Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-16
HEALTH. OF THE STATE.
Reports From 16e Towns Show 1.145
 Deaths in December.


 No report was received by the secre- tary of the state board of health from Weston and Wilmington for December. The other 166 towns of the state report 1,145 deaths during the month. This was forty-one more than in November and sixteen more than in December of last year. It was six less than the average number of deaths in December for the past five years. The death rate was 15.3 for the large towns, 14.5 for the small towns, and 15.1 for the whole state The deaths reported from infectious diseases were 242, be- ing 21.1 per cent of the total mortali- ty.
 The principal causes of death were: Pneumonia, 133; consumption, IT; bronchitis, 8; diseases of the nervous system, 152; heart disease, 113; acci- dent and violence. 54; diarrhoea, IT; :whooping cough, 9; diphtheria and croup, 43; grip. 12; scarlet fever, IS; smallpox, 2. Hartford is credited with 109 deaths. The following towns are reported as having no deaths in December: Bethany, Bethlehem, Bolton. Brookfeld, Chaplin, Colebrook, Columbia, Coventry, Durham, East Haven. Franklin, Goshen, Granby, Hartland, Hebron, Killingworth, Marl- borough, Middlebury. Morris. North Haven, Rocky Hill, Salem, Sherman, Vo1untown, Warren, Wolcott, Wood bridge.
 The total deaths in the state for the year 1901 numbered 14,975, that being 1,545 less than in the preceding year. In March occurred the largest mortal ity, 1,441, and in June occurred the smallest number. 1922. The most ia tai disease during the year was con- sumption, l 1,443. The next highest mortality was from pneumonia, 1882. Measles was fatal ill the year to the number of T. Scarlet fever caused TS deaths. Diphtheria and croup killed 308. Typhoid fever mortality was 262. Whooping cough mortality was 92. There were only three deaths from smallpox. The notable facts to prevailing diseases are as follows:
 Meas1es-The prevalence has lightly increased over the previous month. There were thirty-six cases reported from sixteen towns.
 Scarlet fever prevailed in forty-eight towns in the state, from which 260 cases were reported. 1t is the largest number ever reported in single month. The deaths were eighteen.
 Diphtheria and croup were unusual ly prevalent in December. One hun. dred and ninety-six cases were report. ed, with forty-three deaths. marked epidemic occurred in Stafford Springs and is still progressing.
 Typhoid fever is less prevalent than usual at this season. but in New Ha- ven the consequences of the epidemic of last April are still apparent, not due however, to the infected water supply but to neglect of perfect disinfectior of the discharges from previous pa tients.
 One case of typhus fever was re ported in StoningtOn. It is the only case of typhus in the state and ths first one reported in several years
 The increasing spread oG smallpox il the state is not surprising in view ei the fact that there are still so large | number of ignorant, prejudiced ant indifferent people in every community who neglect the safe and effective pro tection which vaccination affords $ There is no record of an epidemic 0 smallpox anywhere in the world in well vaccinated community.