The record-union., 1891-05-14
PREVAILING MALADIES.
Sanitary Condition of the State the
Past Month.
La Grippe Has the Tightest Hold
Secretary Laine's First OFF,
cial Circular.

cial Circular.
DR.. j. h. Laine, Secretary Of the State
Board of Health, yesterday issued the
monthly circular of the State Board of
Health, showing the condition of the
public health. In his opening remarks
DIR. Laine says: "The State Board of
Health, on the 10th day Of April, in
structed the Secretary to announce to
local boards and correspondents gener-
ally that vague terms, such as heart fail
ure, dropsy, colds and childbirth, given
in some monthly reports as causes Of
death, will be regarded as neither suf1i-
cient nor satisfactory, and to recommend
that specific terms, having the sanction of
usage, and recognized in medical nomen-
clature, be invariably used to designate
the cause Of death. The wisdom of such
recommendation is obvious to intelligent
minds. The objects to be attained are
precision and accuracy. The Secretary
was also instructed to obtain the census
of 1890 for all the cities and towns of inn
portance in California, and to compute
percentages Of deaths from such corrected
estimates of population. This number
shows this to have been only partially
done, but the next will show full COM
pliauce with these instructions.
TO CORRESPONDENCE.
at is hoped that correspondents who
have hitherto furnished reports to the
State Board of Health will continue to
do so.
1T is not desirable to make changes
unless the cause is imperative. Should,
however, some be unable to continue this
work, which is essentially in the cause of
i i
notice to that effect, SO that others may
be secured. Such notification will admit
of no delay. If, therefore, localities that
have heretofore sent regular reports fail
to send either report for May or a mott
fcation of inability to continue, it will be
taken as an intimation that the board Will
be at liberty to oinvite another correspond
ent.
at is extremely desirable that all re-
ports should be forwarded at the earliest
possible date after the end OF each month.
1t is unnecessary to add that the MEM
bers OF the board, and especially the Sec
retary, will appreciate fully the efforts of
those who give their time and services to
this cause. He desires their good will
and support in the interest of sanitation
III California.
sECRETARY's REMARKS.
mortality reports from sixty-seven
cities, towns and localities, having pop-
ulation of 674, $50, show 1,O64 deaths to
have occurred from all causes. This is a
percentage of 1.5 per LOCO per month, or
1884 per LOCO per annum.
Consumption was the cause in 164 cases,
pneumonia in l53, bronchitis in 40 and
congestion of the lungs in s. Diarrhea
and dysentery are assigned as the cause
Off deaths, cholera infantum 8 and other
diseases of the stomach and bowels 81.
Group caused q deaths, scarlatina but /,
whoOping-cough 3, typhoid fever II,
malarial fevers 3, cerebro-spinal fevers 6,
cancer %, erysipelas l, heart disease 63,
alcoholism 13 and all other causes, not nee
essarily classified, 436. Ofthis last number
Ia grippe is responsible for 13 deaths,
and there is reasOnble presumption that
many fatal cases of lung diseases are
traceable directly to an attack of that
disease.
Diphtheria caused death in 48 cases, San
Francisco furnishing q. This disease is
undoubtedly communicated by germ con-
tagion or infection, but the principal in
tuences contributing TO its Virulence and
fatality are those unsanitary conditions
arising from soil pollution, bad drainage,
with resulting vitiated air and impure
water 1t follows then that efforts to re-
Guce the numerical quantity and lessen
the fatality of this disease should consist
III the construction of good sewers and
good drains, the removal of all offensive
matter. the obliteration of stagnant water,
and the annihilatiOn of filth.
Diarrhea is given as the cause of nine
deaths. Localities having Il large number
Of cases of la grippe show also an increase
III diarrhea; the city OF Fresno. for eX-
ample, reporting 33 cases of Ia grippe and
Is of diarrhea. The general catarrhal
condition of all the mucous surfaces in
the former disease is a sufficient eXplana-
ton Of the accompanying diarrhea."
PREVAILING DISEASES.
Measles was reported from Middle
town, Anderson, DOwnieville, Dixon.
Etna Mills, San Pedro, Santa Paula,
Truekee, Anaheim, College City, Red
Bluff, Fresno and Sacramento.
"Whooping- has been in Sacra-
monto, Fresno, Vacaville, Downieville
and Oakdale.
1.-The only disease that may be said to
prevail extensively is la grippe, 1863 cases
being reported from different parts of the
State, with an accredited fatality Of 10.
Fresno reported 33 cases, with 81 of brOn-
chitis and OF pneumonia. Red Bluff so,
with of bronchitis and 10 of pneumonia.
Lincoln 10, with l of bronchitis. College
City l6, with seven of bronchitis and OF
pneumonia. Pleasanton 20, with 20 ot
bronchitis and of pneumonia. Elsinore
reported Is cases, Altpras 13, Vacayille 10,
with of bronchitis and / of pneumonia.
Eureka 5, with 10 of bronchitis and OF
pneumonia. Anderson had 40 cases, Mid
dletown II, Oakdale !, Calico 10. knights
Ferry s. Gridley 10, Needles 20, National
City g, Etna Mills Is, Santa Paula 8, Be
nicia 6, and Truckee 90 cases. San Fran
cisco Los Angeles, San Diego, and other
southern points of importance report
none at all. Oakland, Alameda and San
Jose are almost if not altogether exempt.
The progress of this remarkable malady
has been somewhat erratic, following no
well defined course, and requiring no
unusual local conditions for its develop
ment.
at is unnecessary to predict its future
in California. If the prevalence of moist
ure in some portions of the State during
April is responsible for the extension OF
Its visit, it would seem to follow that
San Francisco, which had heavier rain
falls than for years before in April, should
have had la grippe. Such, however, was
moi the case; none being reported. The
southern portion of the State has not been
entirely exempt. Needles and Calico are
in a region rated by the Signal Office as
below normal in rainfall for April, but
they have suffered severely from la
grippe. In these instances moisture can
not have been the cause"
IN