Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-20
SMALLPOX IN MICHIGAN.

e. STATEMENT showing the smallpox
: Michigan since Jan |, 1894 The stat
ment showed that in the State theI
had been 20 outbreaks at u place.
with To al Of IS cases and SO death
= 20 having recovered, and 80 sti
remaining sick at nine places.
: In the 26 outbreaks there have been
on the average, to each outbreak onl
. Il cases and 9 of one death. In min
Oh the thirteen outbreaks which ar
e now over the infection was restricte,
to the one house in which the first cas-
occurred.
TIE DISEASE WHICH CAUSES MOST SICK
NESS.
President wells said that he had lone
noticed that the weekly Health Bulletin
published by the State Board, show tina
Of the twenty-eight diseases reported
upon by the regular observers around
the State, rheumatism is usually at Tn,
head OF the list As causing the mos,
sickness in Michigan. Mr.. Wells raised
the question whether there was any
thing that this Board could do in the
way Of publication of information which
might tend to lesson the amount of
sickness from rheumatism Doctor
| Vaughan said he knew of nothing
| tangible yet relating to the restriction
and prevention of rheumatism, which
could be impaired to n-professional
people. Rheumatism is term used for
many aches and pains. He thought
no work should be undertaken now
which will interfere with the tremen
dous effort being put forth by this Board
Tor the restriction and prevention OF
tuberculosls-the most important of all
diseases. Doctor Baker said that the
State Board has already done much for
the creation of knowledge respecting
the causation of rheumatism, which
knowledge is essential to proper
action Tor its prevention. But we must
wait for an advance in two lines of in
vestigation not much entered upon bl
this Board-that of bacteriology and
that physiological chemistry. Several
Tunes In the past ii has seemed that
facts were going to crystalline into "A
tangible theory; but, just as appear
ances were most favorable, ideas of
medical investigators regarding the
cauSatlon OF rheumatism have changed |
Much has been learned from the SICK
ness statistics collected and published |
by this Board. Curves have been made
that rheumatism has a direct
relation 10 meteorological conditions.
The facts in this Office show that ton
'lllitis follows the cold atmosphere, and
hat rheumatism follows tons Hits. It
: quite probable that if rheumatism Is
germ disease, tonsillitis prepares Il
'oll favorable TO the reproduction of the
germ and way for its entrance into
he body. We are waiting for the bac-
TO find the specific organism.
80 far as ! know only the pus-forminy
,erms have been found in connection
With rheumatism, and it is qpite posi-
lie that they are the cause of the dis !
ase; II so its increase following the I
ore Threats caused by "raw" cold {
leather is explained by the facts on &
ecord in the State Board of Health
flee. Diagrams exhibiting the rise and y
Ill of rheumatism by seasons of the
ear prove that its course is similar to
lat OF smallpox, consumption and
-her diseases known to be caused by
erms, and known to enter the body bv |
ay of the air-passages. Secretary :
iker suggested that a committee d
right be appointed to Investigate the r.
IbJect, and report TO this Board at n
me Subsequent meeting. Doctor
aughan said that at present, all is s.
'eculatiOn as to the causaton of rheu- II
atism, but he thought it quite proba- I;
G that Doctor Bakers idea of the :,
usation of rheumatism may be nearly tc
e proper explanation or unusual de- ~
'ucton of the cells of the body in II
wing 10 protect the body from an +
tack of germ disease; in other words
is an over-drugging on the part of r.
ture in order to throw off an attack ~
some germ disease. The uric acd, II
llch is not eXcreted rapidly enough
q which accumulates in the body d "
Uses the rheumatic pains, is formed bl
the action and destruction of cells. #
motion of Prof Fall it was voted bC
II Doctor Baker prepared and read CA
future sanitary convention pre-
llnary paper on the causatiOn. WI
friction and prevention of rheuma- m
N. I .
PROPOSED sANITAY CONVENTIONS. an
The secretary presented an invita- thu
from the common council for the
ard TO hold one its sanitary conven- WI
as at Charlotte, the council having Ia
pointed "A committee to confer with STA
Board. After consideration, com In,
tee of the State Board was appointed wa
meet with the local committee at
lrlotte and make arrangements for dis
proposed convention. sia
petition sigued by the president foo
trustees and a large number of the cur
mnent citizens of Union CITY, pro
ing for sanitary convention, was Stu
and considered. A committee was anc
ointed TO visit and make arrange per
It's for convention at Union Citr.
he Board authorized the secretary ~
eprint the leaflet on the restriction q mr.
Uphold fever, TO the number of bloc
% copies, al SO a modified form of the