Morning journal and courier., 1893-01-18

4th quarter, s174 3s25 2oa7 as71 e759 e5ot
 Total, 14653 14,050 13 3sO 12, 223 F, 6O6 1.984
 Ia the whole year the number of deaths was 14, S53. heinz S03 more than in the last year and ,956 more than the average for the last five years.
 The death rate was 164 for the large towns, IA for the small towns and for the whole state 15 8
 The deaths from zymotic diseases were 1S0, being 17.3 per cent. of ths total nor tality, against 19 per cent in November.
 The following infectious diseases were reported to this office as occurring in the towns mentioned:
 La qrippe-Bridgeport, Colchester, Dan bury, Newtown, Norwalk-5 deaths.
 Smsllpox-Ansouia.
 Measles-Bridgepor Greenwich, Gris wold, New Britain, New Haven, Norwalk Norfolk. Orange, Putnam, Salem, Thomp son-5 deaths.
 Scarlet fever-Bridgeport, Derby, Eas Windsor, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Gris wold. Goilford, Hartford, Manchester Middletown, New Britain, New Haven Norwalk, Orange. Piainfeld, Stamford Wallingford, West Hartford, Wethersfeld Windsor Locks. Woodstock-29 deaths.
 Cerebro- spinal fever-Ansonis, Berlin Bridgeport, Derby, Enfield, Plain6eld, Sey mour, Holland, Torrington, Wallingford Windham-14 deaths.
 Diphtheria and croup-Ansonia. Bethel Bridgeport, DAnbusy, East Windsor dam, Hartford, M-rideD, Middletown New Britain, New Haven, New London Newtown, Norfolk, Nor walk. Norwich Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, Water ford, Windham, Windsor, Wolcott-5I deaths.
 Typhoid fever-Ansonia, Avon, Canton East Hartford, East Lyme, East Windsor Greenwich, Griswold, Haddam, Hartford Meriden. New Haven, New London, Nor. walk, Norwich, Old Lyme, Orange, Suf field, Waliipgford. Waterbury, Wethers field, Windsor-2e deaths The prevalence of scarlet fever through out the state has bsen particularly notice able for more than year. It has occurred in more than 100 towns in the state. IT some towns its presence has been persist ent every month, as may be seen by refer ence to the bulletins.
 In other towns reports of single cases have been made, or of an outbreak in g single family, and the prompt and intelli- gent supervision of the patients by the To- cal health officers has entirely prevented it's spread to others. This result Is in striking contrast with the practice in a majority of the towns The following in- terview lately with the bealth officer of one of the larger towns in the state illus trstss the usual method of dealing officially with contagious diseases by too many local health officers:
 Secretary of s. B H -Dr.--- If in obedience to the sanitary laws which are in force in your town, you received noti6- cation to-day of case of scarlet fever in 6 family in the town, what would you, as the health officer of the town, think 1t your duty to doa
 Dr. -. If the case was mem Der of an intelligent American family with ample means to provide what they needed, and if 8 doctor was in attendance, 1 should expect the doctor and the family to take the nec- eseary precautions without any personal attention on my part. If the case was 8 member of poor fsmilyI would provide them with disinfectants and tell them how to use them. And I would tell them they must not permit the neighbors to come in to their house while the sickness lasted. If him to see that the disipfectants were used That is all I think my duty requires me to do.
 Scarlet fever broke out in that town about four months ago. It is needless to say that at this writing, under such sani- tarys administration, the disease is still prevalent, with cases scattered all over the town. and at every point of the com pass from the postofice. There are many health officers in Connecticut with no bet ter conception of their duties than the one just quoted.
 All scientists now agree that every new cage of scarlet fever or diphtheria, results from the contagion of a previous case. That being true it follows that these diseases cannot extend to fresh subjects unless the eaid subjects are personally ex- posed to the sick persons, or to some ar ticle containing the infection derived from the sick ones. The law of public safety is expressed in two words: Isolation-disin- lection. If a second case occurs it is proof that these have been neglected. Partial isolation and disinfection are of little or no value. To be at all trustwor- thy they must be complete. Then and then only are these means infallible.
 They are not easy to secure. The resi- dence of the patient should be put under hospital regulations, with the health officer as director. All unnecessary inter course absolutely forbidden. A placard on the door should declare the disease.
 No one can now object to this, since the president of the United States has permit
 
 illness of his granachild.
 The inmates of the house of the sick person should not bs allowed to ride in 8 public conveyance.
 Disinfection is not less difficult. Telling the family how to disinfect is wasted time. There are very few families who can put verbal instructions into practice, without emitting something essential to success. And that omission defeats the attempt. All disinfection of infected houses or apartments should be done under skilled supervision. This cannot be too earnestly insisted upon.
 The duties of the health officer are con- tinuous from the notification of the disease until the recovery or death of the patient and the disinfection of house and every- thing with which the patient has been in contact. o. A. L1NDsLEY, M. D., Secretary of State Board of Health and
 Superintendent of Vital Statistics.
 New Haven, January IA, 1893.
 Mrs. W. P. Reed of 92 Olive street and Mrs. William Cushman of Dwight street, accompanied by Misses Sadie Reede. May Dev'ne and Daisy Brooke, left yesterday to sail for the south by the Clyde line.
 Mayor Sargent, Postmaster Sperry and Major L N. Middlebrook of Bridgeport. the com mittee investigating charges against the management of the New Haven County home, have completed their report and 1t will be submitted st the meeting of the