Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-09
HEALTHY
Srlended Condition indicated by
Report of Board Of
Health.
TYPHOID DISEASES DECREASE
Hospital For Consumptives is Urqed
The Water Sup
plies.

4 hSPOit W Wv. dtSS, WHICH has JUST
been made public, DR.. James A. Egan
secretary of the state board of health
reviews the work of the board for the
years of 1908 and 1904 together witt
conditions as found by the department
The report calls attention to the
fact that, while smallpox has de
| creased in the number of cases a.
| compared with the years just proceed
ing 1905, the type of the disease has
become more viruient and the NOR
| tally much higher
The decrease of typhoid fever and
other water-borne diseases throughout,
| the state during the past two year,
| is attributed to the meteorological and
chemical examination of the water
supplies of all cities of over 5000 con
Quoted by the state board of health in
1908. The information afforded local
officers by this investigation prompt
ed improvements in water supplies
and sewerage systems, which doubt
| less prevented many epidemics.
In advocating the establishment Of
state hospital for consumptives tic
report rectes the results of investiga
tons of similar institutions in other
states and the comparisons of the eli
matte conditions of these sanitaria
with those to be found in Illinois. A.
result of these comparisons Iliinoi.
is found to be as well adapted to tho
treatment of consumptives as any
the other states in which consumptiv'
sanitaria are so successful.
Water supply of City.
The sanitary Investigations of II,
water supplies of the Illinois, Miss
sippi and Missouri rivers. bepnr
1859, are reviewed and stress is laid
upon the conclusions of the boar
published in 1902 and 1904, that tn
waters of the Illinois river are not j:
any way injur;ously affected by tn
opening of the Chicago, drainage car
al and that the contention that the
"ity of st. Lonis Suffers thereby is eT
t're!y rntenable. The report furthe'
dwells upon the conditions which hav'
prevented the drainage canal from i'm
proving the water supply of Chicag~
20 the extent generally expected, and
calls attention to the FACT that. throu;,!
the failure of the city of Chicago to
complete it's system of intercepting
sewers. begun in 1898, the sewage
at least 100000 people within the city
limits is still permitted to flow into
Lake Michigan and is not diverted int
the canal which for five years has
been ready to receive it. To this
cause and not to any fault on the part
of the drainage canal, the state boar
of health attributes the failure of Chi
cago to secure a better water supply
and holds that until this sewage flow
ing into the lake within the city limits
is diverted into the Chicago river the
hope and expectation of a pure water
supply for the city will remain un
realized
Service of Laboratory.
The establishment of bacteriologi
cal laboratory at Springfield has added
10 the efficiency of the board in max
ing possible immediate. accurate anG
scientific diagnoses of communicable
diseases, and this laboratory, estab
lished in 1904. is rendering excellent
service without cost to the physicians
of the state in the diagnoses of tuber
culosis. diphtheria. typhoid fever and
other diseases. The laboratory was
established without specific appropria
ton, the funds for its equipment anf
maintenance being drawn from thu
general funds of the board.
Aside from these duties undertaken
n the protection of the lives anf
health of the people, the board reports
the examining and licensing durinf
he past two years of 1,i31 physicians.
1O4 midwives and 159 practitioners OF
other branches of healing. Six hun
1red and six violators of the medica'
practice act have been dealt with and
IF those 213 have been prosecuted by
he board. The courses of instruction
If all medical colleges of the United
States and foreign countries have beer |
Investigated that the fitness of candi- |
iates TO practice in Illinois might be |
letter determined.
Board Needs Help. |
In recommending legislation which
will add to the efficiency of the board |
he report holds that some remedy |
5or the existing congestion in the of |
ice of the secretary is required. The
BOARD further recommends making tn |
appointment of local boards of health |
,r health officers in villages and cit |
es compulsory and it is held that such
law, which better prepares munich
)alities to meet epidemics and other
nenaces to the public health, is nee
essary.
The establishment of state hospitals
ior consumptives is recommended as
he only practical means for saving
the lives and health of the citizens OF
illinois from this maiady and as the
'est means of protecting the public
from contagion spread by sufferers
Unable to secure proper care or To
protect others from disease.