The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-03
TWO HUNDRED FEWER DEATHS
IN ST. PAUL LAST YEAR THAN
IN1S95.
IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INCREASED HEALTHFULNESS
OF THE CITY.
DR.. A. j. stones Annual Report of
the Health Department Sub
mitted to the Mayor.

The report of Health Commissioner
A. J. Stone, covering the work of his
department for the year, was submit
ted yesterday. 1t says that through
the generosity Of the council, the bac-
THEOLOGICAL labratory is now in salts
factory operation, with increased de-
maHd for it's use from month to month
FOrty-siX dairymen supplying milk in
the city have submitted their herds to
inspection and test for tuberculosis,
and 101 head of their cattle have been
condemned in consequence.
The department made 2506 vaccina-
items during the year
The number of deaths reported dur
ing the year was 1,434, as against 1929
during the year 1895. The decrease, the
report says, is due almost wholly to
the reduction in the number of cases
of infectious disease. For instance
the number of deaths from membran-
GUS chOup and diphtheria during the
year 1896 was 72, whereas it was 107
for 1895. The Fifth ward furnished
the largest number Of cases of the dis
ease. The only solution to the man
agement Of contagious diseases espe-
cially diphtheria and scarlet fever, DR..
Stone says, is complete isolation by
means of a hospital. He thinks the
number of fatalities resulting from
diphtheria may still be greatly reduced
by the use of the labratory and the
application of the anti-toxine remedy.
The number of deaths from cholera
infantum and meningitis has also
been greatly reduced. But the deaths
resultig from non-infectious diseases
continue about the same from year to
year.
Psychological cultures were made in
III cases Of diphtheria from the time
the laboratory was opened in July TO
the first of the year. In forty of these
cases the period of quarantine was re-
duced ten to twenty-eight days below
the thirty-d limit required by law
This was wholly in consequence of the
existence of the laboratory. In four
cases the period of quarantine had to
be extended beyond the thirty day linn
it, the use of the laboratory having
shown that the germs Of disease had
not yet been extinguished, and had
there been no laboratory there would
have been no protection against the
spread Of the disease, as the quaran-
tine could not have been continued.
Forty examinations Of meat suspected
of tuberculosis were made, and TWEEN
ty-five of water suspected of being In
! fected.
DR.. Stone says that by far the most
important work performed by the lab
oratory was the investigation of sus-
pected cases of rabies, and he gives the
results of number of experiments and
tests made by the incubation of rab-
bits.
while the results Of our experiments
up to the present time are not con-
elusive" the report says they go far
to establish the belief that we are ac-
tually dealing with a genuine epidemic
Of rabies"
During the year the live stock in
spector tested LOSS head of dairy cat
tie, of which 101 were condemned as
being tuberculOus. Owing to the large
number found to be infected, other
dairy managers would not submit to a
test of their herds, so that not more
than one-fifth Of the dairy cattle from
which the milk supply of the city Is
drawn have been inspected. and as
the dairies in which the stock were in
spected, are among the best, it is fair
to presume, the report says, that in
some of the others, kept under less
| favorable conditions, the percentage of
infected animals must be much greater
Since Aug. 6 twelve dogs have died
of rabies within the city limits.
The shipment of diseased animals
to this market to be used as food has
almost entirely ceased, in consequence
OF the strict inspection maintained and
prompt condemnation of diseased ami
mails. The number Of live stock that
has passed through the stock yards
here during the year has greatly In
| creased over that of previous years,
the report says, and at times it has
been necessary to keep the slaughter
houses open at night to handle them
During the year 159. 419 head of cattle.
112, 5S3 head of sheep, 43, 469 hogs. 11,81S
horses and 653 dogs were examined
and of these, 142 head of cattle, 6 sheep.
II hogs, II horses and 1872 dogs We're
condemned and killed The horses
were. all condemned on account of
CHAMBERS.
The births for the year numbered
1852, as against 3,468 for 1895: 1888
We're white, % colOred; 1,753 were males
and 1909 females. According to the re-
port, the death rate for the year was
667, based on a DOnula tiOr Of DIE 5Q0