Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-16
AS TO OUR HEALTH.
Commissioner Sala Makes q
Few Suggestions.
THINKS CONSUMPTION CONTAGIOUS

Recommends In His Annual Statement
That An Cases Of This Disease % Re-
ported to the Department which Wiu Re-
t1rn Instractions to Prevent Spreading.
Rock Island has enjoyed its custo-
mary good health during the past
year. None of the contagious dis
eases which have been prevalent to .
serious extent in adjoining cities
have secured foothold in this COM
munity. In fact, Rock Island has
enjoyed . prosperous year so far as
health is concerned. anyway. The
death record Was 148.
Aud that the city might be better
prepared to fight disease Health Com
missioner E. NJ. Sala in his annual
report suggests that our ply sicians
be required to report cases Of con.
sumption to tho department., his
opinion. ~ that of eminent physi-
clans throughout the country, being
that it is contagious. 1--WE are to
be- congratulated from Q sanitary
point OF view," continues the health
commissioner. upon the extremely
low number Of contagious diseases
prevalent during the year and upon
the small number Of deaths from all
cause.-the total being 14S. Esti-
mating the population of the city as
given by the latest directory-21. 900
would place the death rate at
seven-tenths Of per cent. This. 1
believe. will compare very fsvorably
with any city in the United States.
Seventy-two of the deaths were males
and rs females. Thirty-six were
under age and ~ between the ages
Of 20 and 40. The highest number
Of deaths from any disease was IL,
from cholera infantum; and the next
highest is 10 from consumption.
Several Of the state boards of health
and the American Public Health as
sociation have under consideration
the reporting Of all cases of con-
sumption to the health department
by the attending physician. and the
department in return mailing each
patient or family a pamphlet Of in.
structions relating to the case. set
ting forth the precautions which
should be taken by all afflicted with
the disease, to prevent its spread as
far as possible. This consider . very
wise movement and it truly receives
my hearty Endorsement; and l shall
lend my best efforts to make it q
success. Consumption was formerly
considered more hereditary than
contagious. but today physicians are
very much Of the opinion that it is
decidedly the reverse.
Scarlet Fever scarce.
There has been very little scarlet
fever during the year." continues
DR.. Sals. "but 10 cases being re.
ported to the department with no
deaths resulting therefrom Diph-
iberia has existed to some extent. 20
cases in all being reported, with but
one death. This consider was very
low compared to other Illinois cities,
where it has been of such prevalence
as to necessitate the closing of the
schools. Sixteen of the cases in
Rock Island were in the Seventh
ward, which is accounted for by rea-
son of its proximity to Moline, where
the disease existed quite extensively
during the winter. Fifteen cases Of
membraneous Group were reported
to the department-this form being
reported as result of the amending
OF the city laws in December. To
this enactment we owe the checking
Of an epidemic which proved SO dis
astrous to other cities in the state.
Typhoid fever has existed to very
limited extent, but three deaths re-
sultiDg from this disease during the
year."
Then Health Commissioner Sala
says that some provision should be
made. if the city's healthful condi-
ton would be continued, to establish
larger filtering plant. the one now
in use being unable to handle the
amount OF water necessary and
which is gradually growing. He
suggested a couple Of reservoirs
placed on the bluff as one way to
help remedy tho water question.