The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-15

cholera have been. On the first of Janu-
airy dozen disinfectors for these two dis
eases will be appointed, and they will be
vigorously fought"
Then disease of contagious nature
can ne brought down to a minimum, If not
wholly eradicated"
ut is a fair inference. Smallpox is an
instan ce in point. Twenty-Five years ago
there were several hundred deaths year
from it in New York. Now We have some
years no cases at all. and never any except
it is brought here. OF course, a difficulty
in dealing with it is hat il will often be
concealed until death makes further con-
cealment lmpossbl BY which time a whole
nelghborhood may have been exposed. As
to the value of vaccination there can be no
possible doubt. The experience of the health
board is absolutely conclusive upon IN at
point. The objections 10 vaccination us
ua!ly arise from mistaken notion that
noxious diseases may be i0trodueed into
the blood. There Is no danger OF this sort
in New York. at least, for all the virus
used Is pure vaccine matter, from the
citys own farm. Of course, when the
blood is not in good condition, the vac
cinated subject may have bad arm but
there is nothing worse To be apprehended."
And as to the so-calied children's dis
eases?"
Measles was last year included in the
sanitary code, and viii hereafter be treated
the most contagious of all diseases, and
very dangerous. Once let it get foot
hold in "A founding asylum or children's
hospital and 1t is almost impossible to
drive II out. In dealing with ak contagi-
Gus diseases there are tyo unfailing rules
-isolat on and distinction. These can
be assured in private households as well
as ia a hospital. Patients need never he
removed 10 a hospital. except in cases
where proper isolation anu attendance
cam OF be provided at home. But
prevention is better than cure and when
danger Is apprehended from cholera there
is better rue of conduct than the little
Don't circular issue'i last summer by the
board OF health ana copIei everywhere.
Disease often comes oy way of water sup
ply. and the thorough boiling OF water
destroys the germs Medical science is
dong much Tor the prevention OF q seasa
bur the necessity for individual care and
watchiu.ntss viii never be wholly lacking
Even the best boards oi health cannot do
everything"
From the records of Or. Roger s. Tracy,
the deputy register. II appears tina. the
death rate OF New York has Ia len steadily
since the record oi II was Kent with any
thing IKE accuracy. Before 1851 the data
ar not very re- liable. bul ~Qcn high rates
a - per thousand in 1882, cholera time;
81 81 per thousand IN 1881. same canse in
part: 81 o. in 1877; 10 10 IN 1919 40 S. in
1891, and an average of nearly 50 from lS6c3
t. 1866 are reported. S.nce 1858
the rate has not touched - once,
varying between TO - in 1888 and
245S IN 1890. This rate is. partly for
cumauc reasons. higher than in the large
English towns, bun IL WAS very much lower
than the rate IN the great continental
cities OF Europe. which grow steadily
worse IN this resi- ect the farther east one
goes. winding Up with a terrific mortality
~, Ia 4 -
stantinopse.
Or take specific diseases Smallpox
killed l.2s0 people IN $50. For three years
pas, II has averaged less than two victims
peg year. Scarlet fever killed. :. go people
In 1850. 4 - n lSS0 Typhus fever killed
4S3 III 1876 alone and III the three wears
from 1852 10 1891 Here l. where the
health board does It's tine work.
But people die stIh. Yes. and faster
than ever perhaps from cancer. heart dis
ease, insanity. BriGht's disease and the
like. DiphtherIa, too, though . contagious
disease: but let il have a care The doc
tors are going 10 tackle that too, now.
These figures show what can he done
and what can't Cholera prevention is
one of the possibilities. Hamburg. in
stead OF preventing II. pretended. until TOO
late. that she hadn't IL. Hamburg Is two
cities. one splendid, new. rich: one old.
sQualid miserable. Dirty Hambur, took
sick first. Clean Hamburg lied ABOUT II
until clean and dirty alike were racing by
thousands for the open grave. Are there
any HsmDurgs III America