Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-16
HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Mortality Statistics of Board of Health

M0TUAIlLy SL1GlSUcS or bOaru OL hSd1lI for May.
 The monthly bulletin of the state l board of health for May shows that there were 1,264 deaths in the state during the month, one town, South Windsor, not reporting. The annual death rate per 1000 is 16.7. The mum. Der of deaths is 20 more than in April 164 more than in May last year and 156 more than the average number of deaths in May for the five years pre- ceding. The deaths reported from in fectious diseases. including diarrhoedl were 29S, being 235 per cent of the to- tai mortality.
 The following towns are reported as having no deaths in May: Andover Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethlehem, Bolton, Bozrah, Bridgewater, Cole brook, Eastford, Franklin, Kent, Lis bon, Marlborough, Morris, Old Lyme, Prospect, Scotland, Sherman, Volun- town, Warren-20.
 Infectious diseases were reported by health officers in the several towns as follows: Smallpox, 42; measles, 985; cerebro-spinel fever ?; scarlet fever, 28S: diphtheria and cro1lp, 120; whoop- ing cough, 120; typhoid fever, 2S; con- sumption, IT. Fffty-three towns re- ported that there were no infectious diseases. The health officers of the following towns made no report; Wa terford, Plymouth, Sharon, Haddam, Middlefeld. Secretary Lindsley has the following to say about seasonal diseases:
 During the past five months of the present year pneumonia is remarkably conspicuous as the cause of larger mortality than any other disease. ln former years consumption has exceed ed all other diseases as destroyer ot life, but in recent times pneumonia Is rapidly taking the lead. In the pres ent year, from January to May inclu- sive, the deaths from these two dis eases were as follows: Consumption, 57O; pneumonia, S45. This changed relation of these two most fatal mala- dies is true not only of Connecticut but generally in other states where vi tai statistics are carefully kept. Doubt less one reason for its prevalence IS that people do not recognize it's tnfec- tious nature and take no precautions to prevent its spread.
 Dr Lindsley points out that the larg- est mortality in the next three months will fall on the innocent infants. He says:
 During the three months of July, August and September of |. last year more than 600 infants perished in Con- necticut from diarrhoea, most of which were bottle-fed babies or in other ways the victims of improper feeding. The mother who can nurse her baby, but who for selfish reasons refuses to do so, is often guilty of the horrible crime of infanticide. The natural nourish- ment of the human offspring during the first year of life is found only at the mothers breast. No addition to or substitute for this can ever be made without risk of disturbance and tntes- tinal irritation. While this statement is always true, it is most emphatically so during hot weather. A nursing baby (the mother being healthy) is i'm mune to summer diarrhoea If no other food is given 1t than that provided by nature. The health of the mother is important. She must be well nour- ished, not overworked, temperate, of regular habits, not exposed to exces- sive worry or to strong excitement. During the next three Or four months any deviation whatever from rigid re- striction to the breast milk will be at tended with danger to the young in- fant.
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