Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-16
DEATHS IN THE STATE.
Vaccination and smallpox-New Form
 of Death Certificate.

Vaccination and Smallpox-New Form
 of Death Certificate.
 The state board of health has sent out it's report for the month Of June. There were 1922 deaths i'll the state during the month, which was thirty four less than in May, ninety-nine less than in June of last year, and twenty four less than the average number of deaths in June for the five years pre- ceding The death rate was 13.I for the large towns, 12.9 for the small towns. and 13.5 for the whole state The deaths reported from infectious diseases were 11S, being 11.5 per cent of the total mor- tality. The number of deaths occur ring from the following causes were: Measles. 16; grip, ?; cerebro-spinal fe yer, 4; diphtheria and croup, 23; whoop- ing cough, 4: erysipelas, 2: typhoid fe- yer, 15; malarial fever, 13; diarrhoea. 30; consumption, 130; pneumonia, B; bronchitis. P; diseases of the nervous system, 120; heart disease. 9S: acci- dents and violence, II. and 402 deaths occurred from all other diseases.
 The mortality ill public institutions VI Hartford. 2T: AIiddletown, s; New Ha- ven. 1G. The following thirty-five towns are reported as having no deaths dur ing June; Andover, Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield. Bridgewater, Brookffeld, Canaan, Chaplin, Chester, Clinton, Columbia. Cromwell, East Granby, EastOn. Franklin, Granhy, Hampton, Hartland. Hebron, Kent. Killingworth. Lisbon, Lyme. Marlborough, Middle bury, SIiddleheld, Monroe. Morris North Stonington. Plainyille, Prospect. RoXbury. Somers, Southbury and Union. The registrars of Bethlehem, Canterbury and Saybrook made no re- port.
 The report comments on the small pox situation i'll this state as follows:
 In view of the fact that smallpox has been unusually prevalent throughout the country for more than year, and that it has been especially prevalent in the city of New York. with which We are so closely connected since last win ter, it is worthy of attention that so few cases have occurred in Connec- ticut. Since January 1, 1900, only thirty-four cases have been reported in the state Nearly all these cases were imported from New York. The sanitary administration is so thorough " ill hand throughout the state, the local health officers so alert and we'll informed that it has rarely happened that secondary ease has been per- mitted. The special exemption of Con- necticut from the disease, notwith- standing the constant exposure to vic tims of the disease on our railroads and elsewhere, can only be explained by the general practice of vaccination among our citizens. This explanation is further confirmed by the fact that most of the subjects of the disease were never vaccinated, or not for many years, and still further by the fact that large number were Italians, who have a prejudice against vaccination. The largest measure of safety from small pox is by the protective power of vac cination.
 The report also notifies physicians of the new form of death certificate, as follows:
 By q recent act of the general as- sembly, the physician last i'll attend ance upon a person ill his last sickness, will be relieved hereafter of the duty of certifying to certain facts relating to the family history of the decedent, heretofore required of him, and will only be required to give the full name of the decedent. the cause or causes of death and the duration of the disease if known. The same only is required of the medical examiner in cases in which he has cognizance. The physician shall prepare such certificate within twenty four hours after the death of his pa tient, and it is further enacted that he shall provide that the said certificate may be obtained at his office upon application therefof." The last pro- vision will, it is hoped, prevent the de- lays and annoyances which undertak- CTS have much complained of, due to the neglect of physicians to provide the death certificate necessary to obtain q burial permit. It was chiefly to meet this difficulty that the law was suggest ed and enacted. The undertaken or person in charge of the burial shall as- certain and report to the registrar the other facts relating to age, sex. color. etc, of the decedent. and the source of such information. Any person who shall violate any provisions of this act shall be fined not more than $25.