The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-01-24
Twenty-Five Less Deaths
In 1902 Than 1901.
tuberculosis No Longer Thought to Be
Other Than Germ DiseaSe Self Properly
Treated Could Probably be Stamped Out
$4,000 Appropriated BY the Last Legis-
lature to Investigate the Disease.

For many years Elkt0nians have
claimed, and naturally SO. that Cecil
county is one of the most desirable places
ON the Atlantic Coast to reside. This
opinion is backed up by that of many
persons outside of Cecil county-the
hundreds of visitors from the Cities who
each summer come to different sections
of the county and spend weeks. some
times several months. The climate. etc,
is ais" not only delightful, but is also
hcalthful. rs is shown by the annual re-
port of DR.. Howard Bratton. of Elkton,
Health Officer for Cecil county. The re-
port shows that the death rate per thous-
and last year was l4.44. The total num-
her Of deaths was three hundred and
Srvcuty-thrcr. Il decrease of twcnty-nine
over the year 1901. The causes of the
Graths were principally rs follows -
Consumption 80; Heart Disease, "A;
Pneumonia. 81; Accident, %; Paralysis,
~; Still-bor, Is; .ApoplcXy, IL Bright's
Disease. II; Cholera Infantum, u; Cam
Ger. -; Meningitis, 10; Unknown, 10;
hamilton. .; General Debility, .; Old
Age. s; Suicide, 6; Whooping Cough, 6;
Marasmus, 1: Epilepsy, /; Typhoid
Fever. 1: Commissions. f. Diphtheria, 8;
Dinrrhora. 3; Scuilc Decay. 3; Arterio-
Sclcro~iS. >; Heart Failure. =; Appen-
dicitis, >: Group. Mcmbranous, =; Eclam-
>a. pucrpcral. >: Umcmia. Pucrpcral, 2;
i.rysipclaS, .; Diabetes, =; Meningitis,
'l'uhrrcular, >: Indigestion. >; Rheuma-
tism. >; .thsccss Brain. =; Bronchitis, 2;
GastIitiS. >.
The report shows that of the twenty
five deaths due to accident twelve were
;,;., ID
tics. 10: falls ): drowning, 1; burns, ,;
reaper wagon. gun-Shot and Suffocation,
each.
From Il sanitary standpoint, another
satisfactory note is that Is were octo-
gcnarians. and & were nonagcnarians.
The Oldest was rs. Il white woman of
the Third district.
or the suicides. , We're by hanging,
and 3 by drowning: > males and fe-
male.
Cancer shows Il yearly decrease of
one; males }, females total -.
In his report DR.. Bratton also states
that one of the most important questions
before the people of this country, is that
of th" restriction of Tuberculosis. No
ON" disputes the fac1 that it is caused
by hacilluS-that it is II germ disease.
You can not inherit Il germ disease.
Practically the records correspond with
the results obtained scientifically. We
hava" yearly called attention to the fact
that II is on the increase in this country
Fifty deaths were caused by consump-
ton, one of the phases of tuberculosis,
during 1902; an increase of II from the
preceding year. If it is treated as Il
contagious disease. it can be materially
decreased if not stamped out altogether.
The last Legislature appropriated $4,000
| for the study of this ScOurgc and the
Governor appointed a commission of in
vcatgation who work without pay, the
appropriation being for expenses They
| are about to begin work in this county;
| we bcSpeak the assistance of all intelli-
gent citizens and prompt answers to all
| inquiries. There are three foci of infec-
ton i'll the county-in the First district
| about Cecilton, in the Fifth. about Bay
View, and in the Seventh. about Port
Deposit.
OF the fifty deaths from consumption
| last year, thirty of them were females.
This shows it to be an indoor disease.
| 1t also shows risk of contagiOn to nurses,
mostly women. who do not treat it as a
contagious disease. The chief contribute
| ;n@ cause can be found in badly located
| and badly constructed houses. Such
houses hold infection as clothing holds
| IN" infection Of scarlet fever. There are
| county tO-hay.