Milford chronicle., 1909-12-24
Board Of Health Annual Report

Health of the Town of Milford which
was submitted to Town Council at its last
session in December, contained several
facts and recommendations of general in.
terest. The secretary, DR.. William Mar
shall, Jr., aud the president, DR.. Lynn
Pratt, have been earnest and sctive work.
ers for preservation Of the public health
during the year just closed. The report
is as follows:
To Town Council,
Milford, Del
Sirs IL have the honor to herewith
submit my annual report as Secretary of
the Board of Health.
During the fiscal year closing November
S0th, 1909, there were reported to the
Secretary of the Board of Health, SO
births, 10 marriages and 81 deaths, oc.
curing within the limits of Milford and
one mile outside.
The number of filth bearing and breed
ing diseases this year has been some
what above the average. p new cases
of pulmonary tuberculosis, and p cases
of typhoid fever having been recorded
during the previous twelve months. OIL
these numbers 8 deaths due to tuDercu-
losls, and to typhoid fever were noted.
With the idea of lessening the danger
of contamination by filth diseases, active
measures have repeatedly been taken,
compelling the cleaning Of la treens,
pounds, streets, yards, pig stys, and
similar places where fermentabe and
Objectionable materials are thrown
Realizing the agency of the common 1
house fly as a great dissemenator of filth |
germs, eff rts have been directed again
the usual breeding and feeding places OF /
these pests, with the result of somewhat /
lessening their numbers-further abate- 4
ment however can be brought about by |
careful corporation of our tOwnspeOple |
in the disposal of waste and effete mat
erlals. In this same vein our towns
people could further guard themselves
from possible sickness, by purchasing
their supplies of food stuffs only from
t oie merchants who take pr, cautions to
protect their wares from the dusts of the
streets, flying spital, and dirty insects
not to mention dog urine.
In regard to the disposal OF rubbish
and waste there should be no excuse for
those who neglect or pIocra,tlnate, as
close access can be had from any part of
5own to the public dumping grounds,
lust east OF tue causeway, along the rail-
road, leading over the dam at the Caulk
Laboratory.
During the preceding year several
properties have been ordered to make
ewer connections, and compliance lhas
'esulted benehcially to both owners and
leighbors.
To prevent, or minimize the noxious
.asses emanating from the sewers at the
'ariOus openings in diverse parts of the
own, this Board recommends the period I
C flushing of the sewers with town water {
rom hose, at least once a week in warm
weather., aud once bi weekly in winter :
weather., the total rainfall not being suf- i
cient in the opinion of the members of d
he Board to carry through the sewers
be otiluvia received into them. q
Acting on complaints within the year
lst closed, three beef carcases and three q
ig carcases were condemned as unfit for -
lOd, on account of disease, and the
leat was destroyed In addition to the
lseases mentioned in the first of my re-
Ort, there we're under quarantine in the to
)Wn in the twelve months proceeding,
cases of scarletina and u of dIpntheiio. T
Il these cases we're isolated and tho
lghly disinfected on recovery and death. a,
cath occu red to one case of diphtheria
all the sCarletlna cases recovering.
Registration of vlIal statistics was sOme- p
hat better than last year, but still very
only one minister having 70
,pOrted his marriages. The physicians
a rule are slow and negligent in re- "
lrting births, and infectious diseases, =
hile the Hndertakers, with one excep- Ia,
on, are nearly as bad in reporting -
3aths
The orders of the Board Of Health Nj
ave been in the greater part cleerfully
implied with, thereby rendering the NJ
Ork as agreeable as is compatible with +
tivIties of this sort, coming under Fc
.alth regulations.
WILLIAM MARSHALL, JR., -.
Secretary Board of Health. be