
all that Is necessary In the premises. when
ever called upon. 1t Is believed that this
work can be more efficaciously and economi-
cally done by one person who thoroughly
understands the method. than by those who
have had no experience.
With the week ending February first, 1890.
the board began the publication, every four
weeks, Of report Of deaths and contagious
diseases, with causes Of death. so far as as
c rtainable. place Of burial. ages OF deced-
ents. and also the average barometer, ther-
mometer and relative humidity for each
week. This Is sent to all the physicians OF
the city, and to sixty local boards and thirty
two State Boards of Health. From these we
receive exchanges which are OF great value
to us. -
VITAL STATISTICS.
We present the usual tabulated statistics
relating TO the births and deaths. but must
present them collected In the usual unsati--
tory manner With regard to the number Of
births we are quite certain that II Is not cor
IcCts duu Tue ulO5t Wo eau ohJ AOI " Aot tAat
Il Is as near correct as we could make it.
With regard to the number Of deaths, we are
quite confident that the whole number Is re-
tured, but we have not that confidence In
the return Of the causes Of death.
1t gives US pleasure however to say that
bill relating to the collection Of vital statis-
ties is now before the judiciary Committee
of the Legislature. Two members Of the
Board appeared, with others, before the
committee to urge. its passage, and at the
good prospect Of a favorable report. Should
this be the case, we may hope In the future
to make such a return as Will be valuable as
basis of estimating our true standing In
comparison with other municipalities.
Closely connected with this matter Is the
census Of the city, for this must be the basis
of all calculations OF percentages for COM
paris0n. The United States census taken In
June last, gave the population as 36,425,
which would show an increase during ten
years in our population Of only 2615. This
was apparently contradicted by the large in-
crease shown in the poll list and the school
census, as well as percentages Of births, mar
riages &c.
was correct, the City Council caused care
full enumeration Of the inhabitants OF the
city to be made, each assistant assessor tax
ing the census of his ward where he was
most familiar. The result Of this census gave
the population OF the city as 39,595, which
figures we use In computing our percentages.
TYPHOID FEVER.
SO many cases OF this disease appeared
from and after the first Of September, that
the Board thought the matter worthy Of In
vestigatioD, and 1t has accordingly sent cir
culars and blank forms for reports to all
Very generally these have been filled out and
returned
RULE OF THE BOARD.
The following order was adopted by vote
Of the Board, hoping to be able to effect q
change for the better In manufacturing and
trading establishments.
All shops, stores or buildings used, occupied or
be furnished with suitable and sufficient water
closets and utnals, which In respect to their con-
~ to the Board q Heai6; and t any person ' or
persons who shall use, occupy or let any building
or tenement In which trade or manufactures are
carried on, and shall not furnish the same with
suitable and sufficient water closets and urinals
satisfactory to The Board OF Health, shah be sub
and five dollars additional for each month that
the offense shall be allowed to continue.
ISOLATION WARD.
During the year no action has been taken
by tho city council with regard to the erec-
ton Of hospital for contagious diseases.
While we have had no epidemic In our midst
we cannot escape the fact. that like all sea-
board cities we are constantly exposed to in
cursions OF small pOx and other diseases
which require quarantine or Isolation for
their suppression. The question which con-
fronts US Is this. II a case of small pox or
vari0loid should appear, what should we do
with 1t? Clearly, under the law, the only
thing which the Board could do In the abb
sence Of any hospital for the purpose would
be to conine the case In the house where 1t
appeared, irrespective Of the neighborhood.
We submit as our opinion, that, with plans
already drawn, and a lot of land belonging
to the city favorably situated for the pur-
pose, the sum Of $1,000 ought TO be at once
appropriated for the erection Of such build
ing rs Is required.
CAUSES OF DEATHS.
The whole number Of deaths In this city
from March 1st, 1890, to February 2Sth, 1891.
inclusive, was $40. This does not include
deaths at the Maine General Hospital OF per-
sons brought from out Of the city for treat
ment and taken home for burial; nor the
number OF still births, which was thirty
four, or five less than last year. Upon our
estimate Of population of the city, which we
have given on a preceding page, our death
rate for the years 1S90-9I was 15.475 for each
1000 inhabitants. III for the sake Of compar-
ison we must accept the census returns Of
the United States, our rate will be 1894
TABULATED STATEMENT OF CAUSES OF
DEATHS.
l-ZyuIOtlc 30
Unconstitutional diseases.
3-L0cal diseases.