San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-13
HEALTH FOR AUGUST.
City Physician Reports The Preva
lence of Dengue.

II
City Physician Reports The Preva-
lence of Dengue.
DR.. B. L. Hadra, city physician will
report TO the city council this after
| noon, the following on our city's
health and death rate for August.
Eighty-two deaths have occurred
during the month; 81 resident and %
| nonresident; II white and IL colored;
IS male and 81 female; 80 single, %
married and widows and widowers.
Fifty were natives of the United
States, IL Germany, 8 Mexico, 4 Ire
land, France and l each from Hol-
land, Sweden and Switzerland. Three
were not given.
Ages: Under 1 year, II; 1 to 10
years, g; 10 to 20 years, 3; 20 to 30
years IA; 80 to 40 years, 10; 40 to 80
years, 3; 80 to 60 years, 8, go to 20
years, 4; 40 to so years, 9; 80 to 100
years /.
Cause of death: Pulmonary phthis-
is 10. cerebro-spinal and spinal menin-
gifts 3, malarial, remittant and con-
tinued feverS 4, child bed fever 1,
typhoid fever 1, acute hepatitis l,
enterO colitis 3, appendicitis /, pneu-
mOnia l, whOOping cough l, bronchitis
and dengue /, dengue /, dengue and
heart disease 3, tetauns l, abcesS of
brain /, congestion of brain O. 1, apo
pleXy l, gastric disease @ /, old age
and marasmus u, bleeding from nav
ell 1, surgical shock drought here for
BURIAL /, spasms 2, dropsy % 2,
chronic nephritis 2, carcinoma 2, ulcer
of bowel l, still born ), internal incar-
cerated hernia 1, abcess of lung 1,
spider bite /, suicide /, mOrphinism l,
gun shot wounds 1.
Eleven cases of infectious diseases
were reported, as follows: Diphtherla
2, scarlet fever D. whooping cough 3,
measles /.
Deaths from infectious diseases:
Whooping cough 1, typhoid fever 1,
childbed fever l, dengue 1 and 4 cases
from dengue complicated with pre-
existing heart and lung disease.
Fifty births were reported. Male
%, female %.
Hospital Report
Number of patients in hospital dur
ing month of August, 50; cured and
discharged, %; died, 3; remaining at
hospital, 81.
Cause of deaths: Female Abcess
of lungs 1. Male-Old age 1, tumor
of brain l, Bright's disease Il abcess
of brain (operatiOn) 1.
Number of prescriptions filled, 545.
Hospital patients 20S, outside patients
337.
Toward the end of last month a
new epidemic made its appearance,
whilst measles, scarlet fever and diph-
liberia have nearly died out. The new
foe, dengue, is well known in our
| state. visiting us about every 5 or Z
| years. 1t is very annoying, but for
tunately rarely fatal disease. Still,
as may be expected, it often, like other
feyerish disease, kills the descrepit and
otherwise exhausted patient. Thus
there is only one death reported from
pure dengue fever, whilst there have
occurred several in persons suffering
from chronic lung and heart troubles
| The question, whether the disease il
indigenous or not, cannot be answer
ed before the virus which is mos
likely germ, will have been discov
cred and studied. But this germ cal
hardly be contained in, or proagate(
by our drinking water which for puri
ty hardly can be surpassed. AS moth
ing positive is known of the nature o
this epidemic, nothing but the genera
precautions, as taken in all other cpl
denies, can be recommended. Gu
citizens are disposed to connect tn
outbreak of the dengue with the terri
Sic condition of our river and the de
ficient sanitation of orr streets, bu
there is no proof at all for such al
assumption. and as the same fever eS
lists in other places which are free o
such shortcomings, one certainly mus
look for other causes. That the rive
and streets demand the immediate al
tention of your body, you are full
aware, yourself, also that nothing i'm
portant can be done before the sewer
divert the. Objectionable influx. Ye
we ought to prepare for the time o
: this anticipated relief such measur
! as would make our place a desirabl
l health resort. Believing that to sue
l end the cooperation of the Board q
Health is necessary Il would respec
4 fully. ask to give that body the oppol
? tunity to perform Its rightful fun'
ton. Very respectfully.
ass b. Z. HADRA, City Physician.
= l-- - A.