The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-20
HEALTH
REPORTED ON
BY DR.. CHAPLIN

The 23d annual report OF Superintendent
OF Health Charles " Chaplin presented
10 the board OF aldermen this afternoon.
is a very interesting document
DR.. Chaplin believes that an occulist
should he appointed 10 examine the school
children's eyes as the medical inspec-
tors have much difficulty in getting par
onts 20 take their children 10 occuhsts 20
have their eyes examined
The school physicians are not profes-
sional," says DR.. Chaplin and IL is very
difficult TO get parents to go 10 occulists
10 have their children's ewes examined.
They do not wish TO go TO the expense OF
such consultation or 10 purchase the
necessary glasses
"A great part OF the work Of the school
inspectors relates to pediculosis and con-
tagious skin affections. II has been found
best for the inspectors 20 treat most OF
these cases. and the small amount Of ma
terial used for this purpose is furnished
by the department
The teachers without exception haye
given their hearty cooperation 10 this
work Miss LeGarde. director OF physical
training. has taken especial interest and
has done a great deal OF work In not
ing defective children and by personal ef-
forts urging parents 10 provide proper
treatment for their children
The work OF the inspectors is shown
below, the period covered being the year
| le04-5: Specific infectious diseases 50:
| oral and respiratory diseases, $50; diseases
| OF the ear, 1870; diseases OF the eye SOC
diseases OF the skin, 7es; miscellaneous
diseases. 700 found free from disease 147:
total, 1920; number of pupils examined in
the schools 22r; number examined az city
/ hall Sg humber examined st their
homes 1907 total 3iq2 numoar reported
ag having followed advice given them.
SCS, numo6r reported as not having fol-
lowed advice given them. 3l5: number re-
| ported as promising 10 follow advice given
them. Al; total number reported, 664.
During the early summer Ssl anti
! splitting signs were placed along tie prm-
c'pal business streets The cost OF the
signs was s272.50 and the cost Of putting
them up was slsS.52 A great change I'm
the condition OF the sidewalks was noted
at once The splitting habit decreased 90
per cent, and ever since the sidewalks
have been remarkably free from expecto-
alton
During the year 90s complaints Of nui-
sauces were made at this office I'm ad-
dition. 100 were received through the
police. large number OF these had al
readwy received attention and 305 were
found 10 be unfounded While abating
these nuisances the inspector made 1904
visits
The following Is the list Of goods con
demned by Inspector of Provisions WI
liam J. Beane during the year: Total
number OF pounds OF provisions 1908;
total number OF bushels OF vegetables
2Is; total number OF dozens OF fruit. l2e.
During the year 1905 the number OF
persons vaccinated was 2576 The only
public vaccination has been at the Fourth
ward room on Fountain street Friday af-
ternoons The use Of humanized virus
which had hitherto veen chiefly employed.
was discontinued early I'm 1901 and gly
cerlnized virus furnished by the health
department OF the city Of New York has
since been used. The number OF certih-
Gates OF vaccination Issued was )0s4
There were 24i deaths from diarrhoeal
diseases I'm 1906, or 5S less than i'm the pre-
ceding year. This gives lower rate than
ever before recorded from these diseases
There were deaths from malarial dis
ease I'm 1906 less than I'm 1894 There
were 3ls deaths from phthisls I'm 1905. Civ
ing the lowest rate ever recorded The
number OF deaths from scarlet fever WAS
IS or 25 less than I'm 1904 There have
been no deaths from smallpox since 1902
There were IS deaths from typhoid fever,
more than in 1904. The number OF deaths
from diphtheria was g. or 10 less than in
the preceding year. There were also II
deaths from membraneous Group.
During the year, % cases OF consump-
tion were reported by physicians and i9
from the outpatient department OF the
Rhode Island hospital. As there we're SlS
deaths. II Is evident that the rule re-
quiring the report OF this disease was
ri..f, taI
ported from the state board Of health i65
positive results Of sputum examination.
The state board OF health offers 20 eN-
anime the blood OF typhoid suspects by
the Vidal test, but OF the 179 cases re-
ported during the year only 60 were sub
jected to the test, 81 OF which proved to
be positive There were also iO7 otner
negative tests reported To this department.
by the state board OF health from cases
not reckoned IA typhoid
Besides the cases which were recorded
as diphtheria, there were ~ cases OF
membranous Group and OF other forms
OF lnryngeal affection All OF these, eX-
cept OF the membranous Group cases re-
suited i'm death n Is probable that most
OF these cases were really diphtheria
During the year there were 36 cases
OF cerebro spinal meningitis, making the
S75th case I'm the last ~ years.
1T has for some time been my belief
that dlsinfection after dphtheria as or
dinarily practiced by health officials is
most absurd procedure Admitting that
OFFICIAL disinfection with formaldehyde as
usually done can really disinfect the arti-
cles most likely 20 be infected. which Is
by NO means certain. II Is evidently ah- !
surd 20 disnfect a room or the things IN |
Il. until We are reasonably certain that !
the people who occupy n are not growing /
the germs OF the disease In mouth or !
nose
THE disinfection is positive harm for I
~ teaches people 90 fear things such as |
furniture. etc. when they ought /
rather 20 fear coming I'm more or less di- /
rect contact with the members ~ the in
fected family"