The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-02-12
ANNUAL REPORT OF
HEALTH OFFICER
H. |. ST|LLS0N
Death Rate Of II Per Thousand
During Past Year,
ACCURACY VITAL STATISTICS
Call Attention to Cases Of Sudden
Death, Burial Permits and Proven.
ton Of contas ious Diseases.

official is required by law to compile
Health Officer H. l.. Stillson calls
attention to number Of features In
the life OF the community that will
bear improvement and makes a num-
Der of recommendations that will
meet with general approval
The law in relation to the registra-
ton of marriages, deaths and births.
the health officer says is fairly well
observed in Bennington nevertheless
he takes the opportunity to impress
upon the minds of the local physicians
the importance of accuracy in comply
ing with the requirements devolving
upon them.
The vital~statistics show slight
decrease In the number of deaths per
thousand of population. The total
number from all causes was 1853
divided as follows: Diphtheria 2;
whooping cough 5, pneumonia IA, cry,
sipelas l. tuberculosis 20, murder l.,
typhoid fever 2, other causes lOs,
This is rate OF II per thousand.
There were % cases of diphtheria.
7 of measles, 6 Of scarlet fever, az of
whooping cough. IS OF mumps. 20 of
chicken pox, Of German measues, Z
OF typhoid fever. Is of pneumonia.
The health officer calls attention to
the laws relating to the bodies of de-
ceased persons with special reference
to the statute which requires that the
decease of any person who dies with
out medical attendance shall at once
be reported to the proper authority,
the health officer. Failures to comply
with this regulation have In several
instances caused families so afflicted
much annoyance that otherwise might
have been avoided.
| Attention Is called to the fact that
during the past year the attorney gen
eral has notified all the states at
torneys to instruct the undertakers In
their Jurisdiction not to proceed In the
performance of their regular duties
until after they have ascertained that
the deceased In every case had medi-
cal attendance.
The report also contains notification
that burial permit Is required for
the disposal OF any human being. for
the removal of body from a vault
! from one cemetery to another or from
one grave to another In the same
cemetery and also from one town to
another or to another state. These
permits are granted by the health
officer and failure to secure them is
punishable with heavy penalties.
The testing of the milk supplies of
the community has shown no evidence
of tuberculosis In the herds OF the
local dealers. All samples examined
were. with one exception, above the
standard required for butter fat. In
| the first examinations a number OF
samples proved dirty" but later tests
proved that this defect had been cor
rected
The absence of medical inspection
purpose of protecting the children, and
through them the families, from such
contagious diseases as measles,
whooping cough, chicken pox, etc, is
condemned by the health officer and
is held responsible for many cases of
contagious disease. The policy on
the part Of the teachers of sending
home every child that shows symp-
toms OF illness Is commended.
Attention Is called to the necessity
for precautions of sanitary nature
In every case Of tuberculosis. After
every death from this disease the
house should be thoroughly fumigated
close upon the first visit Of the under
taker in order that no exposurers
may result from attendance upon the
| funeral service.
In all instances of contagious disease
the public is advised to cooperate with
the health officer In most houses It
| is possible to disinfect the dwelling so
that the premises are safe even when
the statute requires an immediate and
| private burial.
In conclusion the report says that
the board of health has attended
promptly to every call Of duty and
has attempted to conserve the
health of the community at
the lowest possible expense.
| The health officer acknowledges
the assistance freely given by
| the members of the medical profession
and notes that greater appreciation
of the work of the board by the com
munity at large.