The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-10-29
MAY AND JUNE
M0R0SE MONTHS
STATE HEALTH BOARD REPORTS
EXCESS OF SUICIDES IN EARLY
MONTHS OF YEAR.
CARE OF INFANTS A PROBLEM.
Death Rate Among Infants Is the High
est in Northern Part of State
Lack Medical Attention.
FATAL TO MANY.

MADISON. Wis. Oct. Co Special
"A greater number of persons in Wis
consin commit suicide during the months
of May and June than at any other time
during the year. This is but one Of the
Interesting facts disclosed by the work
of the state board of health and vital
statistics, and which will be embodied in
Il report to be published soon. The re-
ports for the last few years bear out
this statement, and lead to many con-
lectures as to why the death rate from
suicide should be greater during these
months.
Among the theories advanced is that
of DR.. +. $. Hayes of Eau Claire, who
ascrbes it to physiological reasons. Vi
tally, he claims, is at n lower ebb at
this time of the year, and with the gen
eral physical sluggisLness incident to the
close of the indoor months, there is ii
mental depression produced by the more
or less Se1entary habits of the winter
months, is, he believes, a large factor in
bringing about The large death rate from
suicide
1879 Are Drowned
Other opinions, too, are advanced,
out the fact remains that the months
OF May and June produce the maxi
mum number of suicides. These sta
tstics come under the general clasSi-
hcation of deaths from violence,
which records also show that l22
deaths for one quarter have resulted
from drowning alone. These occurred
during the summer months when the risk
is greater, owing to the fact thar people
go upon the water more than at any 9th
er time during the year.
Another conclusion reached is that
deaths from infantile diseases seems to
be higher in the northern sections of the
state than in other sections. This is un-
doubtedly true To the fact that less medl-
cal attention can be received in the
northern section. There are fewer doc
tors; also the people do not seem to be
as we'll educated regarding the most sani-
tary methods of feeding children.
There is a great need for campaign
of education as To the best methods of
feeding infants; also for better sanitation
in caring for milk fed to infants. This
is especially needed now when the mum
Der of artitlcally-fed babies is on the in
crease.
Deaths Reach 6279.
During the months of July. August and
September, 62T9 deaths were reported to
the state authorities by the local reg
iStrarS of towns, villages and cities.
This is exclusive of 367 Still-hirths. and
corresponds To an annual death rate Of
los per thousand estimated population.
Important causes of death We're pull
monary tuberculosis. I23; other tubcr-
culoss, IS; typoid fever, 40; diptheria.
10; scarlet fever, n; measles >;
whooping cough, %: pneumonia, 217;
diarrhoea and cuteritis, SO; meningitis,
$50: pueEperal Septicacmia, %; cancer,
3iG; violence $40 and still-birthS, 36I.
Reports show that there has been n
decline in the number of deaths from
typhoid fever for the months of July,
August and September as compared with
the months of April, May ana june,
greater care is being exercised in safe
guarding water and milk supplies from
any possible pollution. AT this season
of the year when the ground water is
low. the death rate from typhoid fever
usually reaches its maximum. I'm eN-
animation of mortality and morbldlty
statistics by months proves conclusively
that the SeasOnable variation of the dis
ease should be carefully considered. 1t
is claimed that the maximum Of typhoid
mortality corresponds almost exactly TO
the ground water level
The very large increase in the num-
Der of deaths from diarrhoea and en-
teritiS under two years of age should
convince the most skeptical that there IS
an urgent need for more scientific infor-
nation regarding the care of infants
during the hot weather months. Com
pairing the total deaths from diarrhoea
and cnteritS with the total deaths from
all causes we find the rate highest in the
northern section of the state, where 1t is
shown that II per cent. of the total
deaths reported We're caused by this
most easily prevented disease
Rate High in North.
Considering deaths from diarrhoea and
entertis per 10000 population, the rate
in the northern section is found to be
! ~ in the central section >, and in the
southern section Is. The large increase
in the number of deaths from violence
4 is ocasioned by the unusual number OF
4 deaths from drowning.
/ OF the 4J9 deaths from violence, in ad
/ lition to the I'D deaths from accidental
drowning, 76 resulted from suicide: >:
were caused by railroad accidents; u
were due to burns and wounds; 10 from
/ homicide; II from street cars: D from
poisoning and from lightning.
In the northern section of the state
( there were % deaths from violence pei
| 10000 population, while in the centra
section the rate was Is and in the
/ southern section 10. For each 1000 PEG
pie living in the state during the months
J IF July, August and September, % per
sons died from tuberculosis; % from
| liarrhoea and enteritis; s from menin
gifts; 15 from cancer and from vic
.ence. Eight per cent of the total deaths
were from tuberculosis: "a from pneu
mona; . per cent. from diarrhoea anc
anteritis; 2S per cent. from meningitis
- per cent from cancer and I.3 pei
cent from violence.
ind that 1910 were deaths among per
sons under / year of age. At the ages
Of ] to 4, inclusive, sos deaths were re
ported and at the age of 50 and ove1
1889 persons died.