The Topeka state journal., 1905-08-09
BOIL The GERMS.
President of Board of Health
Says People Do This.
Result Is That Health Of City
Improves.
THE ROOSEVELT IDEA.
1t Also Appears to Have Been
Followed.
T. T
HE ROOSEVELT IDEA.
Consequences Large Increase in
Birth Rate.

The local conditions which tend to af-
feet the city's health have improved
considerably this year over last year.
Statistics and observation prove it. A
large increase in the number of births
for the first seven months of 1905 as
compared with the corresponding num-
ber of months in 1904 and a large de-
| crease in the number of deaths is the
encouraging news which an inspection
of the statistics in the city physicians
office displays.
From January to July inclusive in
1905, 292 births were recorded; for the
same time in 1904, the population of the
city was added to by a birth record of
2Os.
In the first seven months of 1905, 410
announcements of deaths were received
by the city physician, in 1904 the num-
| Der was 48S. Using the basis of the
assessors figures, the population of To-
peka has been given at 1884, the death
rate has been reduced from 102 to I01,
decrease of neteen-hundredths.
Contagious diseases, heart failure and
consumption are some of the principal
causes which contribute to shortening
of life in Topeka according to the rec
ords. Twenty-Five per cent of the deaths
in Topeka are caused by the above
three diseases and of these heart failure
number of victims. 1t OutclaSses the
dread tuberculosis and has the contag-
ious diseases left far in the rear. Deaths
due to contagious diseases and consump-
ton show a marked decrease this year,
but the victims which have fallen to
the scourge of heart failure remain
about the same. The death rate for
conta giouS diseases has fallen from 5.58
per cent to Al per cent, for consumption
from no per cent to 6.59 per cent, while
for heart failure it had increased, in
proportion to the total number of
deaths, from rs per cent to S.5 per. cent
The strenuous life seems to be taking
hold of Topeka and claiming it's vic
Tins. In explanation DIR. Plummer,
president of the city board of health,
said: Il don't think that you can place
those deaths as due entirely to heart
failure. They are often elassed that
way carelessly in making out the re-
ports which are sent in to the city ply
sician's office. 1t is often the case that
other causes, like typhoid fever, for in
stance, are the real cause and origin of
the death of the patient, though heart
failure brings with it the death of the
patient. Those reports should in each
instance state specifically the disease
which caused the death but disinclina-
ton to give the report consideration is
the reason why the fatality is credited
so largely to heart failure.
There is no question in mind but
the city is a great deal more healthy
this year than last year. If [ were to
give the reason for this would lay it
two things: First, the absence of the
excessive rainfall within short intervals
of time, and second, the increase in the
use of boiled water for drinking pur-
poses To these two things I would con-
tribute most of the credit of the better
health conditions. They are largely 10
cal, I know that from my experience.
There is more typhoid fever right now
in the country than there is in town.
You get typhoid germs from water. The
drainage and conditions surrounding
the use of well water on farms is worse
than that in the city. The fact that
we have not lad such a heavy rainfall
this year as last no doubt has largely
to do with a decrease in the number n
deaths. You take it especially on the
south side where there is a clay soil;
the water seeps it's way downward and
collects and than takes into solution
particles with which it comes in con-
tact, the water then finally finds its way
into the wells. We have had steady
rainfall this year but 1 don't think that
it has been as heavy as last year. The
fact that we are increasing our sewer
system adds greatly also to better
health conditions"
No good reason could be offered for
the increase in the number of births
and for lack of anything better it has
been attributed to the agitation in favor
of large sized families for which Roose-
Welt is responsible.