The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-29
HEALTH
GUARDIANS
Proceedings at the Board OF Health
Meeting Last Night.
STATISTICAL REPORTS MADE
The Annual Statement Presented and En-
dorsed-DiscussiOnS en- the Cause Of
the Typhoid Fever Cases-The
Board Intends to Inaug-
urate Milk Inspection.

Tho Board of Health met in regular
monthly session last evening with four Of the
five member in attendance, Messrs SpAlding.
Malone, Morrison and Holman, and Secretary
Curtin and Health officer COnry.
The greater part Of the meeting was con-
sumed in the reading of statistical reports
for the month ending yesterday and also the
Boards annual report to be presented to the
Borough Council.
The annual report is quite an interesting
document and Secretary Curtin was compli-
mented upon it. The report opens with a
favorable comment on the present sanitary
condition of the borough and lays special
stress upon the fact that during the month of
December, last, there was not a case of COM
municable disease in the town. References
are made to steps that should be taken to
afford still better sanitary regulations
notably an improvement in the water supply
and more street paving. In this respect, how
ever, The Board recognizes that Council has
lnaugurated movements. Considerable space
IS also given to the garbage problem. Systems
IN other towns are referred to and there is An
intimatiOu that the borough be enabled To
have the Shenandoah Fertilizer Compsuy
Cooperate with it in solving the problem
locally.
The report gives statistics for the year end.
ing December 81, 1897. Daring the year
there were 446 deaths, an increase over l.gB.
when the deaths aggregated 1857. This in.
crease Is due largely to the mortality among
children under five years Of age. During
1897 the number Of children under that age
who died was 307. In 1896 it was s44, an in
crease of B3 during tho past year.
In connection with the increased death
rate the Secretary states in the report that it
was due to some extent to tho hard times. bv
which many were unable to procure either
sufficient nocess.ri's of life, or procure the
medical attention required. In this PreSi-
dent Spalding concurred with verbal remarks
stating that during the year there were uu
doubtedly many cases in which children, and
possibly adults, died through a lack Of funds
to secure proper medical attendance aud the
required nour shment.
During the year 6l2 burial permits were
issued, of which l2S were for non residents
Total number Of deaths in the borough, 448 ;
still births, 3S; grand total, 4s4. The follow
ing comparative statistics on the percentage
OF deaths are also furnished 1894. 27. O6.
1895, 22,2li 1896, 1894; 1897, 30 go. Thes.
statistics cover the existence of the Board
and show that, Notwithstanding the high
death rate for the past year it is considerably
less than during the first year of the Board
existence. During 1897 there we're 44g
births, 222 males and 227 females. The
marriages numbered 2I3.
The following statement is made concern
ing communicable diseases for the year ::
Diphtheria, 70; deaths, ~. MembrAnous
Group, IL; deaths, o. Diphtheretic Group. q;
deaths, 10. Scarlet fever, 81; deaths. 2
Typhoid fever, Is; deaths, 8. Measles, IA;
no deaths. Total cases, 295; total deaths, 80.
President Spslding expressed the opinion
that he believed in some cases the plscaris
have been taken down too soon and also suR-
sested that the disinfectinE of premises be
more rigidly enforced.
Health Officer COury said he was giving
the matter his strict attention and he found
many cases in which people rssortsd to dis
infectants without being instructed.
The President sad he had no doubt this
was true, but he referred more particularly
AS to whether places we're being properly dis
infected. He thought that in all cases
where they might be a doubt ~ to the ability
OF parties to do the work tho Health Officer
should supervise it.
The neurology and epidemic report for tho
month showed that there were 10 deA. his and
: sui births, There were Fl cases of COM
municable diseases, namely Scarlet fever, 8
typhoid fever, 5 diphtheris, Z; diphtheretiC
Group, l measles, 2. During the month 81
burial permits were issued. 10 for non resi-
dents, namely From Vim. Penn, d; Browns.
vile, A Lost Creek and Schuylkill Haven
one each.
The epidemic report precipitated discus.
sion on the probable cause of the typhoid
fever cases, but no definite conclusion wa.
reached. There was a similar result on q
discussion of the advisability of testing the
milk offered for sale in town. The Board
will take definite action on the latter matte
in the near future, however. The times fol
the tests are to be kept secret, so that NJ
dealer who may be violating the law can be
specially prepared for a visit.
Health Officer Conry reported that during
the month he abated eight cases Of nuisance
Breen's RisltO Cate,
Sour krout, pork mashed potatoes tonight.
lIaN 1A.aL 80