The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-11-05
HEALTH REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER
State Board Issues Warning to Parents
About Care of Children.

During the month of September,
tuberculosis, 1.-The destruction that
wasteth at noontide, caused rs deaths.
Sixty persons were massacred by ty-
phoid fever alone, with 1868 additional
reported cases. Compared with the
previous month, however, these figures
show a very substantial diminution.
Only two of the infectious and commun-
Icable diseases are on the increase,
namely diphtheria and scarlet fever.
The number of diphtheria cases has
arisen from 80 to SO; the number of
scarlet fever cases, from 80 to "a. As
a majority of the cases occurred in
school children, this increase can be
ascribed to the role PLAYED by the pub
lie school as disseminatOr of diseases.
The State Board of Health again
wishes to urge upon parents and
guardians, the Importance of submitting
to their family physician every case of
sore throat or eruption, no matter how
seemingly simple in character, occur
ring in school children entrusted to their
care. The diseases of children are
usually acute. that is, a sick child either
gets well quickly or dies quickly.
Should recovery ensue, irreparable dam
age has ofttimes been done to the ten
der tissues and organs of the growing
child who is then compelled to 90
through life manned and halt. In an
titoXin we have specified remedy for
diphtheria, but no such curative serum
has as yet been discovered for scarlet
fever. AntitoXin should be administer
ed at once, without waiting for the re-
suits of a throat culture, which, how
ever, should always be made. Isolation
and disinfection are invaluable adjuncts
in the treatment of any contagious dis
ease.
For the first time since October 1907,
the State has been entirely clear of
humps, No case of influenza has been
reported for four months. June 8th
was the date of the last smallpox case.
Measles, which disease reached maxi
mum of rs cases in the month of March,
has dwindled down to II cases. Only 2
cases of chickenpoX and Is of whooping
cough were reported.
Russia ard the Philippine Island are
now in the throes of a virulent and wide
spread cholera epidemic. In Russia the
the number of deaths from cholera aver
age $50 per day Yellow fever is pres
ent in Mexico, and plague in Venezuela.
Eternal vigilance is the price of
safety" Though the possibilities of
cholera, yellow fever, or plague enter
ing Maryland are exceedingly remote,
yet the State Board of Health takes
this opportunity to sound a note Of
timely warning. Baltimore is one Of
the largest seaport cities in the United
States. Ships that come over all seas
aud from all lands anchor in its splendid
harbor. cholera contact, a yellow
fever suspect, or plague infected rat
or ground squirrel may thus inadvertent-
ly gain entrance to our shores. Health
officials and physicians are hereby adj
monshed to be on the alert.
The part of the report devoted to
typhoid fever says:
Deaths reported 90, as compared with
50 in August, 33 in July, and Is in June.
Additional cases reported 1863, as com
pared with 402 in August, 2l5 in July,
and 70 in June. Forty-two of the dece-
dents were white, and Is colored. The
youngest decedent was a colored male,
aged ! year and 10 months; the eldest
was a white woman SO years of age
Of the 1868 additional reported cases,
200 We're males and 1853 females; 1926
were white, and IS colored. The dis
ease prevailed most extensively in Ale
gany, Baltimore, Frederick, Wicomico
land, there were l3 cases; in Mt. Wash
ington, II cases; in Frederick City and
suburban towns, 80 cases; in Salisbury,
10 cases, and in Ocean City, II cases.
The following cases occurred on the
Potomac River Watershed: Allegany
Co. Cumberland, IA cases; Frostburg,
A cases; Homecoming, 3 cases; Mt. Say
age, cases; Barton, case. Frederick
Co. Monroyia, l case; Frederick City,
II cases; Brunswick, 6 cases; Buckeyes
town, cases; Burkettsville, 6 cases.
Montgomery Co.-Rockville, 3 cases;
Boyds, Silver Springs, Montrosa, each
l case; Gaithersburg, Potomac and Nor
beck, each 2 cases. Prince George Co.
Brentwood and Capital Heights, each
case. Washington Co. - Hagerstown,
8 cases; Williamsport, cases; Fair
view, Big Pool and Clearspring, each
case. Total Sc cases.
Cholera Kills harylander.
AI.Cn,l..l 9