Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-02-12
DEADLY WHITE
PLAGUE KILLS
MOST IN STATE
REPORTS SHOW THAT 2411 DEATHS
RESULTED FROM DREAD DIS
EASE IN 1908.
DEATH RATE is Ills PER CENT.
Twenty-one Per Cent of tuberculosis
Victims Were Under l Year
of Age.
RABIES FATAL IN TWO INSTANCES.

MADlSON. WIS.,, Feb. o. Special
During the year just closed, g.
deaths of people residing in the state
were reported to the state health de-
partment This gives an annual death
rate for the entire state of 11.5 per
thousand estimated population. Using
the method adopted and recommended
by the federal census bureau, the esti-
mated population of Wisconsin for the
year 1908 is 2,32S, 600
The most important cause of death In
point of actual numbers and also when
age is considered to individuals who
died from such disease, is pulmonary tu-
berculosis. The reports show that 2411
deaths were reported from this disease
during the twelve months ending Deem
Der 81, 1908. A very large per cent, in
tact the figures show practically all the
deaths from this disease were among
persons from Is to 40 years of age. Just
= per cent. of the total deaths re-
suited from tuberculosis. Among every
eleven people who died during the year,
one died from tuberculosis.
Loss of $12,o55,ooo
The economic loss to the state of
Wisconsin each year OF people in the
prime Of life who sacrifice themselves
to the rayages of this disease cannot
be accurately estimated, for the reason
that it has been found impossible as
yet to fix upon standard in determin-
ing the value of human life. 1t has
been estimated that in slavery days
healthy negro in the prime of life
was worth approximately $4,000. If
this value can be placed upon the lives
sacrificed to tuberculosis the economic
loss during the past year IN Wisconsin
is $12,O55, 900.
Exactly 58S, or q per cent. of the
l year of age. The number of children
born each year who live at least one
year is an index of the influence of home
environment upon child life. 1t is very
evident that parents, and others charged
with the care of young children should
be better informed regarding the feed
ing and care Of infants. During the year,
974 children under 2 years of age died
from diarrhoea and entertis, largely as
a result of improper feeding and i'm
proper food.
Other Death Causes.
Important causes of death during the
culosis, 2O24; other tuberculosis, 3ST;
typhoid fever, $50; diphtheria, 1886;
scarlet fever, 1876; measles, 70; whoop-
enteritis, under years. 974; men,
nights, 625; influenza, 1872; p1erperal
tence, 1888, and still births, 1889.
Just 81 per cent. of the total deaths
were from pneumonia and SD per cent.
resulted from violence. Among the
deaths from violence the following
causes are important and interesting:
Suicide. 263; homicide, 81; railroad, 49,;
street railway, 20; gunshot, 81; burns
IA. fol
ii; poisoning, 5; lightning, 5; automo-
biles. /; hydrophobia, ,; coal gas, :;
freezing, g.; and cyclone, 2. Compared
with the preceding years for which sta
tistics are obtainable, there has been
an increase in the number of deaths
from suicide, homicide, and drowning.
Two Hydroptobia Deaths.
The two deaths from hydrophoba re-
corded during the year are unusual in
this state. Statistics collected from the
various newspaper reports giving the
number of persons bitten by dogs and
other animals suspected of having by
drophobia serves to emphasize the impor-
lance of having place in the state
where preventative treatment in all sus-
picious cases can be had free of charge.
Under the present system Of collect
ing the mortality statistics the distrl-
button of deaths from any cause, by
townships, villages, and cities in each
county is determined. Such a system
Is indispensable to efficient public health
work and will result in practically Grad
icating preventable diseases as soon as
people can be educated to the impor-
lance and method of preventative treat
ment.
Work of State Board.
The fact that $50 young lives were
sacrificed as a result of diphtheria en-
phasizes the Importance of early dag
nosis and prophylactic treatment of all
cases of suspicious sore throat. The physi-
clans, generally speaking, use antitoxin
quite freely, but in many instances the
child suffering from the disease is mort
bund before physician is called.
In practically every case of death from
diphtheria either antitoxin is not ad-
ministered at all. or is not given soon
enough to insure recovery. The state
board of health now has more than 100
distributing stations in various parts of
the state where antitoxin can be OBJ
tanned free of charge for all INDECENT per-
sons suffering from the disease. The
remedy can also be obtained at these
stations at the usual market price for all
other cases.