Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-01
is NOT AN EPIDEMIC.
DlpHTHERIA NOT so PREVALENT
HERE AS IT WAS LAST FALL.
A Number Of Alleged Cases Found 20 he
liberated orc-Throat-suspected
Localities Being Disinfected.

There seems TO be something OF diph-
thoria scare in Richmond. but 1t is without
rational foundation.
There ale cases of diphtheria here. but
the disease is by no means epidemic, and,
what is more, is not as prevalent as it was
az one time last year.
Indeed, it is not going too far TO cha
racterize the disease in Richmond az almost
altogether sporadic.
Yesterday DISPATCH representative
spent several hours investigating this mat
ter and talked with some of the most intelli-
gent physicians in the community. The
answer 10 his first question OF number OF
plysIciaDs all Of whom have long visiting
lists which cover good deal of territory,
was the same-v;z.. Il haven't case"
NOT CASES OF DIPnTHKRIA.
Further questioning developed the fact
that some of these physicians had been
called to attend cases of suspected diph-
liberia III neighbOrhoods where the disease
was said TO exist and found the trouble to
be liberated sore throat. or form of ton
silitis very much resembling diphtheria.
A visit to the Office of the President OF
the Board of Health and an inspection of
the records showed that for thirty-four
days, ending yesterday, the number OF
cases of diphtheTia reported was thirty
three and the number of deaths twenty
one.
CURED CAsRs NOT REPORTED.
The ratio of deaths 10 number of cases
reported does not afford an intelligent
basis, however, from which TO calculate
the fatality. for the reason that while all
the deaths are necessarily reported, ,soIne,
of the cases that get well are never heard
from. So lax are the physicians in report
ing cases that two of them have been sum-
moned TO appear before the Police Court
Monday morning to answer Tor violating
the ordinance on the subject.
The experience of the health officers also
hears ont what was reasonably inferred
from conversation with Leading physl-
cians-thGt cases are reported as diphthe-
ria which are not such.
THE MORTALITY RATE.
When all this is considered IL will be
seen that the mortality rate here in dlph-
liberia is by no means as high as would ap-
pear from the figures for the thirty1four
days referred to. and which as regards
number Of deaths show six less than were
reported from the disease IN October, lS9o.
As to the cause of diphtherla there are
various theories, such as to the prevail. l.nce
of sewer-gas. impure water for drinking
purposes. staenant water, &c.
GOING BACK TO LEvITlcUs.
One prominent physician yesterday ad-
yanced the opinion, based on careful OBJ
servation, that a fruitful cause of diph-
iberia and typhoid-fever was the moss that
accumulated in narrow back yards tnat
were never reached by the sunlight. and
upon walls, &C., where u leak had occur
red. He said he believed that these moses
we're referred to in Leviticus, where "hol-
low strakes, greenish or redish," on the
walls are ordered to be eradicated Ill
cleansing the houses of the plague.
I'm one locality in Richmond where there
is some diphtheria and several cases OF
ulcerated sore-throat there IS no sewerage
and number of wells.
The health officers are inspecting every
suspected locality and dlslnfectlng IL
| with rae-house lime In the locality men
toned as being without sewers, children
were reported as having had diphtheria
who had gotten well in three days.