The Newtown bee., 1896-10-09
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF DR EDWARDS M.
 SMITH,

SMITH.
 HEALTH OFFICER OF NEwTOwN.
 Since my appointment of Health Ohicer of NewCown, in October, 1855, ro the present time, no great local sanitary questions have arisen, or anything of special importance in this line occurred. excepting the mild epidemic of measles last spring. 4 few cases of other con- tagious diseases have occurred as will hereinafter appear, and few minor nutsances have been abaled. Newt0wn participated il the epidemic Of mcaz.es "L-ch "-s -4 --.. -.s --i.a-- -4e s.".r Last oI 5..z, he Hc-. .ss. h..4g 7l. p'-..l r. me 4 E .-y.- alL ..:. .as- one .l JU.s. ll ..:. ts -..,--Il4- cases were reported du E Na-~n, April, May and JuLe, but GAL3 o-ua- ca~ls occurrsd a.thou- any l--J5, <. Attendant. md n-re not reported. IL general .he c4-cs were mid in char~y-ec. .CG .e .-riv4- results or st4uc-ee --,l. la L.y knowledge. l1c first Lumber -- ca-e= were directly t-acc4Jle ro cAg--..-- .a B1l4ze-a-t. 1t H.z- :. -.g'l a...-a... -. # c--.s v.s rs- -41,.sha5, .ul e.a .-n-5 u. I .... ....- ease boy4-.t tp 5-.iv. tlar TWAS .o.1.- wua. relaxed, bu. n ii. rs=es s-para,.on If those sick Wa t2zGevu upon; aud afterwards ues-iy al 1Le room= were f. .l E. rf epidemic WAS mild ore in our t0wu. Of scarlet fever -hEee cases were re. porced-.wo in one family. very mild in character; one. i'll another family. was moderately sever. Rigid quarantine was established. an. aft wards thorough dj>infec.ion and fluigatl5a WAS prac- ticed under my s.z9lai supervision; and there wa- .n -urtLe. tx,ou5iJD of the disease.
 Of diphlherit 04. uase Was reported, mild in form, and very probably con- tcacted io New T2-6 City, as the patient had come frOu the-e within a few days of the appeararce Of tAa disease. Strict quarantine here ~as also established, and afterwards thorough disinfection and fumigation uLaer personal direction. Here, also, no further cases of the dis ease occurred. O1y case Of membranous croup was reported, and no cause for it's origin could be disc overed. The case was not severe. Quaraltine and after disin- lection and tumigaticn prevented any further cases. No cases were reported of whooping cough typhoid fever, cere- brospinal fever, or smaiI p0x until September l of this year, when one case cf typhoid fever was reported, which un- doubtedly had its origin iu DAnbury, as the person Was taken sick there and afterwards removed to NewCown. There have been as yet 10 further cases, and undoubtedly will no1 b. from this case, as all ordinary prec.ulio.s to pre- vent contamination are being taken. Our death rate recently has been some what in excess of that of the S;aJe IS whole; for this cau offer 10 expIana- ton except the deaths of large number of persons at an advanced age, 8 con- diti0u likely to occur in an old-settled town at any time. The methods of gar bage and sewage disposal are those usual in small country towns, mainly cess pools and some surface drainage. are altogether too com- mon, but the use of earth pr ashes in a removable box js 5.-5--.s.-, not gIi,e 30 unusual as heretofore, and is an irI- provoment. Have cas yet seen no evil re- suits from these practices. which, how ever, are not 10 be commented.
 Our town has n permanent public provisions for the care of eases of con- tagjous diseases. There appears to be nothing unsanitary in the condition Of our few public buildings. All of the schoclhCuses in town have been visited by the Health Officer, and acting under circular of the State Board of Health have been lumigated with burning sul- phur before the opening of the school year, The schoolhouses were gener- ally found in good sanitary condition, except that in one or two of the more crowded rooms the ventilation was not quite such as could be wished for. At some schools the privy-vaults were in excellent condition, and showed care by the committeeman in charge; at others the vaults were in only fair con- dition, and here directions were given for cleaning and the use of chloride of lime. Our water supply is mainly de- rived from dug wells, although some are so fortunate as to have good supply of spring water. The wells generally appear to be in good condition. and as a rule, are well located. No sanitary works of public nature have been un- dertaken during the year. While we have a number of dairies, producing a large quantity of milk. there is no inspection of the milk supply, and all the precautions taken are those taken by the producers themselves; but I thing that both the herds and the care of the milk will compare very favorably with that of other towns in the state. Respectfully submitted. .-[ Edwards N.
 Smith, M. D., Town Health Officer.